Ask the Expert

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Garage Illustration.
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Garage Illustration.

My wife and I are planning to enclose our carport and convert it into a garage. That has us wondering how to proceed from here. What different choices are available to us?

"Your options are pretty much the same as anyone else," says Rodney Sandefur, operations manager for Overhead Door Co. of Little Rock (overheaddooroflittlerock.com).

Sandefur suggests the reader hire a general carpenter: someone who might be certified, can obtain the necessary permits and who will enclose the carport properly with siding, brick or wood for a garage door.

"It just depends on how nice or simple they want it," Sandefur says.

"Once they get it enclosed then they can choose ... anything from a basic, standard raised-panel door all the way up to a fiberglass or wood carriage door," Sandefur says, adding that there are a lot of options.

There also are more choices to a homeowner for gaining access to the garage. In the past, most garages were operated manually and featured an outside keyed lock, but not anymore, Sandefur says.

"That used to be pretty common. But what's common now is to have an electronically operated door with a battery backup and a belt drive, and if you have Wi-Fi in the house, you can get a kit that will allow you to download an app to open and close the door and to check on whether it's open or closed."

Sandefur says prices range from about $800 to $8,000. Historic reproduction door styles range from those appropriate for Victorian-era houses and arts and crafts-style bungalows to a four-paneled style garage door to complement a 1950s ranch-style house.

He says the average upper-end doors run between $2,000 to $3,000. Options include wood, fiberglass, steel, insulated or non-insulated.

Then there are the unique styles, such as "full-view sections or full-glass ones like you'd see on a fire station, except they can [powder coat] the aluminum to match." The all-glass ones can be either clear or opaque.

"Those fit a very specific style of house, but it looks really good."

The traditional garage door hues are white, beige or brown, but homeowners have several other colors to choose from. Plus, there are faux oak doors.

"It looks more like a wood grain instead of the more common flat white, brown and almond colors," Sandefur says. "It helps give the garage a little character."

Other options for completing a garage door can include exterior hardware such as hinges and door knockers.

Those looking at their options should evaluate their home's style and which type of door will best suit their needs, Sandefur says.

Do you have a decorating or remodeling question? Send your question to Linda S. Haymes, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, P.O. Box 2221, Little Rock, Ark. 72203 or email:

lhaymes@arkansasonline.com

HomeStyle on 06/25/2016

Upcoming Events