A new garage door can be made from a variety of materials, but wood, steel, aluminum, and vinyl are the most common. Steel doors have become more popular than wood doors in recent years. Steel doors are often made with a painted, wood grain finish, but they last longer than wood doors. Steel doors do not rot like a wood door can and their factory finish usually lasts longer. If a wood finish is important, there are steel doors manufactured with a wood veneer.
Most garage doors are sectional doors mounted on rollers. Unlike doors made out of a single panel, sectional doors do not swing out as they open so a driver does not have to be careful of how close they park to the garage door.
Garage doors are available insulated or uninsulated. Insulated garage doors can help reduce your heating and cooling costs.
Garage doors use either a torsion spring or extension spring to help lift the weight of the door. A torsion spring mounts over the head of the door and is attached to the door by a cable which is wrapped around a pulley attached to each end of the torsion spring. As the door closes, the spring is wound up. As the door opens, the spring unwinds as it helps lift the door.
Extension springs are also attached to the door by cables. Extension springs stretch as the door is closed, then, as the door is opened, the spring retracts and helps lifts the door.
Your local garage door professional can help you choose the right garage door for your home.
