Understanding Garage Door Materials: Choosing the Best Fit for Your Home

Choosing a garage door material is a big deal. The material has implications for how the door looks, lasts, insulates, and requires maintenance. Individual materials include steel, wood, aluminum, fiberglass, vinyl, and composite (engineered or faux wood). Each of these materials has unique specificities and styles in terms of maintenance and performance. This article will describe what to expect from each material so homeowners can choose the best material for their homes.

Steel Garage Doors

Steel garage doors are self-reliant and comfortable to deal with. Steel garage doors are strong and versatile and are available with smooth and embossed panels. Most steel doors can be custom painted any color or finished with a faux wood–grain look. Steel resists moisture and pests. Therefore, steel doors are durable and relatively low maintenance (many models have foam insulation installed between the metal layers for efficiency and noise dampening). And they are almost always less expensive than wood doors. There are many steel options available in a wide range of styles and prices. With a variety of simple designs to modern designs and from contemporary looks to carriage-house style door options. Generally, steel works well in most regions (provided regional local guidelines, styles, etc. are adhered to) because it is strong enough without a lot of maintenance (sometimes the paint). In addition, most climates have risks for exposure to considerable amounts of rain or wind (i.e. that consists of minimal maintenance), while those doors can also resist damage from paint, bugs, or solar radiation.

Wood Garage Doors

Wood garage doors are stately structures with inherent warmth, and classic appeal. In addition, wood garage doors can be made with natural timber (Cedar, Redwood, or Fir) and employ more complex style designs (e.g., raised-panel or carriage-house door types). Wood also has a natural grain, which adds rich tones in a rustic look; this is good aesthetics that can suit traditional or craftsman architecture that may be found in your neighborhood. Wood is a natural thermal insulator, especially during winter, which helps keep the space relatively warmer in winter when needed, as well relatively cooler in summer.However, wood also requires more maintenance. Wood regular upkeep involves painting or staining for protection from moisture and the sun, or sealing the door. Without maintenance, a wood doors can become weathered, warped and eventually rotten over time. Also, wood doors tend to be heavy and often need a heavy-duty opener. In warmer climates, more homeowners want to use wood for both its natural appearance and customized look.

Aluminum Garage Doors

Lightweight and often used as a contemporary or modern design for garage doors, aluminum garage doors are typically adorned with large glass panes or sleek smooth panels and tend to look clean and contemporary. Aluminum does not rust and as a material, it is a solid option for coastal or humid environments. Being lightweight also minimizes the load on the opener or tracks, giving ease of operation to the homeowner. However, aluminum is softer than steel and has the tendency to dent, bend, and have an impact or hail damage the panels. Aluminum also has little insulating value in its own right; some models will include foam insulation cores or backed with foam to improve energy efficiency.

Fiberglass Garage Doors

Fiberglass garage doors are a lightweight low to no maintenance option with the qualities of wood. They can be manufactured to closely resemble a wood door. Similarly, fiberglass doors which are most often pre-manufactured by manufacturers can come in white or off-white panels that will sometimes be semi-transparent so natural light can filter into the garage.Fiberglass does not warp, shrink, or corrode from moisture, making these doors very stable in wet or humid climates. They are also sun resistant, so the finish does not fade as fast as on some other materials. On the downside, fiberglass can become brittle in very cold temperature or with strong impacts and may crack or chip when damaged. Fiberglass doors usually insulate only moderately unless specifically made with insulating cores. Fiberglass doors are often selected for warm, coastal or humid regions that are worried about rotting and rusting.

Vinyl Garage Doors

Vinyl garage doors are made of PVC and usually has a solid white or beige finish and the same color throughout. Vinyl combines the low-maintenance property of metal with additional strength and durability. It will not rust, rot, be eaten by insects and has excellent moisture, salt air, and other harsh conditions. Vinyl also is very tough against dents and scratches - minor damage is hard to see since color is the same through the material. These doors usually do not need painting (dark colors can fade), and the maintenance is simple: just an occasional wash with soap and water.. Vinyl does not insulate as well on its own as some materials can, but many vinyl doors are sold with foam cores to increase energy efficiency. Homeowners tend to choose vinyl for the durability and minimal maintenance (in extreme climates, like cold, heat, salt air, etc.).

Composite (Faux Wood) Garage Doors

Composite or "faux wood" garage doors are designed to look like natural wood but without the maintenance. Typically made with molded fiberglass, engineered wood, or steel with a composite overlay, they very much look like the real thing. Composite doors avoid all the rotten, cracking and warping problems caused by the moisture and humidity that real wood experiences. Usually constructed with multiple layers (with a composite exterior for example, and usually a steel core and wood-look layer) they can come insulated and often deliver great thermal performance. They are low maintenance - a composite door should generally only require a cleaning once in a while with soap and water rather than painting or sealing. The costs for composite doors range roughly with good quality wood doors with added benefit of avoiding costs for refinishing real wood. Homeowners who want the wood look with durability and less upkeep love composite garage doors.

The materials all have some combination on look, durability, upkeep, and insulation. By thinking about climate, style, and maintenance, Homeowners can successfully choose the right garage door material for their home and needs.