Discover the pros & cons of wood, steel, aluminum, fiberglass, and composite garage doors
If you’re in the market for a new garage door, you may find yourself feeling overwhelmed by all the options. The advice here will give you an overview of the pros and cons of the various materials that garage doors can be made from. After reading you should have a better idea of which material will serve your needs best, and you’ll be one step closer to selecting the perfect garage door for your home.
Wood Garage Doors
Wood garage doors are ideal for vintage homes or for people who like a traditional look. Flat, painted wood panels are the least expensive, but to really enjoy the warmth and look of wood you’ll want to spend a bit more for stain-grade wood doors. The major pro of wood garage doors is their aesthetic appeal, but cons include the need for regular repainting or refinishing, the possibility of the wood warping or splitting, and the fact that wood doors are often heavier and require more robust garage door openers.
Steel Garage Doors
Steel garage doors are a perennial favorite. There’s a lot to recommend them, including their affordability and durability and the availability of many different design options. The main problem with steel is that it is a poor insulator, so if you want to keep your garage reasonably energy-efficient you will need to opt for an insulated steel door. When shopping for steel garage doors, remember that the lower the gauge number, the thicker the steel. For optimum resistance to dents and impact, you’ll want 24 or 25 gauge steel.
Aluminum Garage Doors
Aluminum garage doors are good for budget-conscious shoppers, because they share many of the advantages of a steel door with a lower price. However, the price is lower because aluminum is lighter and more likely to dent than steel.
Fiberglass Garage Doors
Fiberglass garage doors are relatively uncommon. The main advantage to a door with fiberglass panels is that they offer better resistance to the corrosive effects of salt air than other materials. So if you have a beachfront property, you may want to opt for fiberglass. The cons are that fiberglass is a poor insulator and tends to fade in the sun.
Wood Composite Garage Doors
Wood composite garage doors are often an ideal solution for people who want the look of wood without the maintenance. Made from recycled wood, composite doors are strong like steel and accept paint or stain like wood. Some even feature faux wood grains and look very realistic, but you never have to worry about warping or splitting like you do with real wood.
To learn more about the types of garage doors available to you, call Carroll Garage Doors and explore our selection of quality name brand and custom garage doors.
