If you’re ready to take your home from drab to fab, consider installing a new garage door! You will see a drastic and immediate improvement in your home’s curb appeal, and depending on what garage door materials you choose, your home could look completely different! Of course, looks aren’t everything, so think of the increased security and energy efficiency a new garage door installation offers. Now might be the perfect time to invest in a new garage door.
Factors To Consider Before Garage Door Installation
Choosing the perfect garage door for your home is a fun and exciting process. A brand-new garage door could last between 15-30 years, so it’s essential to understand all your options before purchasing a new garage door. Before choosing a new garage door, think about the following:
- Style
- Color
- Material
- Brand
- Maintenance needs
- Safety/Security
- Opener
- Cost
There are many choices to make when picking out a new garage door, but today we’re going to focus on the benefits and drawbacks of 7 popular garage door materials.
Steel
One of the most popular choices among garage door materials is steel. Although they’re poor insulators, homeowners love them because they’re durable and easy to maintain. Steel garage doors are also easier on the wallet than some other garage door materials. They’re customizable to suit your home and preferences. Choose between various panel designs, windows, colors, finishes, etc.
Adding a layer of insulation (or two or three!) between the steel panels will make the garage door more energy efficient while also absorbing noise during opening and closing. Investing in thick, 24-gauge steel will eliminate potential dents, but thin garage door panels made of 27 or 28-gauge steel will dent easily.
Aluminum
Garage doors consisting of aluminum garage door materials are another budget-friendly option like steel, with the added benefit of being lightweight. A lightweight garage door makes the initial garage door installation and subsequent repairs easier for garage door technicians, which may save you time and money. A significant drawback of aluminum garage doors is that they dent easily, but very few garage door materials offer easy maintenance like aluminum doors.
Vinyl
A garage door made of vinyl is a good choice if you’re looking for a door that’s easy to clean, maintain, and is weather resistant. Vinyl garage doors are hard to dent, which makes them very durable. Unlike many other garage door materials, vinyl garage doors aren’t as customizable. They usually come in basic white and beige colors. They’re not known to be great insulators, but you can add insulation.
Glass
Glass garage doors are increasing in popularity. Although they’re expensive to install, glass garage doors are perfect for modern and contemporary styles. Of all the garage door materials, you might assume glass doors are the most fragile, but that’s not the case. Tempered glass doors are comparable to wood doors in terms of durability.
Fiberglass
Homeowners living in a coastal region may want to consider garage door materials made of fiberglass. These doors are less susceptible to saltwater corrosion and are extremely lightweight. Although weather conditions can cause fading, fiberglass garage doors can be painted almost any color. This material isn’t the best insulator, but it doesn’t dent easily, either.
Wood
For a garage door that is a great insulator, wood garage doors are an excellent choice. Wood garage doors are less weather resistant than some other garage door materials, but they are more durable. They’re highly customizable, and nobody can deny the natural beauty of a wood garage door. The downside of wood garage doors is that they require lots of maintenance, including yearly refinishing. They’re very heavy, which makes installation and maintenance more difficult.
Faux Wood
With a similar look to wood garage doors, faux wood doors are made of steel, aluminum, or fiberglass and covered with a wood composite. They’re less expensive than wood doors but are typically pricier than steel doors. Even though they look like wood, garage door materials composed of faux wood are more prone to denting and storm damage.
Have Additional Questions About Garage Door Materials?
The good news is that there’s no right or wrong choice when choosing between various garage door materials. Garage Door Enterprises is eager to answer your questions about garage door materials. If you live in the Chesapeake, VA area, ask us about our hurricane garage doors! Call (757) 482-9350 to schedule an appointment and get a free quote for garage door installation.
