If you are the proud owner of an older home, you know it takes a lot of hard work, patience and TLC to make sure you’re staying true to its historical roots. You may have gone through great effort to restore many aspects of the home correctly, from exteriors and windows to accents and more.

If it’s time to replace the garage door, you may want to ensure you choose one that’s period correct, in keeping with the style and historical integrity of the rest of the home. Your decision is two-fold: you want it to look beautiful and match the rest of the historical significance of your property, but you also want modern amenities so it functions well.

Here are some things to consider.

Older Door Construction

Typically, the garage doors on older homes are made of wood. While beautiful and classic, wood doors can be susceptible to rot, warping and weather damage, not to mention, they need to be painted or stained every few years. Many of those older doors are constructed differently than modern doors; some are upright and swing open, others fold up into sections, and still others slide along a track.

Matching Modern Style With Historical Value

Today’s garage doors can be made with the look and style of old doors yet with the modern touch of technology. Today’s materials are also more lightweight and energy efficient, and are paired with the convenience of electric door openers that open the doors much more easily than their older counterparts. Modern doors require much less maintenance than older ones, too.

There are many accents you can choose for your new garage door that echo a long-ago style, such as glass panels designed to replicate the original door’s appearance. You could even go with a polycarbonate material that’s durable and secure.

Research and Preparation

Before you start researching new doors or heading to showrooms, take some photos of your existing garage door. This way, you can show these photos to salespeople so they can best match you with the right door. You may be able to create a custom door if you don’t see anything that matches in the traditional collections.

You will pay more for a custom door, but if historical significance is high up on your priority list, it will be well worth it. You may not even have a choice, if you live in a historically-designated area of your town.

Materials

Modern materials give you a longer lifespan for your door, more security, less maintenance and more energy efficiency. Materials can include steel, aluminum, fiberglass, and wood, each with its own benefits. Aluminum doors, for example, are lightweight and don’t require painting, with panels that are easily replaced if damage were to occur.

Steel and fiberglass doors are extremely secure and durable, with wood doors being the most common choice for full-house restorations.

Contact M&M Garage Doors

If you need help selecting a period-correct garage door for your home, we would be happy to lend our assistance. Please contact us at (586) 610-5434 to learn more and ask our advice.