When it comes to enhancing the curb appeal, security, and functionality of your home, choosing the right garage door plays a crucial role. With so many styles, materials, and features available, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. Here, we speak to Dominator’s Heyam Berima-Fowler to find out the key factors to consider to make an informed decision that suits both your home’s aesthetic and your practical needs.

Choosing the right material 

When choosing a garage door, the material is key—options range from steel for roller doors, to steel, glass/acrylic, or timber for sectional doors. Each material offers different levels of durability and maintenance. Steel doors are highly durable and resistant to weather and minor impacts, making them a popular choice. Adding windows provides a modern and practical look, enhancing the aesthetic appeal of your home. Timber offers a classic and warm appearance, but requires more maintenance compared to steel or glass

“Choose a style that complements your home's architecture,” shares Heyam. “Sectional doors offer strength and security, with a modern look plus the option of customisable glazing, and roller doors are space-efficient.”

Steel doors are the most popular, as the material is highly durable and resistant to weather and impacts. 

“Dominator prefers to use COLORSTEEL® where available for our steel doors to offer superior strength, low maintenance, and because they are available in various styles, colours, and finishes, including smooth and wood grain textures, providing a versatile look that can complement any home design,” shares Heyam. “What’s more, we have a NatureSteel* product that offers the look of timber without the increased maintenance.” 

If sound or heat are a problem, choose an insulated sectional door to reduce heat and sound transmission—with the added benefit of improved energy efficiency.

When it comes to colours, the latest trend is for soft and neutral. Dominator has just launched two new colours, TuiTuft, a crisp and clean white, and Sandscape, which is a warm grey inspired by the East Coast.

Choosing size and layout

The size and layout of a garage influence the type of garage door best suited for the space. Most doors open vertically and are stored along the ceiling, but in garages with limited ceiling clearance, specific doors must be used.

“Roller doors are perfect for garages with limited ceiling space, as they roll up into a compact coil above the door opening, leaving the ceiling free for storage or other uses,” shares Heyam. 

On the other hand, sectional steel garage doors are perfect for garages with ample headroom and unobstructed ceiling space as they open vertically and store along the ceiling. They also require minimal driveway clearance, allowing you to park close to the door without risking damage.

Combining the benefits of sectional and roller doors, Dominator’s Flex-A-Door operates on a curving track that lifts the door close to the ceiling.

For older garages with tilt doors and a lack of space above the opening, replacing them with a modern Flex-A-Door provides a contemporary solution with improved safety and functionality.

Prioritise security & safety

One of the biggest mistakes homeowners make when selecting garage doors is not prioritising security features, says Heyam. 

“Look for doors with safety features like the Dominator safety beams to protect your family and pets and Dominator’s Auto-lock where your garage door is not just shut, it’s locked.”

Auto Lock smart keyless technology allows you to lock your garage door every time you close it using nothing but your regular remote control. The lock more than doubles the force required at the lock point to lift the door from a closed position, helping protect your home and loved ones.

Auto-Lock is available as an optional extra on all Dominator sectional garage door and opener packages. Ask your local Dominator dealer for details. 

Smartphone automation is an additional safety feature that allows you to control and monitor your garage door from anywhere, providing real-time notifications and peace of mind.

“Dominator’s Smartphone Control Kit offers remote operation and monitoring, allowing you to check the status of your door and receive alerts.”

For your door remotes, Tri-Tran+ Technology prevents code grabbing and interference from other wireless devices, ensuring only your transmitters can open the door.

Explore a wide range of garage doors from Dominator

*NatureSteel is a registered trademark of Dominator