Is your old garage door beginning to show its wear? Are you looking to boost your curb appeal? Then it’s time to start looking for new garage door options from the experts at Precision! There is a variety of new designs and materials to choose from today’s garage door market. This how-to guide will help you navigate through the different options, what their benefits and drawbacks are, and what they will mean for your wallet.

Materials

Steel

Steel garage doors are the most popular option for garage doors, and for good reason! They are durable, cheap to install, and provide a high R-value for your garage’s insulation, which means your garage’s temperature will stay relatively regulated. Plus, steel requires minimal maintenance with only occasional cleaning with rust and stain resistant options.

Even better, gone are the days of only plain white panels for a garage door. Many steel garage doors have painted and textured options that will elevate your garage without the added cost and extra maintenance of other material options.

Wood

If you are looking for a traditional option, wood may be what you are looking for. It’s been an option for garage doors for many decades, and if applied correctly, it can make your garage door stand out from everyone else on the street.

However, while wooden garage doors certainly can provide some of the best-looking designs, there are major downsides to consider. Wooden garage doors require lots of upkeep, and if left untreated and cleaned, they can begin to rot. Wooden garage doors can also be one of the heaviest options, and as such will require more heavy-duty hardware. This balloons out their already hefty price tags.

With this in mind, a well-maintained wooden garage door can last a lifetime if you are willing and able to keep up with the maintenance.

Fiberglass

A newer material that’s gained popularity in recent years is fiberglass. Fiberglass garage doors can be made to look similar to wooden and high-end steel doors for a much lower cost. Additionally, fiberglass garage doors can offer the greatest R-value for insulation. The major drawback to fiberglass is its durability. They can become brittle and yellow in the sun over the years, so they will require replacement after a decade or so.

Garage Door Type

Traditional

A classic, traditional garage door. This is the most frequent variation that you will see when driving around your neighborhood. It is typically composed of raised rectangular panels that focus on function over design. They can be customized with windows, special paints, and hardware. This is typically the best budget pick.

Carriage

Carriage-style garage doors have seen a recent revival. Originally these doors were used for the storage of horse-drawn carriages. Its modern counterpart has been upscaled for the storage of larger motorized vehicles. These are great choices if you want to go for a more old-school style with modern technology, and now they can be offered in a variety of materials. These designs fit best on farmhouse-style homes.

Contemporary

Newer, more modern styles have appeared in the past few decades. These garage doors target clean lines and work best with a modern geometric home style. They tend to be very simple in their design with minimal embellishments. An added benefit that contemporary doors hold over traditional, or carriage doors is their flexibility in window design. Windows can be placed anywhere on a contemporary garage door and come away looking amazing.

Find the Right Garage Door with Precision

If you have weighed up these options and you are still unsure what the perfect pick for your home will be, call the experts at Precision. There are many options, and we can help you find the right garage door for your home!