A Straightforward Guide To Choosing Garage Doors

Garage doors are a surprisingly important yet often overlooked feature of most homes. In straightforward terms of visual impact, garage doors can easily consume 20% or more of the total frontage to a house – which means that garage doors can affect your homes value quite significantly.

So what things should you look out for when you come to buy (or replace) garage doors? The first thing to consider is the material the doors are made from; there are 3 basic categories.

In the US and Canada, metal is the most common garage door material, accounting for about eighty percent of the market. The metal usually used is either aluminum or steel, with aluminum doors being lighter but more expensive. In both cases, the doors should have a coat of paint suitable for use on metal outdoors, but other than that they are mostly low maintenance; they are however easily dented and can twist and buckle which may affect both appearance and functionality.

Synthetic doors made from fiber-glass or vinyl offer the advantage of being both light and robust. They can also be painted (though are often already pre-treated to a particular color) and generally weather knocks and scrapes better than metal; they will last a decade or more depending on the amount of exposure to ultra-violet light from the sun which breaks the material down.

Wood garage doors obviously date back to the first ever garages and this heritage is apparent in their timeless, classic appearance. Wood, being a natural material, is attractive, versatile and straightforward to maintain, and can take either paint or stain to blend in with existing wood features such as windows and doors.

As with all wood products, the quality depends on the specific type of wood and whether it is a composite construction (compressed fibres and laminates) or solid wood. Hence the price can also vary quite widely, but as ever, you get what you pay for and most people consider wood garage doors to be the best.

Second you should consider where to source your chosen type of door. As with many major household items, a quality original product installed by competent fitters will ensure years of trouble free enjoyment. Accordingly, you would be well advised to check for references of previous installations and evidence that your supplier has been around a while, has a reputation worth protecting and offers reasonable warranties and after-sales support in the event that anything should go awry.

Garage doors can be sourced from builder’s merchant or large DIY stores, general window/door companies, and specialist garage door suppliers. It goes without saying though that where long term performance and durability is concerned, the installation process is every bit as important as the quality of the doors in the first place. Specialists who fit garage doors day in day out are far more likely to deliver a result that looks good and lasts from day one for many years to come.