Whether you’re building or remodeling in 2014, a number of surveys show that homeowners are setting higher expectations for the outside of their home.

Good looks and low-maintenance are the attributes homebuyers value most when sizing up their options for exterior design and materials according to Professional Builder magazine’s annual Home Exteriors survey.

Garage doors and front doors are two of the Top 10 most popular exterior upgrades among new construction buyers.

Great design/curb appeal was cited by 60.1% of builders and architects as the most important concern for their customers, followed by low-maintenance, and energy efficiency/ongoing cost-savings.

Planning to sell? Garage door and entry door upgrades rank in the Top 5 home improvement projects that generate the biggest bang for your buck at resale, according to the Remodeling 2014 Cost vs. Value report.

They rank high for two reasons: they are among the most affordable projects in the survey and they have the biggest impact on a prospective buyer's first impression.

Homeowners who replace their garage door can expect to recoup an 83.7% return at resale, on average, nationwide. Steel entry door replacement is the No. 1 project. 

Another notable trend: carriage house style garage doors are the "it look" among the garage door set, representing one out of every five residential doors sold today in North America. Sales in the category have tripled since 2005, when the Door and Access Manufacturers Association conducted its original survey to gauge the popularity of carriage style doors.

New Looks to Get the Look

1. Glamming up the garage - Black is back!

Clopay's factory-applied black paint finish on the vintage style Gallery Collection 

Move over white doors, in 2014 we'll be seeing a lot more drama and glamour in the place we park our cars as Clopay adds black to its steel garage door color wheel.

Classic Premium raised panel steel door.

New thermal reflective "cool paint" technology reduces heat absorption and retention keeping surface temperatures significantly cooler than traditional paint.

2. Going all natural.

Skip the paint and opt for natural beauty. Clopay custom Reserve Collection carriage style garage doors.

In addition to offering a complete line of wood doors, Clopay has introduced several eco-friendly faux wood garage door designs that have homeowners saying, "We'll take the fake!"

Clopay Canyon Ridge Collection Limited Edition Series

Clopay’s Canyon Ridge Collection faux wood carriage style garage doorsprovide realistic beauty and charm in a durable, energy-efficient, low-maintenance door with composite cladding molded from wood boards. The material won’t rot, warp, or crack. The 2"-thick polyurethane insulated core provides a 20.4 R-value for year round comfort. Fourteen designs in three stain colors are available.

Clopay Canyon Ridge Ultra-Grain Series low-maintenance insulated faux wood carriage style garage door that combines steel with composite overlays. 

Clopay Gallery Collection vintage style grooved panel steel garage door in a faux wood Ultra-Grain paint finish.

Clopay Cypress Collection smooth flush panel insulated steel door with faux woodgrain finish -- perfect for the modern home.

3. A breath of fresh air.

Residential builders continue to take a cue from the commercial category, looking for opportunities to create a more seamless transition between interior and exterior living spaces.

The Avante Collection glass garage door remains a popular choice for opening up kitchens and family rooms at the press of a button. Closed, the door becomes a contemporary window wall.

Ready to reinvent your home? Use Clopay’s online design tool to upload a photo of your home and try on one of these unique garage door or front door styles.

Design your garage door and see how it looks on your home with Clopay’s Door Imagination System.

Read More About Garage Door Trends

- Bringing Classy Black Back To Garage Doors 

- Garage Door Trends 2022

- Garage Trend Spotting

- Functional To Fashionable