When you're in the market for a new garage door, you want to take your time to shop around, choose the best material and style for your home and get a door that actually works for your needs in particular. Note what is meant by this and how to choose the best door for your home and your property in particular.
Budget
When considering your budget, you want to think about long-term costs for the door and not just installation costs. A wood door can be affordable to install, but the wood will need more maintenance over the years; direct sunlight and harsh weather will fade the colour or stain, and even with the best seal-coating, the door can still absorb moisture and expand or allow mould to grow.
A steel door may be more expensive to install but won't expand, contract or need a new coat of paint every few years. Steel may eventually rust, so aluminium or a wood composite, made with a mixture of wood and plastic, can be even better choices as these won't rust or corrode and won't need the long-term maintenance of a solid wood door.
Insulation
Do you use your garage as a work space, or is it attached to the home? If so, you want a door with good insulating properties. A steel door with just one layer of metal may not insulate the space well and may even make the space hotter or colder at the wrong times. A steel door with insulating materials between two skins can be a better choice. That inside insulating material will block out cold, heat, humidity and other elements. If you cannot afford an insulated steel door, a wood door can be a better option than bare metal.
Quiet
If your garage is very close to the living space of your home or close to the neighbours, you may want to keep it as quiet as possible. Usually a heavy garage door is the loudest, and metal will conduct sound rather than absorb it. A lightweight wood door won't put added pressure on the chains or springs that open and close the door, so it can be the quietest choice. Also, a roller door runs on a track that is installed along the garage door frame; this track can keep the door in place as it moves, reducing any shaking and resultant noise that is common with a door that swings out to open.
As you can see, there are a lot of things to consider when it comes to garage doors, so make your choice carefully.
Share24 April 2017
Hi, my name is Jenny. I love decorating both the inside and the outside of my homes, and in particular, I love picking out garage doors. Contrary to popular belief, garage doors do not have to be boring. They can be super colorful or unique designs. One thing I really like is garage doors that remind me of the great outdoors. To that end, I love garage doors with vinyl stickers on them depicting the outdoors, and I also love doors reminiscent of old barn doors. If you want tips on making your garage door look like it is inspired by nature or farming, please explore my blog.
