Garage Doors for Victorian Style Homes

It’s hard to mistake a Victorian home or Queen Anne Victorian for any other style. With their distinctive towers, large porches and gingerbread trim, these showpieces were built during a time when architecture was valued for its beauty rather than sensibility.

If you own one of these captivating homes and it has a garage, you might be wondering how to select a Victorian garage design that complements the ornate-style of the house. One of the best options is carriage house style garage doors that appear as if they may have been made for Queen Victoria herself.

 

Carriage Style Garage Doors Are Beautiful and Practical

The historic charm of a Victorian style house is best replicated in carriage style garage doors. Representative of the same era, carriage garage doors look like they swing open but in fact they operate as any modern overhead garage door would by rolling up and down with an automatic opener. You can even open and close today’s models with a smart phone app.

For the traditionalists who desire historical accuracy in a Victorian garage plan, a real wood door is one way to go. Clopay’s Reserve^® Wood features handcrafted carriage house designs that can be tailored to go with any house. A wood door brings a depth, warmth and natural texture that’s unique among garage doors. However, to keep them looking their best, they require regular surface maintenance to protect them from the sun and moisture.

This Victorian style garage features a semi-custom door from Clopay’s Reserve® Wood Semi-Custom, which offers doors that can be painted white or stained to match the house.

Clopay’s Coachman^® is a carriage house style garage door that has the look of wood but without the extensive surface upkeep. Crafted of multiple layers of durable and low-maintenance steel, the doors are well-insulated and finished with a woodgrain textured composite overlay. The doors come in a single color or two-tone paint finish pairing shades of tan, almond, or white.

Details Make All the Difference

One of the most distinctive characteristics of a Victorian style house is the paint scheme. Oftentimes, these homes are adorned with jeweled exterior colors that set them apart from any other home on the street.

Need a peacock-blue garage door that matches the house? No problem. Clopay’s Color Blast^® program lets you choose from nearly 1,500 paint colors and have any steel or aluminum garage door factory finished in the custom color to match your home’s palette.

In addition to color enhancing the look of a Victorian style garage plan, windows and decorative hardware add character and visual interest to the door.

Windows made from seeded glass, which is marked with tiny bubbles and usually a bit wavy, is a unique feature that’s reminiscent of the Victorian era.

Hardware, such as handles and strap hinges, is also a great way to add historical charm. A variety of decorative options are available as a finishing touch for any carriage house style garage doors.

Curious what a new garage door will look like on your Victorian home? Try Clopay’s Door Imagination System ™ which allows you to upload an image of your house and “try on” different door styles. Found one you like? Find a Clopay dealer near you.

Storm-Ready Carriage House Doors

If you live along the coast or in a high-wind prone area, you’ll be pleased to learn that Clopay garage doors — including carriage house styles — are available with WindCode^® reinforcement. These doors are “Storm Ready^™”, meaning that reinforcement is built in and engaged by simply locking it.

If you need a wind- or impact-rated garage door, ask your local Clopay dealer for code-compliant style options.