Choosing a garage-door material

Which garage-door material is right for you? If this is your first time purchasing one, here are some ideas that will make it easier.

This is the most popular choice. Why? It's low maintenance and comes in many different styles. You can have your garage door painted to mimic pretty much any surface (such as wood). It’s also relatively inexpensive and quite durable. When buying, consider the following though: Low-cost, thin-steel doors don’t provide much insulation. They also cannot handle a lot of impact, from a baseball or a hockey puck for instance (choose a heavier grade if you can afford it). They can also be very noisy.

Lighter and less costly than steel, this type of garage-door material is even more susceptible to denting. Like steel, however, you can add your own touch with different, long-lasting finishes or a faux look that imitates the appearance of wood.

As you probably know, the original garage door was made of wood, which still appeals to many people today. Obviously, if you’re looking for a more traditional and rustic look, wood is the way to go. A classic choice, a wood door comes in many different styles, including those with windows. Apparently, the first garage doors were made of wood, and were used in gatehouses to hide chariots during the Roman era.

Superior to solid wood, a composite has the added benefit of resisting rot and splitting. Made of recycled wood, which can be environmentally friendlier than pure wood, they offer the strength and solidity of a steel surface. They can be painted or stained for a personalized look.

While it might be light, fibreglass garage doors are not the most popular choice out there. They don’t offer much insulation and can fade. However, their panels (often encased in aluminium frames) can be painted for greater protection against denting and scratching. One of their big strengths, though, is that they're resistant to salt-water corrosion so they're often chosen by people who live in coastal areas.