Today, there are numerous options available for garage doors, including various materials, styles, advanced features, and innovative technology. Choosing the right one can be overwhelming, but this guide will break down the key factors to consider, helping you make an informed decision that suits your home perfectly.
Why Is It Worth Spending Time Choosing the Best Garage Door?
Your garage door isn’t just a functional necessity; it plays several important roles for your home:
- Boosting Curb Appeal: Your garage door can account for as much as 30% of your home’s front exterior. Choosing the right style can significantly enhance your home’s appearance.
- Adding Value to Your Home: Upgrading your garage door is considered a smart investment that can actually increase your home’s value.
- Saving Energy: If your garage is attached to your home or you live in an area with extreme temperatures, insulation is crucial. An insulated garage door helps regulate the temperature inside the garage.
- Enhancing Security: The garage door serves as an entry point to your home, so security is essential. Look for robust construction and reliable locking mechanisms.
- Reducing Noise: Doors with more layers and insulation can help quiet things down, which is great if you’re using the garage as a workspace or if it’s next to living areas.
Diving into Materials: What’s Your Door Made Of?
The material you choose makes a big difference to how durable your door is, how much upkeep it needs, how well it insulates, how it looks, and ultimately, how much it costs.
Let’s look at the popular options:
- Steel: This is the most common material for modern garage doors. It’s strong, durable, doesn’t need much maintenance, and is usually the most affordable option. You can find steel doors in a huge range of styles, including traditional, modern, and even ones that look like real wood.
- Wood: Wood doors offer a beautiful, natural look and can be highly customized. They require regular painting or staining. Wood is often heavier than other materials, can be more costly, and may come with shorter warranties.
- Aluminum: Lightweight, rust-resistant, and doesn’t need much upkeep. You can get aluminum doors in various styles, including those cool full-view glass ones. However, aluminum is less strong than steel and can dent or scratch more easily. Aluminum doors are generally more expensive than steel ones.
- Wood Composite: Get the look of wood without the upkeep! Wood composite doors are often chosen when you want a custom colour and are typically less expensive than real wood. They’re also praised for flexibility in colour and style. Interestingly, they’re natural insulators and made with environmentally friendly materials.
- Fiberglass: This material can mimic the look of wood grain really well and doesn’t shrink, warp, or crack like wood does, making it good for humid climates. It also lets natural light into the garage. Fiberglass is often more economical than wood.
The types of garage doors
It might seem like all garage doors go up and over, but there are actually a few different ways they can operate.
Here are the basic types of mechanisms:
- Sectional: This is the most common type found in residential garages in the UK and US. These doors are made of panels connected by hinges that roll along vertical tracks, curving to sit parallel to the ceiling when open.
- Roll-Up: Often seen in commercial settings, these doors are made of steel slats that roll around a drum above the opening. They’re good when you have limited ceiling space.
- Slide to the Side: As the name suggests, these bend to one side and sit parallel to the wall. This is one of the original operating styles and works well for garages with little headroom. They don’t need balancing springs and can have a built-in motor.
- Side-Hinged: These swing open like big barn doors from a frame on either side. They can be made of wood or steel and are a good option for garages with obstructions or limited headroom. They can even be automated.
- Tilt-Up Canopy: This type is one solid piece that pivots up to sit parallel to the ceiling when open, but it extends past the front of the garage.
- Tilt-Up Retractable: Also one solid piece, this door lifts up and into the garage, suspending independently from the frame. This setup needs more space than the canopy type and is generally more difficult and expensive to operate.
Does garage door insulation work
We mentioned insulation earlier, and it’s worth looking at again, especially if you live somewhere with harsh weather or your garage is attached to your house. Good insulation helps regulate temperature and reduce noise.
We measure insulation using something called R-value. A higher R-value means the door is better at resisting heat flow (or keeping heat in during winter and out during summer).
Garage doors usually use one of two types of insulation:
- Polystyrene: This is a rigid foam that’s bonded to the door panels. It’s lightweight and offers decent insulation value.
- Polyurethane: This is a foam that’s injected into the panel and expands to fill the space. It generally provides higher R-values.
When comparing garage doors, always check the R-value for the entire door, not just the center of a panel. For most homes, an R-value between 6.5 and 9 is generally sufficient. However, if you frequently use your garage as a workshop or it is connected to your main living space, consider doors with R-values of 16 or higher. Even basic insulated doors can provide adequate insulation.
Security: The main functions of residential garage doors
Modern garage doors come with important features designed to keep you and your family safe.
Key safety features include:
- Automatic Reversal System: Legally required on openers since 1993, this feature ensures the door will automatically stop and reverse if it encounters an obstruction while closing.
- Pinch-Resistant Design: Look for doors where the edges are shaped to push fingers away from the joints between panels as the door closes. This is especially important if you have children. Amarr is mentioned as a brand known for this feature.
- Manual Release: Most doors have a way to disconnect the door from the opener, useful if the power goes out or the opener malfunctions.
In terms of security, doors with sturdy construction, robust locks, and limited access points tend to be more secure. Sectional and roll-up doors often offer better security in this regard.
Custom garage doors are becoming popular
You don’t just have to settle for off-the-shelf! Many garage doors can be highly customised.
Here are some ways you can make your door unique:
- Material: As we’ve seen, the material itself sets a certain tone.
- Colour: Beyond standard white, beige, and brown, many manufacturers offer a wide palette. You can also often paint a steel door or stain a wood door to get the exact colour you want. Consider choosing a contrasting colour to really make your door pop and enhance curb appeal.
- Design/Style: Choosing the basic style (traditional, carriage house, modern) is the first step, but within those, there are often variations in panel designs and textures.
- Windows: Adding windows breaks up the door’s expanse, adds character, and lets natural light into the garage. You can get various styles, and even etched or coloured panes for privacy.
- Smart Accessories：For example, smart door openers and motion-sensing lights. These devices can work together to improve the convenience and safety of garage doors.
Some manufacturers even have online design tools to help you visualise what different options would look like on your home.
What is the best residential garage door brand?
There are several trusted brands on the market that have stood the test of time and proven to be reliable. Some brands you may come across include Clopay, Amarr, Wayne Dalton, Overhead Door, and Grandsea, with Grandsea garage doors being the top choice for value.
You can also find more information about garage door manufacturers elsewhere.
When choosing a brand, consider the following:
- Warranty coverage: Warranty terms vary significantly. Steel doors typically come with a 10-year warranty, with some offering limited lifetime warranties. It is recommended to consult the garage door manufacturer directly and review the warranty details for different components and materials. Note that using parts from different manufacturers may void the warranty.
- Customization options and features.
- Customer reviews.
How much does a garage door cost?
Okay, let’s talk money. The cost of a new garage door can vary a lot.
Several things influence the price tag:
- Material: Steel is generally the most budget-friendly, while wood and custom designs are usually more expensive.
- Size: A double garage door will cost more than a single one.
- Insulation: Doors with higher R-values cost more.
- Style and Design: Custom designs, decorative hardware, and adding windows will bump up the price.
- Brand: Some brands are pricier based on their reputation or unique features.
- Installation: Hiring a professional adds to the total cost.
In the United States, you can expect to pay between $1,500 and $5,500 for a new garage door, including installation, with the average price being approximately $1,800. High-end custom doors can easily exceed $3,000. Note that these are only estimates.
If you are considering buying a garage door from China, such as Grandsea, you may be impressed by the superior performance and affordable prices of garage doors made in China.
How to maintain the garage doors?
To keep your garage door functioning properly and looking its best, regular maintenance is required. The type of maintenance depends on the material.
- Wood: Need regular painting or staining and frequent checks for rot.
- Steel: Wash it at least twice a year to get rid of grime and salt. Fix any scratches quickly to stop rust from forming.
- Aluminum (Full View): Remember to clean those glass panels.
Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for maintenance, painting, or refinishing to avoid voiding your warranty. If you notice common signs of trouble like unusual noises, the door sticking, or balance issues, remember that complex problems, especially those involving springs, are dangerous and require a professional.
Repair or Replace?
Most garage doors are built to last, often for 15 years or even longer.
So, how do you know whether to repair or replace?
- Consider replacing if your door is old, badly damaged, or if you want significant improvements like better safety features, insulation, or a complete change in how it looks.Garage Door Maintenance Complete Checklist
- Repair might be fine for minor issues, but again, call in a professional for anything complicated or dangerous like problems with springs or cables.
Your Perfect Door Awaits!
Choosing the right garage door is all about finding the right balance between appearance, functionality, and budget. The best garage doors not only complement your home’s style but also meet your practical needs for security, energy efficiency, and convenience.
A garage door is an important long-term investment in your home’s value and appearance. Feel free to consult Grandsea’s garage door experts. We can provide buying guidance and customize garage doors to ensure you get a high-quality garage door experience.
