Whether you’re a new homeowner or are just ready to buy a new garage door, you’re probably overwhelmed with all the different panel choices. While there’s a lot of different materials available, we’re only going to cover two of the most popular garage door panels: wood and steel.
Not only are steel and wood garage doors some of the nicest options available, they tend to be the most expensive. Each option has its own set of distinct advantages and disadvantages. It’s definitely not a situation where one is better than the other. The type of material you choose is highly personal based on your unique situation. The best thing you can do is learn the differences between wood and steel garage doors before making your decision.
Wood Garage Doors
Benefits: A wood garage door can be an incredibly attractive option for homeowners interested in aesthetics. Wood panels are arguably one of the most beautiful additions to modern homes. Another advantage of wood is that it won’t easily dent, although you should still be careful.
Disadvantages: Wood doors are extremely expensive – much more than steel. It’s unlikely that you’ll find even a small single wood garage door for less than $1,000. In addition, wood doors have poor insulative capabilities and it’s difficult to apply insulation kits to the interior. Wood doors also require much more upkeep than steel. They may require frequent refinishing which can increase your costs further. In addition, damage to wood doors is costlier to repair. Dents can be reversed. Cracked wood? Not so much.
Steel Garage Doors
Benefits: Steel doors can also look great and they match just about any style of home. They’re incredibly hardy and require little to no maintenance. You won’t have to worry about weather affecting your panel, though you’ll want to keep an eye out for signs of rust. If you’re looking for something that requires minimal upkeep but is still stylish, buy a steel garage door. Steel doors don’t have great insulation by themselves but you can purchase thicker gauge steel and triple insulated panels that offer truly superior climate control in your garage. Plus, it’s easy to install insulation later if you choose to.
Disadvantages: Steel doors can dent easily. While thicker gauge steel and a foam backing can help prevent this, it’s still a concern. There’s nothing worse than coming home to a dent in your nice new steel garage doors because the neighbor’s kid threw a basketball at it. Steel doors can also cost as much as wood doors if you add on all the bells and whistles like triple insulation.
If you’re still having troubles deciding, give our garage door repair company a call and we’ll help explain the differences and provide free quotes for both options.