Garage doors are something that most people only buy every 15 to 20 years. If you are thinking about having new garage doors installed and have not been in the market for awhile, you may be in for a surprise. Garage doors have come a long way in the past 20 years and its all good – today’s new garage doors are lighter weight, stronger, more stylish, and longer lasting than those made 15, 20 or 30 years ago.
The most noticeable change in garage doors has been the shift in emphasis from wood to steel. Before the late 1990’s most garage doors were made of wood. Steel doors were available, but they were heavy and expensive. Wood doors were the more popular choice because of their lighter weight and relatively low cost.
However, wood doors don’t last as long as steel doors and many mass produced wood garage doors from that era did not hold up very well. If exposed to too much moisture, wood doors tend to rot, especially if they are not regularly painted. Combined with the stress of improperly adjusted springs and a garage door opener dragging the door open two or three times a day, it’s no wonder many wood garage doors packed it in early.
The good news is that most garage doors on the market today are made of lightweight steel panels coated with baked on epoxy paints that last for years. These doors are available in a wide variety of styles, most commonly manufactured with simulated wood grains. Most standard doors are available with a variety of window options and can be purchased insulated or uninsulated. Custom garage doors are available to fit any need.
This new generation of garage doors are versatile, look great, and many carry lifetime warranties. There has never been a better time to replace those old, tired garage doors with modern steel garage doors.
