Find a Distributor & Service

Carriage House Garage Doors 101

Dating back to the 18th century, the carriage house door remains a favorite among homeowners today thanks to its architectural beauty. This door style is distinguished by its intricate woodwork with cross-planking and large handles that imitate the swinging door look. When choosing a new garage door to upgrade your curb appeal, be sure to consider a carriage house door.

Homeowners can enjoy the customizability of the carriage house garage door as it blends in with various home styles, ranging from Spanish Colonial, Craftsman, Victorian and more. To help narrow down which carriage house collection would best complement the style of your home, we're sharing Overhead Door™ Brand's array of styles and materials to guide you.

Spanish Colonial

The Spanish Colonial home design first appeared between the 1600s and mid-1800s and is particularly prominent throughout Florida, California and Southwestern states. Distinguished by their clean stucco finish and clay roofs, our Signature^® Carriage Collection wood doors bring out a rustic charm to perfectly tie in a true Spanish Colonial appearance.

Our Pro Design Tip: To incorporate Spanish-style characteristics, include hinges, hammered knocker door handles and choose an arched entryway for a Mission-style feel.

Signature^® Carriage Model 580 Dakota - Ponderosa Series

Craftsman

The Craftsman-style home remains one of the most popular styles to date in the U.S – and we can see why! The Spruce, a leading home improvement source, recently shared that "original Craftsman houses are still widely sought after, and the core elements of Craftsman style continue to inform architects and neo-Craftsman new builds to this day." This style is characterized by its low-pitched roofs, exposed beams and earth tones. When combined with the Carriage House Collection, the insulated steel panels with wood composite overlays blend nicely with the existing exterior finishes.

Our Pro Design Tip: Complete the Craftsman look by matching the main exterior color to the garage door and choosing a square window style with no hardware.

Carriage House Model 7540 in red oak with horizontal and vertical overlays

Victorian

Victorian-style homes emerged during Queen Victoria's reign in the 1830s and still hold a classic and timeless aesthetic. The Courtyard Collection^® will best complement this style as it resembles an elegant wood door with the durability of steel to enhance its architectural beauty. To achieve the style, we'd recommend selecting a black garage door with arched windows, and to choose and overlay to bring a stylistic enhancement to the door, such as our A, X, V or diagonal overlays to accentuate Victorian features.

Our Pro Design Tip: Consider adding sconce lighting to the exterior for a cohesive finishing touch.

An Abundance of Customization Options

Don’t have one of the home styles mentioned above? No need to worry. Carriage house doors have been admired for their classic charm, as they can also be custom designed to complement any home's architecture or designed with modern accessories. Each collection is distinctive in its own way – offering an array of design features.

Overhead Door™ Brand’s three carriage-style garage doors are available in two material styles— steel and wood, and each comes with its own set of distinguishable features and benefits. As you start looking for a new carriage house garage door, it's crucial to familiarize yourself with the materials available. Trust us, it will create a world of difference for maintenance and durability.

The Carriage House Collection has the appearance of wood with an embossed wood-grain texture, but is constructed of steel to create a harmonious blend of elegance and strength. Another steel door option is the Courtyard Collection^®, which also resembles tasteful wood designs and has a huge selection of overlays to choose from. Both steel garage door collections give homeowners a long-lasting garage door with minimal maintenance and a limited lifetime warranty.

If the traditional look of a wood door is on your list, our Signature^® Carriage House Collection is the ideal garage door with its classic appearance. In this collection, we combine our tried-and-true technical know-how with expert Amish craftsmanship to create a garage door that reflects handmade artistry yet is built to stand the test of time.

To add dimension to the Carriage House Collection, start by selecting a base color of green, gray or clay with a white panel overlay to give the door character. If a colonial impression is desired, hardware such as hinges, or door handles can help give it colonial charm. Customize by selecting pull handles with no hinges and squared-off windows to create a refined and sophisticated touch.

With the broad selection of panels, windows and hardware options in the Courtyard Collection^®, you’re bound to find the perfect door. First, choose one of the nine available standard color options for the door panels. Then, match the trim and upgrade to premium collection handles to enhance the finished look.

The third carriage-style garage door collection Overhead Door™ Brand offers is the Signature^® Carriage Collection. Within the Signature^® Carriage Collection there are three unique sub-collections —Parson, Ponderosa, and Villa Madre.

The Parson collection is a sophisticated, classic, solid wood garage door that exudes luxury. When rich details in the wood are a must, the Ponderosa collection showcases the rugged rich details of wood and its striking lines evoke the spirit of American charm. Lastly, the Villa Madre collection infuses elegance and style with the flare of old-world estates. Each of these collections are certain to enhance your curb appeal and elevate your home.

Installation by Overhead Door Company of Boston™ of the Courtyard Collection^®

Selecting the Best Material

Side-by-side steel and wood doors

It is important to consider geographical location when weighing the pros and cons of wood vs. steel. Our steel doors have a high R-Value for those needing thermal efficiency for cool and warm climates. On the other hand, wood doors exude class and confidence that can’t be beat. Both options are top choices as each has wind load rated options for homes in areas prone to hurricanes, tornados or high-wind areas.

Another factor that homeowners should discuss when choosing between the two materials is the maintenance that goes into each door. Steel is a durable and low-maintenance material that can withstand all kinds of weather conditions and is long-lasting. Basic maintenance tasks for steel garage doors should be performed every twelve months. If the door is exposed to harsh weather or sunlight, more frequent cleaning and protective coating applications may be necessary.

On the other hand, wood is an all-natural material that can be molded to fit a desired style and can be eco-friendly. However, wood requires more maintenance than steel, including regular inspections, cleaning, and resealing or repainting every two to three years.

By following a regular maintenance for either garage door material, you can ensure that it functions properly and looks great for many years to come.

DoorView^® Visualizer Tool

Using our DoorView^® app or online tool, it’s easy to visualize how your future garage door will appear before it's ordered. Simply upload a picture of your home to begin customizing a one-of-a-kind door. First, we recommend deciding on a panel style as they vary by collection. There are horizontal, vertical and overlay paneling, and each add a unique charm to the door. Next, find the perfect finish by browsing paint options that are sure to suit the current exterior. If choosing a color is intimidating, a classic white garage door is a popular option; it brightens up and contrasts nicely with dominant and secondary trim colors. Finally, add a personal touch with decorative accents such as window styles and hardware. When all choices are finalized, simply show your selection to the nearest Ribbon™ distributor — they’ll take it from there!

DoorView^® App

Now that you’re familiar with carriage house doors and the three collections we offer, it should be a piece of cake to conclude which garage door works best with the aesthetic of your home. With more than 450 distributors nationwide, contact your nearest Ribbon™ distributor to get started today!

Visit Redfin’s blog to learn more about the history of the Carriage House garage door.