If your garage door is between 15-30 years old, chances are it’s looking a little worn and torn and isn’t functioning as smoothly as it did in its younger years. If you’re considering a new garage door installation for your property, you’ll want to consider what garage door material is best for your new door. Each garage door material comes with advantages and disadvantages. Knowing these will help you make the perfect choice for your home!
Glass
Glass garage doors are becoming wildly popular among modern and contemporary-styled homes. They add a luxurious look to your home, and many homeowners love that they are easy to maintain. Another advantage of this garage door material is that they don’t require painting. Tempered glass doors are just as durable as aluminum doors.
The downside is that glass garage doors are extremely heavy and, therefore, more expensive to install. Also, single-panel glass doors are not good insulators, so this option is not the best if energy efficiency is your primary concern. Adding multiple panels to glass garage doors is an option that allows insulation to be added.
Aluminum
Aluminum is a garage door material that homeowners choose as a budget-friendly option with similar characteristics to steel. Although aluminum garage doors dent easily, they are lightweight, which makes installation and ongoing maintenance a breeze.
Wood
You can’t find any garage door material more classic than wood. The first known garage doors used this material, and for good reasons. Wood is a natural insulator which automatically makes it an impressive energy-efficient material. Wood garage doors are highly customizable, and with numerous wood finishes available, you’re bound to find a color that suits your home perfectly.
Like glass doors, wood garage doors are heavy. The garage door materials for this type of door are costly and require the most maintenance out of all the other materials. Wood garage doors need to be refinished annually to maximize longevity.
Faux Wood
The greatest advantage of faux wood garage doors is that you get the same look as a wood door for a fraction of the cost. A faux wood garage door is made of aluminum, steel, or fiberglass. This garage door material is then covered with a wood composite. However, they are less durable than natural wood doors and can dent and show signs of storm damage.
Vinyl
If you don’t mind having limited design and color choices, vinyl might be a fantastic garage door material choice. Typically white or beige, these doors are durable, long-lasting, and easy to maintain. They are not easy to dent, and although they are not great insulators, you can add layers of insulation between the front and back panels to help with this.
Fiberglass
Perfect for homes located in a coastal region, fiberglass garage doors are resistant to saltwater corrosion. They are hard to dent and are very lightweight, which equals easier installation. The downside of this less popular garage door material is that the paint on a fiberglass garage door can fade in extreme weather conditions. It’s also a poor insulator.
Steel
Continuing to hold the number one spot for most popular garage door material is steel. You can’t go wrong with a steel garage door. It isn’t the best insulator, but insulation can easily be added to address this concern. They are prone to rusting, but with proper maintenance and cleaning, this doesn’t deter homeowners from choosing steel for new garage door installations. This is a budget-friendly, durable, low-maintenance option with unlimited style and color options.
Other Factors to Consider Before Garage Door Installation
Aside from choosing the perfect garage door material, there are several other choices you’ll need to make when prepping for a new garage door installation. Here are a few things to consider for your new garage door:
- Garage door style
- Garage door color
- Garage door brand
- Safety and Security Features
- Maintenance Requirements
- Optional Customizations
- Property’s location
- Cost
Ask Dodson Garage Doors About Garage Door Installation Near You
A new garage door installation is a wonderful opportunity to let your personality shine and add a wow factor to your home. Whether your current garage door is outdated and you’re ready for an upgrade or you need a new garage door installation for a brand-new property, knowing who to call is vital! Choose a garage door company willing to answer your questions and give you all the options.
For a local garage door service company that values open communication, straightforward prices, and quality workmanship done right the first time, contact our team at Dodson Garage Doors in the Greater Birmingham Area for your next garage door installation.
