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Welcome to the world of homeownership. You’re likely going to spend the next few years obsessing over home decor and weighing the pros and cons of having certain appliances.
While you might be able to easily pin down which washer and dryer set you want, selecting one of the many types of garage doors on the market is sure to make your head throb. Garage doors aren’t, after all, cheap, so you want to get things right the first time.
So which material should you look into when selecting a garage door for your new home? Which one will provide the most utility given your budget and preferences? Let’s find out.
Aluminum
As some of you may now, aluminum isn’t the most durable material. Despite that fact, building garage doors with aluminum has its benefits.
Aluminum, for example, resists rust better than some of the other options on this list. This means that you don’t have to worry about that ugly, rusty look a few years down the line.
Further still, aluminum is a lightweight material. As a result, it is often incorporated in extra wide garage doors and other types of garage doors that might get a little hefty.
One of the only drawbacks of using aluminum is that it doesn’t resist dents so well. Fortunately, you can find more aluminum doors on the market. Needless to say, though, you’re going to pay a bit more for that added durability.
Fiberglass
Fiberglass gives homeowners some of the same benefits that aluminum provides. Like aluminum, it resists dents. It also doesn’t rust.
Dents and rust aside, fiberglass is an “easy” material to work with because it can be easily manipulated. It can be crafted to look like somewhat expensive wood or it can be made to look a bit transparent. All in all, fiberglass allows homeowners a fair amount of customization at a decent cost.
The material, however, does not come without its faults. It has been known to take on a yellowish hue over time. It has also been known to break as it ages.
As a matter of fact, it is more likely to break on impact than some of the other types of garage doors mentioned here. That said, if you’re planning on backing into your garage door for some reason, don’t choose fiberglass.
Wood
Wood is timeless. We’ve been building with it for millennia, and we’re not likely to stop anytime soon. And since some people are branding it as a sustainable building material, maybe that’s a good thing.
Wooden garage doors are fairly durable compared to fiberglass and aluminum, but this doesn’t mean that they last longer than other doors. For obvious, they resist dents well. If maintained well, they can last for years.
If you’ve ever purchased wooden furniture, you probably know that wood is costly. That said, you’re definitely going to pay a steep price if you want a wooden garage door.
Of course, that price is arguably worth the expense. Similar to fiberglass, wood is a material which offers customers lots of opportunities for customization. Homeowners can choose from a vast array of woods to get the look that they really want for their garage doors.
If you go with wood, however, just remember to properly maintain your garage door. You do, after all, want your money to go as far as possible.
Wood Composite Doors
Wood composite doors are slightly different from wooden garage doors. They consist of a blend of derivative woods products. In other words, they’re fairly processed compared to wooden doors.
While both types of garage doors (wooden and wood composite) are durable, wood composite doors arguably come out on top here. For one, composite woods typically have a longer life span than solid woods. Because of the longer life span, the money homeowners put towards wood composite doors goes a lot further.
Don’t, however, misunderstand us here. We’re not suggesting that wood is inferior to wood composites. Some people would argue that composites don’t compare to solid woods when it comes to style and elegance. We’re just pointing out that composites are a budget-friendly option.
Steel
Steel is even more durable than wood. Not only that, but the typical construction of steel garage doors pretty much ensures that this type of garage door will withstand the elements well. They’re usually made from multiple layers of galvanized steel.
To be fair, though, steel garage doors aren’t perfect. As some of you might expect, they do rust. They can also be dented.
Further still, they are susceptible to corrosion. This is even more true for people who live in coastal areas. As a result, we don’t recommend steel garage doors for people who live in such areas and aren’t willing or able to replace their garage doors somewhat frequently.
If, however, you can live with the corrosion (which we doubt), go for it.
Vinyl
Vinyl is perhaps the most budget-friendly material on this list. We say this because vinyl garage doors are so hard to actually damage. Furthermore, they require so little maintenance that it’s hard for some homeowners not to go vinyl when they need something that will last for a while.
As with most good things, though, there is a tradeoff. If you want a vinyl garage doors, you’ll have to compromise on the design. Vinyl doors are not available in as many colors or designs as most of the other options on this list. Those of you who can’t live without a little customization should rule vinyl out as an option.
Choosing Between the Different Types of Garage Doors
It looks like you’ve got your work cut out for you. You have to make a major decision that will affect your home’s exterior design for years to come.
Unless, of course, you have thousands of dollars to spare.
In any case, once you settle on a material for your garage, you can start picking out a garage door opener. Because, you know, no garage door is complete without one.
Still haven’t even had your garage door installed yet? Contact us today for a free estimate.
