Tips for Garage Doors on Mid Century Homes

Here is a traditional Streng Bros twin garage door. Painting the doors the same color as the home reduces their visual impact.

In mid century homes the garage door often takes up a good portion of the front of the home. As such, it can really add or detract from the curb appeal of your home. Here are some ideas if you want to replace your garage door as well as tips if you want to maintain your original door.

Selecting Paint Color for Your Garage Door

If you have a door that is painted — the paint color can really make a difference in whether or not it blends into the home or screams GARAGE DOOR.

White paint on the garage door makes the door stand out, but not in a good way. You want to see the cool architecture of your home and not just the door. No one wants their house to be referred to as “the garage house”.

Instead, painting the door the same color as the main color of the home makes the door almost disappear and creates a more balanced appearance.

Alternatively, paint the door a darker color than the body of the house.

Black garage door with side windows on a mid century home. Making the garage door color darker instead of white is a nice look if you don’t want to make it the same color as the house.

Replacing your original garage door

When we bought our Streng home the garage door was starting to sag in the middle. It also did not have the safety sensors required by California law.

According to Mike Benton, owner of Benton Garage Doors, “It is not unusual for the original wood door to start to sag at the top. There is a tension knob you can tighten but eventually that doesn’t solve the problem entirely.” (Mike can be reached at 916-204-7054.)

When we painted the exterior of the home we decided it was also a good time to replace the garage door.  We used Mike Benton for the project.

Benton started out building and maintaining the wood doors that were originally installed on many of the mid century homes.  He can order and install whatever door you want for your home. He particularly likes the doors offered by Clopay. “Clopay products are reasonably priced and is a good product,” he explained.

The Clopay garage door on our home features black aluminum frame and translucent panels. There is so much light in the garage during the day that you don’t even need the lights.

We selected a black Avante aluminum door with etched glass from Clopay. This door has a very modern look and we love how the door allows the natural light into the garage. These doors come in a range of transparencies.

The included LiftMaster door opener uses myQ technology that turns any garage door into a smart door that you control from an app. This is great for those Amazon packages that invariably arrive when you aren’t home.

Clopay also has other types of garage doors if an Avante door isn’t your style.

This type of door was commonly used as a replacement door for Streng homes. Painting it the same color as the house rather than the standard white reduces the visual impact.

Maintaining your door

Mike can also add a motor to your original tilt up wood door as long as there is room to add one. “Sometimes there is a beam or stairs in the way, explained Benton. If that is the situation then there isn’t room to add a motor.”

Mike recommends lubricating your garage door every couple of years to keep it running smoothly. He can do this for you or you can purchase lubrication by Clopay at Home Depot.

A Space Age looking garage door on a flat top Streng Bros home. The black strip is a window.

Finishing Touches: Lights and address numbers

You might also want to add new side lights to your garage door. We like these exterior lights from Practical Props (link). They have the mid century look we wanted and were easy for us to install.

New address numbers complete the look. Check out the aptly named House Numbers for a variety of modern house numbers.

By the way, ever wonder why it is called a garage door opener and not a garage door closer?

Twin garage doors in wood grain on a Streng Bros home. Side lights let light into the garage.