Tips to Buying a New Garage Door

Garage doors serve a number of important purposes to the exterior of your home. It is one of the primary features noticed when it comes to determining curb appeal. Your garage door also functions as the primary entrance/exit for your automobiles, personal storage, and potential your primary entrance your home as well.

However, when it comes to buying a new garage door some people cut corners where they otherwise wouldn’t if it was replacement windows or roofing.

As a result, we have put together this guide to offer tips for buying a new garage door!

Types of Garage Doors

Garage doors are built in a variety of different styles and materials. Before you get too deep into your shopping experience, it’s important to narrow down the search to a few specific types in order to prevent getting overwhelmed.

Here is a basic guide on the types of materials you can select from:

Aluminum

Aluminum has been a godsend for metals as you see it on so many different types of products these days. It is not a big surprise that windows and doors are now built with aluminum. The lightweight metal is durable and rust-resistant.

It is ideal for humid environments where wood is known to suffer. It is also possible to create a more modern look with frosted glass. However, aluminum doesn’t do well in climates with harsh weather changes like the midwest.

Wood

Even though other types of materials are being able to replicate the grain and texture of wood, nothing beats the real thing. Wood is authentic and beautiful. You can keep the grain by finishing it with a beautiful stain and varnish.

You can paint over it in whatever color you want to match the trim or body color of the exterior. Moisture-resistant woods like cedar, cypress, and redwood generally make the best garage doors. However, wood garage doors can deteriorate and it’s costly to maintain doors made out of wood.

Composite Wood

This material has gained some traction with homeowners that still want a more authentic building material yet more resiliency and dependability compared to 100% wood products. Composite wood is more durable and low maintenance, as well as cheaper. You will not experience the same cracks, splits, shrink, and rot of true wood doors. Nevertheless, composite wood is still inferior to the Midwest weather.

Steel

If you really want to go all out nothing beats the contemporary look and design of steel. The extremely heavy-duty metal can withstand a lot of abuse and the elements. It is also very secure for home burglaries. Additionally, steel garage doors can drastically improve your curb appeal since they have many colors, panel designs, and decorative glass options.

Styles of Garage Doors

Now that you are aware of the primary types of garage doors, it’s time to examine the various styles. Homes in North America generally have one of the following six styles:

Sectional Garage Doors

 Sectional doors are the most common in the United States. Your block is likely coated in them. You probably already have a sectional garage door. The panel sections are connected with hinges. When the garage door opens and closes the wheels at the edge of each panel roll inside a vertical track.

The low-maintenance door is popular because a lot of issues can get self-diagnosed and repaired. They are typically made of steel.

Roll-Up Garage Doors

The roll-up style is more common in commercial settings compared to residential. The no-frills design is great for limited ceiling space. Steel slats roll around a drum above the door opening. They are excellent at withstanding heavy use yet more expensive than sectional doors.

Slide-to-the-Side Garage Doors

It operates just like the name implies. The style of garage door is far less common yet has a sleek parallel fitting. Slide-to-the-Side Garage doors were one of the first on the market.

Side-Hinged Garage Doors

Another old-fashioned design where the doors swing open and closed from a hinged frame on the side of the opening. People often refer to them as barn doors given how they operate. Side-hinged garage doors are starting to witness a small comeback in the industry as some homeowners prefer a more classic look.

Tilt-Up Canopy Garage Doors

Tilt-up canopy doors are comparable to side-hinged styles in that the door doesn’t have sections. It is made of one solid piece. The pivoting mechanism allows it to conform into the garage.

Tilt-Up Retractable Garage Doors

The design is very similar to tilt-up canopy garage doors. The door is suspended independently from the frame, which prevents it from extending past the front of the house. The biggest setback is you need more space to install this type of door. They’re also expensive.

Insulated Garage Doors

Once you settle on a type and style the next important factor to consider is insulation. Most garages are not heated. Regardless, your garage door still contributes to how efficient your home is with energy.

Insulation in garage doors has improved dramatically over the last decade. The doors have tighter fits which prevents controlled temperatures from escaping or unwanted temperatures into your home. They can also help reduce noise with soundproof qualities.

You don’t need to invest in an insulated garage door. However, it doesn’t hurt to consider a more energy-efficient unit as it will help with energy costs and overall comfort inside the home. It is especially true if the garage connects to a kitchen or other room that’s used heavily throughout the year.

Also, those that live in places known for dangerous conditions such as hurricane-prone or tornado-prone areas may want to consider a garage door with extra security features. These doors can provide additional bracing, heavier gauge tracking, and other hardware to withstand natural disasters the best way possible.

Installing a New Garage Door – DIY Project?

YouTube and other sources on the internet have made home DIY projects more straightforward than ever. However, that doesn’t mean some installs aren’t still best left to the pros.

Garage doors are like replacement windows and roofing. You can do it yourself, yet you need to make sure you know what you are doing. There is plenty that could go wrong and the new garage door is only efficient as how well it was installed.

We suggest you hire a professional for garage door installation. Some manufacturers may even include installation as part of the purchase price for the new garage door. It doesn’t hurt to ask what types of incentives you can get with the new door, including a warranty and guarantee.

Installing a garage door without the proper training, experience, or equipment could lead to serious injury and/or costly repairs.

Replacing Old Garage Doors

Replacing an old door with a new garage door can do wonders for your convenience and curb appeal. It can also help with energy efficiency and noise levels. We recommend listening to the following tips when determining which type of door is best for your needs.

For the best curb appeal and convenience, steel garage doors are the optimal choice for your garage. With steel garage doors, you’ll have many colors, panel designs, and decorative glass options to choose from. Additionally, steel is very durable and secure so you won’t have to worry about wear and tear. Many homeowners in the Midwest choose Feldco for their high-quality garage doors. Get a free quote online and speak to our product specialist team about steel garage doors today.