If you’re storing items in an outdoor shed, or have it furnished as a workshop or guest bedroom, you may be in the market for a more convenient way to get in and out of the space. A great option for this is to add an overhead garage door. We are going to explore the sizes, styles, and features available when choosing a garage door for your shed.
Here is the Moderno 2 beads design, both black garage doors. No, you don’t need to stick with plain white garage doors. Notice how the residential garage door has unique window fittings, and the color-coordinated shed and shed garage door do wonders for the curb appeal of this property.
Perhaps you are building a new shed altogether. If you have the time and want to build it alone or with friends, refer to House Digest, for some key tips on how to get this accomplished.
Can you order a small garage door for your shed? Yes! Are garage door sizes available in small enough sizes for sheds and small garages? Yes!
Garaga garage door sizes range from 6.5 to 7 feet in height. While these are the market standard, custom sizing options are available.
What sizes can you get? With Garaga, you can order a garage door between 4 and 20 feet wide, and between 6 and 12 feet high. These size ranges allow for the most custom fit possible and accurate installation.
Garaga makes garage doors as narrow as 4 feet wide, so they can very likely accommodate measurements for your smaller shed.
Get a custom-ordered, perfectly sized overhead garage door for your storage shed or workshop, for no additional charge for specific sizing.
That being said, you can install a custom-sized small garage door on your shed. The type of door on your shed makes a big difference in its functionality.
Are you using your shed or small garage during the winter months? Consider an insulated garage door.
If you’re outfitting your shed to be a year-round workshop or guest bedroom, you will want to make sure you pay attention to the amount of insulation you have integrated into its design.
Alternatively, if you’re using your shed for storage, cold air and condensation can sometimes damage your belongings.
SFGATE has written 6 tips for preventing humidity problems in your shed. SFGATE is a notable media site known worldwide. They recommend running a dehumidifier or window fan, among other things, to decrease the moisture suspended in the air and improve ventilation.
How Much Insulation Should Your Garage Door Have on a Heated or Unheated Shed?
Heating your shed in the colder months can help keep your belongings safe as well as make the space usable year-round. The higher insulation level of the garage door will allow you to better retain the heat inside the shed and is indicated by the R-value of your garage door. The greater the R-value, the higher the insulation capability of the garage door.
- If you plan on heating the shed, look for a garage door with an R-value of at least R-12.
- If you will leave your shed unheated, some garage doors are uninsulated and some garage doors are filled with Styrofoam and both of those work well for general-purpose sheds that you don’t plan on heating.
Overhead Garage Doors with Character by The Village Collection
The Village Collection garage doors come in either uninsulated or Styrofoam (polystyrene) insulated garage doors. While they may not be suitable for a guest bedroom shed or winter workspace, they still offer classic embossed designs.
Designs come in either Traditional or Carriage House styles and can be further customized with 9 colours.
This is the Village Collection I-2 design, featuring a Flat base, 5’ x 6’, in the color White, with the added Satin window. It’s a good size to accommodate a variety of equipment and is a stylish addition to your shed on your vacation property. These garage doors come in insulated or uninsulated models.
The Vantage Overhead Garage Door – Get a Rustic Feel with a Wood Finish, and the Durability of Steel
Vantage garage doors are filled with Styrofoam. They are made of 3 layers and 2 inches thick. It’s a sandwich of two steel walls with an insulation layer in the middle.
The finishes of this 7' by 7' garage door make the building look like a lovely little guest cottage. The woodgrain finish is called Iron Ore Walnut and the Orion 4 lite windows offer additional character.
Garage Door Model Series Acadia 138
Acadia 138 garage doors are the type of doors that offer an R-12 insulation level. Instead of Styrofoam, they are insulated with polyurethane in the form of foam injected into the space between the garage door panels. Polyurethane is twice as insulative as the Styrofoam alternative.
For shed spaces you plan on occupying during the winter, look for a garage door outfitted with polyurethane insulation. A polystyrene (Styrofoam) insulated garage door at twice the thickness would not be as insulative as one insulated with polyurethane. Here is the Acadia 138 in the Classic CC design, 5' x 7', Ice White.
If you have any questions or concerns about the R-value or insulation you should choose, contact a garage door specialist.
Keeping Your Outdoor Shed Retreat Cozy
When considering how to heat your shed, you will want to choose a practical and cost-effective method. In an article by Shed Windows and More, you can find some more information on how to effectively heat your outdoor space.
- Woodburning stoves are both aesthetically pleasing and effective
- Upgrading to a timed thermostat, or even one you can control from your smartphone will save you money.
- Make sure you choose an appropriate insulation
- There are also portable options to heat your shed for short periods of time.
You don’t need to use an ugly wall radiator and compromise on style when heating your shed. This woodstove is a visually pleasing complement to a space with other notably rustic features. You might end up spending more time in your shed than in your house! Image from Unsplash.
Benefits of Sectional Garage Doors for a Shed
1. More Room for Your Stuff
Storage sheds are meant to be a convenience, not a place to hide a cluttery mess. Sectional garage doors save you some space so you can better organize your belongings in your shed and increase your motivation and productivity.
Many people use sheds to store seasonal supplies. The extra space afforded by an overhead garage door makes it easier to access those random holiday decorations without having to wade through a mess of stuff or work with a limited opening.
2. Width of Garage Door Opening
Half the time, if you’re storing something in your shed, it’s because it’s too big to fit in the house. Take your lawnmower, for instance. Alternatively, if you’re using your shed as a guest bedroom, a garage door will let you change out the furniture with ease. If your shed is a workshop, you might have large equipment you need to install or take in and out. You’ll be happy you installed an overhead garage door wide enough to accommodate these things.
Trolley and Jackshaft Garage Door Openers for Your Garage Door
What model of garage door opener will work best for you? Electric garage door openers come in several varieties.
LiftMaster offers the 8355W model. It is a trolley-style garage door opener system. It’s not as loud as some of its competitor models and you probably won’t need it serviced or repaired too often. It also features remote control myQ technology accessible wirelessly from your smartphone to open and close your garage door from afar.
- Overhead-Mounting Garage Door Opener
If your shed has low headroom, you may want a trolley design if you have standard lift garage doors or garage doors for sheds.
As the name implies, the electric garage door operator secures to the ceiling, up and out of the way.
- Wall-Mounting Garage Door Opener
This type of model is known as a jackshaft and this garage door opener mounts adjacent to your garage door.
If your garage door is high-lift, the jackshaft will be a better option than a trolley.
As always, you aren’t alone in determining the best garage door opener for your purposes. Contact a professional to get a second opinion on garage door openers and the types of lifts available.
Additional LiftMaster Garage Door Accessories
Secure your garage door with an inside lock to help protect your belongings. Pull chains or lift handles give you a more straightforward way to open and close the garage door on your shed or workspace.
This is the Classic MIX design, 8’ x 7’, in Charcoal. The size and color of the garage door make it both stylish and functional for storing larger items.
Color Match Your Shed Garage Door to the Color Scheme on Your Residential Garage Door
While plain white goes with everything, it’s a little boring. Alternative trendy colors can add to the aesthetic outside your home and you can typically color match one building’s garage door to the other.
Custom Features Create a Unique Design
There are a couple of elements you can add to your garage doors to add character and a personal touch, such as:
- Windows
Let some light in through your garage door with different types of glass and add decorative grid inserts to create a more custom design. From textured glass to satiny finishes, there are options available that you will love the look of.
Sandblasted glass also creates a privacy effect while still functioning to lighten the space.
- Decorative hardware
Decorative hardware is another way to add your unique personality to your shed garage door design, and you can also install decorative hardware yourself with little more than basic hand tools.
Pictured is the Eastman E-22 design, 6’ x 7’, Moka Brown door and Ice White overlays, 4 vertical lite Panoramic windows. Both the shed and the house garage doors have been styled cohesively and this adds to the curb appeal of the property, which is always a plus!
You can add a custom small sectional garage door to a shed of almost any size, and personalize it with many design elements!
Standard Garage Doors and Small Shed Garage Doors, Custom-Made to Your Specifications
If you already have Garaga garage doors on your home, simply let us know and we can create a customized shed door to match your desired style.
DSI North Door Systems offers an impressive selection of residential garage doors with a multitude of designs and colors. To make your search for the perfect garage door even easier, our garage door designs are sorted into 3 most popular house styles:
- Traditional style for a look that never goes out of style.
- Contemporary style for the modern designer.
- Carriage House style for an old-world aesthetic
Take a tour of our Design Centre so you can see designs in person and touch and feel the details for yourself. We also are happy to help if you request a free quote via email!
We have garage door gurus on staff to help you with some of the nittier, grittier technical details, so you will always have the support you need.
There is lots of information available about our garage door opener selection, so contact DSI North Door Systems. We have the experience and knowledge to answer your questions and serve your needs.
Call 978-741-1600!
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