Start with the windows
The garage door is usually the largest single element on the front of a house, but it should not be the loudest. If the windows are anthracite, an anthracite door makes the elevation read as one design. If they are white uPVC, a white door does the same. A door in a third colour pulls the eye to the garage, which is rarely the aim. The front door is the place for an accent colour; the garage door supports it.
Anthracite, white and the greys
Anthracite grey (RAL 7016) has been the dominant choice for a decade and shows no sign of going away, because it suits both modern and older brick equally. White is timeless on rendered and white-windowed houses. Between the two, mid greys and black have their place on specific schemes. All are available as smooth or textured finishes on roller and sectional doors alike.
Timber-look finishes
Golden oak, rosewood and walnut laminates give the look of a timber door on an insulated metal skin. They suit period and cottage-style houses, houses with oak porches or timber-effect windows, and anyone who likes the warmth of wood but not repainting it. The finish is a durable foil bonded to the door, and the better ones are hard to tell from timber at a few metres. On a sectional door, timber-look panels with a raised or ribbed profile complete the effect.
Smooth or woodgrain texture
Independently of colour, most doors can be had with a smooth or a woodgrain-embossed surface. Smooth reads as crisp and contemporary and shows dust and fingerprints more, especially in dark colours. Woodgrain texture breaks up reflections, hides minor marks and suits traditional houses. On a roller door the slat profile adds its own horizontal texture regardless.
RAL colours and matching
For a house with a particular palette, doors can be finished in a chosen RAL colour to order. It adds to the lead time and a little to the price. Exact matches to existing windows are achievable when the window supplier can give a RAL reference; matching to a paint chip is close but not guaranteed, because the door is powder coated rather than painted.
How finishes weather
Powder-coated and laminated finishes are designed for outdoor life and hold their colour well. Dark colours on a south-facing door get hot in summer, which is one reason insulated doors are specified; the foam core keeps the heat out of the garage. Cleaning is a wash with a soft cloth and mild detergent once or twice a year. Avoid abrasive pads and solvent cleaners, which dull the surface.
Key points
- Most fitted
- Anthracite grey and white
- Timber look
- Golden oak, rosewood, walnut laminates
- Bespoke
- RAL colours to order
Finish questions
Can I match my garage door to my front door?
Yes, but consider whether you want to. Matching the windows and letting the front door stand out is the more common and usually the better-looking arrangement.
Do timber-look doors need treating?
No. The finish is a bonded laminate over insulated metal, so it needs a wash rather than oil or varnish.
Is anthracite hotter than white?
Dark surfaces absorb more heat. On an insulated door the difference inside the garage is small; on the surface, a dark door in full sun is warm to the touch.
Can the door be repainted later?
Powder-coated steel can be repainted by a specialist with the right preparation, but it is not a DIY job. Choosing a colour you will live with is the better plan.
Can the inside of the door be a different colour?
The inside face of roller and sectional doors is usually white or light grey regardless of the outer colour, which keeps the garage brighter. Bespoke inside colours are possible on some sectional ranges.
Do you offer glazed panels?
On sectional doors, yes. A row of small windows in the top panel lets daylight into the garage and suits timber-look and coloured doors alike.