Create Custom Garage Doors In 5 Steps

Custom garage doors are the ultimate finishing touch to your outside space, allowing you to make a design statement and complement the style of your house. Follow these easy steps to create your very own garage door:

Step 1 – Choose Your Style

There are a number of styles to choose from, including panel, roller and carriage doors. Make sure your custom garage doors fit the style of your house. The beauty of custom designing your own fittings is that you can specify particular finishes and materials.

Step 2 – Do-it-yourself or Hire a Contractor?

Retractable panel doors (up and over style) and roller doors are best custom designed by you and made by professionals, but carriage house style doors can be straightforward for the do-it-yourself enthusiast to create himself.

Step 3 – Measure the Space Accurately

Whether you are fabricating your custom garage doors yourself of getting a contractor to make them for you, you will need to take accurate measurements of the garage opening, and also the space available on either side, so that you can decide where any opening mechanism will be fixed.

Step 4 – Order or Make Your Custom Garage Doors

If you order your doors from a professional company, make a note of the amount of time they will take to be delivered. There is no point removing any existing doors today if your car and other garage contents will be left exposed to the elements for another 6 to 8 weeks!

To make your carriage house doors you will need to order the panels from a lumber store. Hardwoods such as oak and redwood are the best choices of lumber due to their high tensile strength, weather resistance and attractive appearance. When you have two panels of appropriate size to make the leaves of the doors, you now have to fit the lock. To make sure that you make the holes in the appropriate place, lay the leaves of the door next to each other and mark a line where the male and female parts of the lock should go.

Step 5 – Install Your Custom Garage Doors

If the doors were made by someone else, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for installation for tips on installing and replacing garage doors.

If you made the doors yourself, mark on the sides of the garage door where the hinge brackets should go, and decide whether you want the doors to open inwards or outwards. Outwards will save space in your garage. Fix the hinges to the doors, and screw them to the wall. Stand back and admire your handiwork!