Before + After: New Garage Doors That Transformed Our Curb Appeal
When we bought this house four years ago, the curb appeal felt very stuck in 1988. But little by little (and one DIY at a time), we’ve chipped away at it—ripping out overgrown bushes, painting the exterior, adding new landscaping, and building projects that made the space feel more like us.
But there was one thing we’d put off for years: the garage doors.
They were original to our house, made of MDF and plywood, and in terrible shape. Like, wood clamps holding them together level terrible. We DIY what we can around here, but we knew this one needed to be left to the pros.
So when Clopay offered to gift us new doors from their Bridgeport Steel line, we said YES. (Quick note: The doors were gifted, but we paid for installation, and all opinions are 100% our own.)
Everything We've Done So Far to Boost Our Curb Appeal
This house has come a long way in four years, and most of the improvements have been DIY-friendly (and budget-friendly). Here’s what we tackled before touching the garage doors:
🪚 Ripped out overgrown shrubbery that was crowding the house
🎨 Painted the exterior in Shoji White (a warm, creamy white that feels timeless)
🪵 Built and installed cedar shutters to warm up the front
🪵 Wrapped the front porch columns in cedar, too
🌧️ Swapped the gutter downspout for a pretty rain chain
🌿 Added new landscaping beds and a fresh mulch border
All of these upgrades helped pull the house together—but the garage doors were still loud, warped, and totally clashing with the rest of the look.
Why We Chose Clopay’s Bridgeport Steel Garage Doors
Clopay has a ton of beautiful options, but we landed on the Bridgeport Steel line for a few reasons:
It has recessed panels, which gave us a traditional look with a modern feel
The material is insulated steel, so it's durable and low maintenance
We could color match to Shoji White so the doors blended into the house seamlessly
And the polyurethane insulation makes a huge difference in temperature and noise
Our kids play around the garage all the time, so the insulation helps make the garage quieter and more comfortable inside—and adds some serious strength to the doors.
Before + After: The Big Reveal
Here’s what our garage doors looked like before:
And here’s what they look like now:
Honestly? It changed the entire look of our house.
Want to See Other Garage Door Options?
If you’re trying to decide what direction to go with your own doors, here are a couple of AI renderings we created to visualize different styles:
Matte black with vertical glass panels — bold + modern
Faux wood garage doors — rich and warm
It’s so helpful to see your house with these styles before making a decision!
(Clopay even has a free visualizer tool where you can upload a photo of your home and “try on” different door designs.)
Final Thoughts
I’m all for a good DIY, but some upgrades are worth hiring out—and this one was so worth it.
New garage doors don’t just change the look of your house; they can improve your energy efficiency, increase your resale value, and eliminate that embarrassing creaky rattle when the door goes up. 😂
If you’re thinking about replacing yours, Clopay is the way to go. The quality, the design, and the overall feel of our home is so much better because of these doors.
Have questions about the process? Or want to know what we’d do differently? Leave a comment or send me a DM—I’m always happy to share what we’ve learned.
💕- DeLancey
