A Guide to Picking The Right Garage Door Material

Garage doors are a huge investment. They play a prominent role in enhancing the curb appeal of the whole house. Also, garage doors cost very high. So it’s not something you can keep changing every year. So one needs to put in a lot of thought and take into consideration a lot of factors while choosing a garage door. It goes without saying that the material is the foremost thing that should be taken into consideration while choosing a garage door. The type of material depends a lot on the area you are living in. 

Like if you live in termite-infested areas or areas with a lot of moisture in the atmosphere, it would be advisable to not get wooded garage doors or if you live in areas having stormy atmospheric conditions, the lightweight aluminum garage door wouldn’t be advisable.

Garage Door

Choose the materials based on your requirements and the outlook of your house.

1. Aluminum: This material is light in weight and is available in a variety of styles, colors, and designs. Another upside of this material is that it has almost no maintenance unless you dent it real bad. It is rustproof and so is unaffected by humid and salty environments. But it is less durable than steel and wood and can dent easily. So, if proper care isn’t taken, you could end up with a garage door full of football dents and a lot of scratches.
2. Steel: Steel garage door, just like aluminum garage door comes in various styles, colors, and designs. Also, it is a lot more durable than aluminum. A steel garage door is laminated or painted to prevent it from rusting. So, if there is a scratch on it or if the lamination or the paint is removed in any way and the bare steel is exposed to the atmosphere, there is a risk of the garage door getting rusted. So, regular inspection and repainting or re lamination are required to ensure the longevity of a steel garage door.
3. Wood: This is the medieval style of garage doors. Also, it’s the costliest of all. The most commonly used wood material is cedar, but you can get even mahogany if you have the budget. If you have a low budget, you can get the look of wood using veneers or overlays. Wooden garage doors are the best for stone or wood houses or old fashioned houses. But the downside of wood is that besides being costly, it needs a lot of maintenance.
4. Fiberglass or PVC: These materials are the best for contemporary homes. You can just go crazy with interesting wood designs and glass doors. You can practically get any design you want in this array of materials. Also, it is the latest addition to the list. It generally costs more than metal and lesser than solid wood. It is really durable, even more than wood. But it may crack if impacted with something really huge and heavy. The most preferred in this category is the fiberglass material. You can get a natural-looking wooden surface or get a garage door looking like it’s made up of glass or any design your imagination can come up with. That is why this recent addition to the list of garage door material is gaining popularity rapidly.

Also, while choosing the material, keep in mind the type of style you want for your garage door. You can experiment with styles like Victorian, Georgian, colonial, Edwardian or ‘50s ranch-style or go modern with contemporary styles. But remember any style you pick should blend well with the outlook of your house and enhance the façade if the house. Don’t make the mistake of not considering the garage door a part of your house.