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Garages are often equipped with lighting, electrical boxes, and sometimes even heating and cooling, while carports rarely have utilities. A garage is an enclosed structure that can lock and usually has an automatic door. A carport is often wood or plastic and is designed only to protect a car from elements like rain, snow, and hail. Carports are commonly seen on property where an attached garage is unfeasible but can be a cost-effective solution for car protection for anyone without a completed garage. 

Garage doors are heavy and close under power, so ensuring they're safe should be one of the priorities of a homeowner. Installing at least one sensor is a good start, but it doesn't hurt to have two, especially considering you can install a secondary system for less than $100. Remember that sensors require calibration and simple but regular maintenance checks— installing them is only the first step.

An average two-car garage size is about 580 square feet. A common dimension for a two-car garage is 24-feet deep by 24-feet wide, as measured by the interior width. However, the manufacturing of larger vehicle sizes means many homeowners want to build bigger garages. It’s not uncommon for a two-car garage to be 30-feet by 30-feet.

Garage door sensors should be installed on each side of the door, typically six inches off of the ground. The sensors communicate through an infrared beam, so they need to face each other directly for the system to work properly. Make sure they’re level and aligned, and keep the area around them clear. If they’re too high or out of alignment, your garage door won’t function properly.