Which Garage Door Is Best for a Short Driveway?

If you have a short driveway, you’ll be all-too familiar with the frustration of pulling up outside your garage, getting out of your car, then realising there isn’t enough space to open the door without pulling the car back.

Short driveways are common in new-build estates and terraced properties, or generally in homes where the garage is located close to the pavement.

If you’ve got garage access issues, the good news is that you probably won’t need a longer driveway to make your access easier. Instead, you can resolve this issue by choosing a garage door that is compatible with the space you have available.

For most short driveways, roller doors and sectional doors provide great solutions. This is because they open vertically, without swinging out over the driveway.

In this article, the ZAP Garage Doors team have shared their guidance for the main garage door types that suit short driveways. That way, you can easily find the best solution for your property.

Which garage doors are best for short driveways?

If space is limited, you’d want to select a door that opens without projecting outwards.

There are a few different designs available, which operate in this way. So, you can evaluate these options, based on your specific garage and how you use it.

Roller garage doors

For homeowners with especially tight driveways, roller garage doors are usually the most space-efficient solution.

These doors open vertically, as the curtain coils up into a compact box above the garage opening. So, the door doesn’t swing out over the driveway, allowing you to park right up to the entrance.

Roller doors are also a great choice if you want to maximise the space inside your garage, as they don’t involve large door panels travelling along the ceiling.

But, one thing to note is that you’ll need enough headroom within the garage above the opening, so that the roller mechanism can be installed.

Sectional garage doors

Sectional garage doors are another great option for short driveways.

These doors consist of horizontal panels that move vertically, before travelling along tracks under the garage ceiling. So, these also open without projecting outwards over the driveway.

Plus, if headroom is limited but there’s ample wall space, then you could opt for side-sliding sectional doors, which open by the panels sliding across the garage’s inside wall (rather than travelling up to the ceiling).

Side-hinged garage doors

Side-hinged garage doors open outwards, in very much the same way as traditional doors.

Although this means that they do require some space in front of the garage, they can still accommodate shorter driveways. For example, if you can park your car slightly further back, or if you only need to open one door to access the garage, then they can work well.

However, if you need to park your car right up against the garage entrance, then this may not leave enough space to open the doors properly.

Up-and-over garage doors

Despite being a popular choice generally, up-and-over garage doors usually aren’t the best option for short driveways.

This is because the doors swing outwards as they open, projecting over the driveway.

While retractable up-and-over doors can minimise this, they do require sufficient space inside the garage to host the operating mechanism.

What to consider before choosing a garage door

Before deciding which door to go for, there are a few practical considerations that you should keep in mind.

• The depth of your driveway
• The available headroom above the garage opening (or alternatively, the available space along the inside walls)
• Any obstructions (e.g. pipes, lights or structural features), as these could restrict installation
• Whether your garage door opens close to a public pavement (if so, automation and suitable safety sensors would also be worth considering).

Check whether your preferred garage door is compatible with all of these factors and requirements, before confirming your choice.

Finding the right garage door for your home

If you have a short or tight driveway, the right garage door will depend on your property’s layout, and the available space.

At Zap Garage Doors, we offer a free home survey. This service is designed to help you explore the options available (such as space-saving sectional garage doors), and find the best fit garage door for your home.

So, if you’re struggling to find a garage door that works for you and your home, get in touch with Zap Garage Doors.