How to Find the Best Garage Door
If you want to
maximize the value of your home, you'll find garage doors are an easy
and affordable method to increase your home's curb appeal. A good garage
door will distinguish it from the rest of the neighborhood. For
something extra special, custom made garage doors can be designed to
your specifications.
The most common types of garage doors are:
Retractable, Canopy Side, and Hinged Sectional Retractable. Where
limited space in your driveway is an issue, sectional garage doors are
the right choice. They open and shut vertically, allowing cars to park
very close to the door without keeping it from opening. Among the wide
variety of designs, the most popular garage doors are sectional, upward
acting, and self storing.
The Types of Garage Doors
Gone
are the old manual doors. Today you'll find that remote controlled and
motorized garage doors have produced a more usable garage. The most
popular style is the overhead garage door.
The primary concern in
planning your garage door is the material used. Selecting the best
garage door materials for your needs will depend on a few things like
the style of your home, and how warm you want your garage to be. There
are 3 main materials for garage door construction: Wood, Steel and
Fiberglass (GRP).
When you're planning to install a garage door,
you must consider door type and materials. You can also incorporate into
your plan such things as heated garages or unique window options.
The Most Popular Style is the Overhead Garage Door
Overhead
garage doors are by far the most popular type of garage door available
to homeowners. With automatic stop and begin features, people find
overhead garage doors easy to use, with wonderful options and safety
features.
Overhead garage doors work with a rolling system. The
door rolls up and stores along the roof of the garage. Overhead door
features to look for are that they are smooth, quiet and compact.
Installing an overhead garage door is simple; do it yourself, or get
help from the manufacturer. Popular garage door manufacturers include
Garaga, Liftmaster, Raynor or DBCI.
The Appeal of Wood
Wood garage doors are preferred more for their appearance and affordability than for their durability.
You
can select wood types like solid cedar for a durable garage door, which
will last for years and look wonderful. Sections of roll-up wood doors
may have either panel or flush construction. For panel doors,
manufacturers fit several separate, rectangular panels into a wooden
frame. Flush sections are made by fastening a plywood panel on top of a
wooden frame.
The main disadvantage to a wooden garage door is
that wood expands and contracts and can warp or crack as it weathers. It
demands re-painting or refinishing every couple of years to keep it
looking good and in top condition.
Steel Garage Doors Have Many Advantages
The
main advantage to steel garage doors is that they won't warp, crack, or
fall apart because of weather. With no painting or refinishing
requirements, steel doors are a low maintenance possibility that will
keep your home looking stylish. Nowadays most steel garage doors are
made of hot-dipped galvanized steel that is vinyl clad or given a baked
on polyester finish. They will not rust or require repainting like
wooden doors.
Another important advantage of steel garage doors is
that they achieve the look of wood without the maintenance. Some have
grained steel skins that can be stained to look just like wood. A
design mimicking carriage house doors has become quite popular for
nearly a decade. Some manufacturers use composite or vinyl boards on the
exterior of a steel door to make it look like an outward swinging door.
The
only disadvantage to steel doors is that they dent and can be difficult
to repair. A premium door is often 2 inches thick, filled with
insulation, and clad in 24-gauge steel. Less-expensive doors are
usually thinner and made of 28 gauge steel. So steel offers real
benefits over wood; it costs less and it needs much less maintenance and
with can look just like wood.
The Assets of Fiberglass
Fiberglass,
sometimes called GRP, garage doors are chosen for locations where light
is important or in salty ocean climates. GRP garage doors need only
mild exterior cleaning to retain their quality finish. They generally
they do not need to be stained or finished. The most popular style for a
GRP garage door is the retractable garage door. Fiberglass is a tough
and durable material which will keep looking good for years.
Conclusions
Each
of garage door material has its own benefits: Steel up and over doors
are sturdy and give great value for money; wood doors are insulated and
have an appealing look, and fiberglass up and over garage doors are
extremely low maintenance offering a timber effect without the
maintenance of real wood. Which ever you pick you'll be sure that it
will elevate the curb appeal and the value of your home, and increase
your feeling of security.
