When selecting a new garage door, you will have a wide range of styles to choose from. When it comes to materials, your choices are likely to be limited to either steel or wood. Although there are garage doors made from other materials such as aluminum or plastic, wood and steel are the most popular.
Twenty years ago, wood garage doors dominated the market. Nowadays, most garage doors are steel except for high end and custom garage doors. Steel doors are very strong and durable. One problem with older, low end wood garage doors was their tendency to begin rotting at the lower edge where water could seep into the wood. In addition, they needed to be painted every few years to stay looking nice.
Modern steel doors solve both of those problems with high tech baked on finishes that mean the door will not rust and never needs to be painted. Some steel doors also have excellent insulating qualities that can be important if your family uses your garage for more than just parking the car. If your garage serves as a laundry area, children’s play area, or workshop, an insulated steel door can help maintain a comfortable temperature in the garage.
Insulated steel doors have a layer of insulation applied to the back of the steel panel. In addition to its insulating qualities, the insulation has sound dampening effects that make insulated doors quieter than non-insulated single panel steel doors. High end steel doors sandwich the insulation layer between an inner and outer steel panel for the ultimate in safety and comfort.
Wood doors occupy the high end of the market along with top quality steel doors. If you want to achieve a certain look or need a custom made door to fit your garage, a wood door may be right for you. High end wood doors are made from fine hardwoods and can be painted or stained to add elegance and beauty to your home.
