MATERIAL OPTIONS

The three standard types of material options for garage doors are wood, metal, and fiberglass. Wood provides a rustic and natural look for the home’s exterior. It is important to choose a wooden garage door which has been properly finished in order to it to withstand weather hazards and must be properly maintained to ensure it least for many years.

It is a good idea to consult a garage door professional to ensure the best value for the smallest cost. It is especially important to consult a contractor to install a wooden garage door into on older home. In some cases, it may be necessary to have the door custom cut. If it has been treated properly, a wooden garage door can provide protection from both the elements and criminals. This type of door requires more maintenance than other materials.

Steel and aluminum garage doors are extremely durable and will protect the family from buglers and weather. Having a professional install a steel or aluminum door helps insure that it will be a part of the home for decades. While these doors do well in extreme winds, they do dent in certain cases and my not be appropriate for areas which receive excessive amounts of severe hail. Steel and aluminum garage doors generally have a core designed from polyurethane foam insulation making them excellent for cold or hot weather regions. This style door requires very little maintenance.

Fiberglass garage doors are extremely cost effective. They usually have a core insulation made of polyurethane foam to provide protect in very hot or cold climates. These types of doors also do well in severe hail, wind, or rain. They are more resistant to splitting than wooden doors and do not dent as easily from severe hail as steel doors. Fiberglass garage doors fall about middle ground in terms of required maintenance.

AESTHETIC PLEASURE

Once the proper material for the area has been determined it is time to decide upon style. Each of the above mentioned types of material offers a wide variety of aesthetic options. Think in terms of paint colors and wood grain designs. Most all garage door materials are offered in wood grain styles as well as a wide array of colors. Do a little window shopping to determine which style best suits the architecture of the home.

Security should be carefully considered as well. For example, if the home is in a high crime area, it may be best to choose a garage door which works well with high tech garage door openers. Some of the openers available are programmed with what is known as a rolling code. This makes it nearly impossible for criminals to steel the opening code and gain entry into the house.