How to Choose a Garage Door
Garage doors can either add or detract from the outside appearance of your home. Garage doors come in a variety of materials ranging from wood to fiberglass. Choosing a garage door requires careful consideration since replacement is a major household expense. Considerations include color, material, design and inclusion of windows to add decorative appeal to your home. In addition, garage door installation requires the assistance of a skilled installer for safety as well as correct installation. Does this Spark an idea?
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Address the overall style of your home. Colonial style homes look best with recessed panel-style garage doors, with or without windows added. More traditional Cape Cod homes look great with wood paneled garage doors painted to the trim color of the home. Take a look at your neighbor's home to see some examples. You want to match your new garage door without taking away from the other attractive features of your home.
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Evaluate your existing door or your preferred new door. Investigate whether you have a tilt-up door (swings up without bent panels) or a rolling sectional garage door. Sectionals have hinged panels that "bend" as the door rolls upward on a track. Tilt-ups tend to be cheaper but do restrict space within the garage to allow for swinging movement of the door. Rolling sectional garage doors require professional installation.
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Consider how much maintenance you wish to perform on the garage door. Wood doors require staining and sealing every three to four years as well as regular gentle cleaning to preserve the wood. Steel, fiberglass or metal doors just need a quick wash with a soapy scrub brush and garden hose to keep the door looking sharp. All garage doors require regular yearly maintenance to lubricate tracks and springs to encourage gentle wear and tear on these mechanisms.
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Decide which material is best for your home. Metal and steel doors will dent and show imperfections if hit with tree branches and balls. In addition, both materials will scratch if sharp objects are dragged across the surface. Choose lasting materials to fit your situation. Choosing a wood garage door accents your home but it can be damaged easily without proper care. Fiberglass is long lasting but can crack easily in colder climates.
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Decide if you want windows in your garage door. Windows break up the plainness of a typical garage door. Curved, square, rectangular and arched windows are available for placement in garage doors. Windows tend to increase the overall cost of the door. Also consider the security concern of allowing a view into your garage space.
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Calculate your price range. Wood and fiberglass garage doors tend to be the most expensive material choices. Choosing insulated doors increases the price but provides weatherproofing inside the garage. High quality doors are thicker yet costlier. Figure installation into your overall cost because garage door installation really isn't a do-it-yourself job.
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Explore your color options. Choose a color combination that matches your home. Many garage doors come already finished in relatively neutral colors such as off white, light grays and bright white. Accent your home by matching the garage door to the trim color of your home's shutters and woodwork. If you prefer, choose a more understated color to blend the garage door into your siding color.
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