How to Choose the Right Garage Door for Your Home

If you are in the market for a new garage door, you have several decisions you will need to make. The materials, opening style, and weather resistance of the door are important factors that must influence your choice.



Materials

You have multiple material options when choosing a garage door. Wood, metal, and fiberglass are the primary options, although there are variations even within the choices.

Wood

Wood doors are typically made of a hardboard material that can withstand weathering. Regardless of the type of wood you use, you must regularly paint or seal the door to prevent water damages. Modern wood composites are made from wood fibers mixed with a polymer binding agent, which makes them more durable compared to standard wood. 

Metal

The most common metal options are aluminum and steel. Aluminum is both lightweight and rust-resistant, which makes the garage door easier to use. Steel is rust-resistant when properly sealed, and it can be painted to any color desired. Thinner steel doors can be dented easily, but heavier doors are more dent resistant.

Fiberglass

A fiberglass garage door consists of fiberglass panels over an aluminum frame, which results in a very lightweight door. Fiberglass doors are relatively durable, although they will fade more drastically over time. Their main benefit is resistance to salt corrosion — a good feature if you live near the ocean.

Style

The market offers a variety of opening styles, but most home garages have a variation on one of three main types. These three types typically are designed to raise up and down, although you may get some of these styles in side-opening models.

Rolling

Rolling doors are ideal when your garage has minimal space for the door to go upon opening, such as in garages with a low ceiling. The door is made of multiple small sections that will roll around a spool during opening. Rolling doors are usually made of aluminum or steel.

Sectional

Sectional doors are the most common residential style. These doors consist of wide sectional panels that hinge up and out of the way as the door opens. Sectional doors don't require additional space to open or close, but they do require ceiling space when open. You can find sectional doors in any of the main materials.

Tilt

Tilt-style doors come as single pieces, typically made of wood but sometimes metal. Although usually the most inexpensive option, the way these doors tilt up and back as they open does require driveway space during operation.

Weather-Resistance

When it comes to weather resistance in garage doors, you have a few factors to keep in mind. Much depends on both the exposure of the door as well as your local climate.

Insulation

Materials like wood provide natural insulation. If you opt for a metal or fiberglass door, though, the garage will have little to no natural insulation. In this case, you should invest in an insulated garage door that has additional insulation placed inside the metal or fiberglass panels. Insulation is most needed for attached garages in areas that have extreme cold in winter or high heat in summer. 

Moisture

Another major concern is how well a door stands up to moisture, particularly in humid or rainy climates. Wood doors, for example, can warp or even rot from moisture exposure. You must inspect these doors annually and reseal them often to protect against moisture damages. Aluminum and fiberglass doors are nearly impervious to moisture damage, so these are often preferred materials in wetter areas.

Wind

Whether wind is a concern depends on the exposure of the door to the most common wind direction in your area. You may also have wind concerns if you live in a climate prone to tornadoes or hurricanes. Wood and wood composites, followed by steel, are the most resistant to wind. Aluminum doors can suffer denting from windblown debris, while fiberglass can actually be punctured by the debris.

Contact Armor Overhead Door to learn more about the types of garage doors available.