What are the benefits of visiting a garage door showroom?

By visiting a garage door showroom, you can make a confident, informed choice without wasting time or money on options that don’t quite fit.

See & touch real materials - not just photos

On your screen, that 'Titania' grey might look perfect. But remember, the human eye can distinguish many more shades of grey than are available digitally.

When you're visiting a showroom, you can see the difference between screen colours and the physical Colorsteel® finishes, of which there are more than 22 standard colours. Photos can't capture true colour, sheen or depth of finish.

Seeing a new garage door in person also allows you to compare the differences between budget and premium materials side by side. Much of the stock that you'll find online is made from imported steel that's not made to withstand the country's harsh weather conditions. In contrast, Windsor Doors products are made of high-quality New Zealand steel and insulated with high-quality Mammoth® Insulation rather than basic foam-filled panels. A real-life viewing also allows you to gauge steel thickness and the build quality of a locally made garage door.

When you can touch the actual materials you're considering, you'll find that texture matters. For example, woodgrain profiles can feel completely different from smooth profiles.

Test operation, noise levels & smooth functionality

There is nothing worse than a noisy garage door that lets the whole neighbourhood know when you've arrived home. A noisy door is especially problematic in modern homes, where garages are often attached.

In a showroom setting, you get to hear the actual sound of our garage doors opening and closing to get a complete understanding of how they operate. You can feel the smoothness of Roller Doors compared to Sectional Garage Doors, test features like PE beams and auto reverse, experience manual opening and closing, and see smart connectivity demonstrations so that you can decide if smartphone controls are for you.

When you see and hear a door operate in person, the differences in quality become obvious.

Match Colorsteel® colours to your home's exterior perfectly

A new garage door that doesn't match or complement the exterior colour of a home is one of the top purchase regrets for New Zealand homeowners. The differences between colours on a screen and colours in natural light are massive.

If you don't see it for yourself before installation, it can be difficult to assess how colours appear differently in the sun compared to the shade, or how they look different against different materials such as brick, weatherboard or plaster.

New Zealand has a huge range of home styles, from weatherboard villas and brick and tile beauties to modern architectural masterpieces. When you visit a garage door showroom, you can bring samples or photographs of your cladding and compare multiple Colorsteel® shades side by side so that you can be confident you're choosing the best match for your home, and you won't be left with buyer's regret.

Get personalised advice from New Zealand garage door specialists

Just as personal preferences are different, so is every garage door. When you visit a Windsor Doors showroom, we'll give you solutions without the hard sell.

Our knowledgeable staff can answer your technical questions immediately and match your garage door to your site-specific needs, whether that's a garage with low headroom or one in a high-wind or coastal zone. We can explain how to optimise your garage door to your budget, clarify the installation timeline, discuss warranty conditions and educate you on what you'll need to do to maintain your garage door.

When you work directly with a garage door expert, the process is a smoother one because we can spot issues before they become problems, we can highlight custom solutions and give you advice specific to your region on the South Island or the North.

Get accurate pricing & avoid hidden costs

What you may not know about online pricing for a new garage door is that it often doesn't include the cost of installation or freight, which can vary wildly between the North and South Islands, and it can be difficult to decipher between inclusions and extras. On top of that, you'll need to factor in the cost of removing the old garage door and disposing of it.

When the average cost of a garage door in New Zealand ranges from $2000 to supply a single Roller Door through to $10,000 or more to have a custom-designed door installed, pricing transparency is essential.

When you visit a garage door manufacturer directly, you can obtain a detailed quote that includes installation and get the true costs of add-on features like automation. You'll also get a better understanding of how your investment will soon pay for itself, with higher resale value and improved energy efficiency.

Make decisions in hours, not weeks

You may think you're saving time shopping online for a new garage door, but are you really? If you're ready to buy, end the analysis paralysis caused by weeks of online searching and get down to your local showroom today.

With all of that online research under your belt, you probably already know enough about what it is that you are looking for in a new garage door, and you can feel confident choosing within an hour, compared to second-guessing yourself with endless options.

Maximise your showroom experience - bring these along

Visiting a garage door showroom is a great way to decide on the perfect door because you get to really experience what it would be like to have one in your home. You can touch it, hear it, and see the difference a well-made door can make. But there are a few things that help you get the most out of your visit, so make sure you bring these things along when you visit a Windsor Doors showroom.

• Photos of your home's exterior. Take pictures of different angles at different times of the day and close-ups of your cladding or paint colours. Better yet, take paint or cladding samples along, if you have them.
• Garage opening measurements. As we offer a free measure and quote service, these aren't strictly necessary, but they can help inform your decision. Measure the width at the top, middle and bottom of the garage door opening and record the biggest measurement. Measure the height from the floor to the top of the opening at the left, right and centre and record the smallest measurement. Next, measure the headroom from the top of the opening to the lowest obstruction on the ceiling. Then, the sideroom, from the side of the door frame to the first obstruction on both the left and right.
• A list of your priorities in order. For example, budget-friendly options, a modern garage door with less maintenance, advanced features, greater weather resistance, better aesthetic appeal or energy savings.
• Details of unusual features or requirements. These might be things like a coastal location requiring a wind-rated door, an existing side-hinged door, or low clearance.
• A mood board. Use your phone to save pictures of preferred looks that you've seen on Pinterest, Instagram or The Block NZ, for example.

Ready to browse?

Whether you’re ready to buy or just starting to explore we'd love to have you at our Windsor Doors showroom in Hamilton. Seeing our doors in person is the best way to understand the quality, materials and finishes available.

If you’re not nearby, you can start with our virtual showroom, which gives you an easy way to browse colours and styles before speaking with our team. It’s helpful first step, but viewing the real materials in person will always give you the most accurate results.

Our Hamilton showroom is designed to help you compare colours, test operation and get advice that suits your home and location.

Windsor Doors has been making garage doors in New Zealand, using New Zealand steel, for more than 25 years. This gives us the distinct advantage of knowing how to craft a garage door that's built to last. Call us today to book a showroom visit. Or explore our virtual showroom to get started