What material should you use for your garage door?

Garage doors come in a variety of materials including wood, steel, fibreglass and glass.

But what’s the best material for a garage door? Is it handsome wood or strong steel?

In this blog post, we’ll go over the strengths and weaknesses of each material – wood, steel, fibreglass and glass. You’ll see that there’s no single best material for a garage door. Instead, the material depends on your unique needs.

Wood

One of the most common materials for garage doors is wood. This is because wood simply looks good. It can give a house a sense of richness and timeless elegance.

Advantages of wood

• As a renewable resource, wood is a more eco-friendly option than other materials.
• Wood garage doors are an excellent option for a custom, unique look. This is because they’re available in a variety of designs, wood types, and customization options. Common woods used include cedar, redwood, fir, and meranti.

Disadvantages of wood

• Wood is expensive (even though it literally grows on trees). For a cheaper door, go with fibreglass or steel.
• Wood requires upkeep to preserve its beauty. Without proper, regular maintenance, a wood door will fade, rot, warp, or chip.

Steel

Steel is another popular material for doors. It’s cheaper and more practical than wood, making it another excellent choice for a garage door.

If you want the practicality of a steel door with the appearance of a wood door, then go with a steel door with a faux wood-grain finish. From a distance, these steel doors look remarkably similar to real wood.

Advantages of steel

• Strong and durable
• Low maintenance
• Cheaper than wood

Disadvantages of steel

• Steel can corrode and rust. Scratches can quickly turn into rust if not fixed quickly.

Fiberglass

Fiberglass is often overlooked as a garage door material. However, it has several advantages that make it a good option. For one thing, it’s cheap, like steel. Also, like steel, fibreglass won’t shrink, warp or crack.

Advantages of fibreglass

• Doesn’t warp, shrink, or corrode
• Cheaper than wood
• Low maintenance
• Fiberglass is semi-transparent so it will allow natural light into your garage.

Disadvantages of fibreglass

• Brittle and susceptible to wind damage
• Has the tendency to crack or yellow with age
• Fiberglass cannot be repaired if damaged; the garage door must be replaced entirely.

Glass

Want your garage door to be completely see-through? Then we can make one out of glass.

Glass garage doors aren’t common, but that just makes them even more eye-catching. They can offer a contemporary look to a variety of applications, both exterior and interior.

Aluminium is used to keep the glass in place.

Advantages of glass

• Allows light into the garage
• Glass is naturally resistant to rust and corrosion
• Low-maintenance

Disadvantages of glass

• Offers little insulation
• Not fully waterproof
• Passersby can see into your garage
• Because aluminium is lighter than steel, it is also less durable. Strong winds or hail can cause dents in the aluminium.
• More expensive than steel or fibreglass.

As you’ve seen, every garage door material offers advantages but also disadvantages.

We hope we’ve given you things to think about. If you’d like to know more about garage doors, just give us a call!