Today’s best garage doors are available in various materials. Each option has several strengths to consider, along with a few potential shortcomings to manage.
Here is a quick overview of each garage door material option to see if one makes more sense than the others for your property.
What Garage Door Materials Are Available Today?
High-quality garage doors provide several material and finish choices to work with homes or commercial properties of virtually any scope or size. These key points are what you’ll want to consider.
1. Steel
The most popular material for garage doors today is steel. This option is reasonably priced for most homeowners, incredibly durable, and requires minimal maintenance. You can paint it or add textures that make it look like other choices, such as wood. It can be a poor insulator, so it helps to choose an insulated option to keep energy costs manageable.
Steel garage doors have panels that come in several thickness options. The most affordable designs in this category tend to be made from 28-gauge steel or slightly thicker. A top-quality product uses at least 24-guage materials, while commercial-grade doors use something more substantial.
2. Wood Composite
These garage doors are made using recycled fibers. It offers a strength level similar to steel while delivering the texture and look of wood. You can stain or paint this product, which resists splitting and rotting well. Most composite doors use a wood frame and sheets of fiberboard for strength and stability.
3. Fiberglass
Although this option represents a small industry segment, it does a better job of resistant dents and dings than steel. It is a lightweight option with more resistance to salt-based corrosion, but it requires insulation to manage energy transfers. There can also be fading issues with darker colors.
4. Aluminum
This garage door material shares several of the characteristics you can find with steel. It offers faux finishes and texturing to generate virtually any visual aesthetic you prefer. Most homeowners find this option to be the most affordable, but it is more susceptible to impact damage.
5. Wood
The first garage doors found in homes were made with this material. It continues to be a popular choice for homeowners seeking a traditional style. They’re available in several types, which include windows, to match the look of modern or historic homes.
Affordable designs include painted wood with flat hardboard panels. You can upgrade to a stain-grade product for even more curb appeal.
Wood offers more insulative qualities than metal but requires more refinishing and maintenance.
6. Vinyl
This material is an excellent choice for homes with young children and pets. They’re challenging to damage or break. Most options are built on steel frames filled with poly insulation to create a robust alternative to protect against unauthorized property entry. Aside from rinsing them occasionally, vinyl requires minimal maintenance. They typically look like their fiberglass counterparts, though fewer color choices are available.
Some garage doors combine materials to create a more customized installation, such as having an aluminum frame and fiberglass panels. In return, each home can receive the security and functionality it needs.