Garage Door Materials: What's Best For You?

It's pretty amazing how many garage door design options that we have to choose from now. Almost all garage doors these day are made out steel (some are aluminum), however there are options to have something called an overlay material that can be added to the face of the door at the factory,

The three most common garage door materials are steel, wood, and vinyl for the face of your door. Picking the one that is best suited for your Arizona home really boils down to personal preference.

While there are more practical considerations to consider, such as long-term costs, maintenance, and flexibility. Each material has its own set of pros and cons, which can range from issues with delamination to needing a garage door replacement because of natural wear and tear.

The importance of necessary garage door maintenance, garage door repairs, and durability vary greatly between each of the following materials.

These factors may help to determine which garage door is right for you:

Steel

A steel garage door offers a more modern feel. Steel looks very sleek, and is very easy to keep clean in comparison to other materials.

There are several ways to customize a steel garage door, as the options regarding appearance and size are countless.

The long term garage door maintenance with a steel door is minimal, because steel isn’t going to peel or splinter when exposed to Arizona elements. The swing in temperature from the cool of the winter to the blistering heat of the summer won’t damage a steel garage door.

Although the maintenance on a steel garage door is minimal, the material is easily dinged and dented depending on the thickness(gauge) of the steel. Aesthetically, depending on the original appearance you choose prior to the garage door installation, it could change the look you are going for.

Steel does offer the most variety in design and colors with a reasonable price. Especially with modern technology, they can make steel look almost like wood!

Wood

Nothing adds that retro touch like a wooden garage door. The grain of the wood is aesthetically pleasing, and brings a little bit of that classic feel back. Wood overlay garage doors are not as common anymore due to the high cost as well as the maintenance required to keep them looking and functioning great.

A wood overlay garage door requires a lot more maintenance than that of a steel door. Without proper garage door maintenance, the wood can split and crack over time, which could create more need for garage door repair in the long term. A wood overlay garage door requires fairly frequent (sometimes annual) repainting or re-staining, to protect the wood from the elements.

In a humid climate, or a climate where it rains a lot, causing water to pool at the base of the garage door, a wooden garage door can experience swelling, which can become a major issue.

The cost of a wooden garage door installation can also cost more and require a stronger opener to handle the weight.

Vinyl on Steel

There are some garage doors that look absolutely beautiful with a vinyl overlay design. These doors can give the homeowner the desired carriage house look without the high cost of a wood overlay carriage house door. As always, there are some factors that need to be considered.

Vinyl overlay does not need to be stained or frequently painted like its wood overlay counterpart. According to most manufacturer's recommendations though, it should not be painted a dark color or black when out here in the Arizona heat. The outside of a garage door can reach upwards of a 180 degrees and when the vinyl is painted a dark color it can start to deform.

When the vinyl deforms, it can cause something called delamination. This is when the material starts to separate itself from the steel garage door and will need to be replaced.

Need Our Help?

Whether you’re in need of a garage door installation on a new home or an older home, we can definitely help you decide which garage door is right for your specific needs!

Same Day Garage Door Services serves the entire Phoenix area, and is ready to schedule a free estimate on your next garage door repair.

Give us a call at 480-750-7975 to schedule your appointment today!