You probably don’t think much about your garage door on the daily until something breaks down or it’s not working properly. Whether your door experienced a lot of damage due to an impact or a storm, or your door is coming to the end of its useful life, it may be time to shop around for a new one.

But which material should you go with? It’s probably been a while since you bought a garage door, so let’s go over all the latest materials you can choose from.

Wood

This is always a classic and popular option. Not only do they look beautiful and classy, wood is a durable, traditional choice that comes in many finishes. But wood doors tend to be the most expensive, and they do come with a lot of maintenance. Here are some things to bear in mind before buying a wood door:

  • Maintenance: Wood doors tend to crack, rot and warp over time if you don’t take care of them. You will need to make periodic repairs, and stain, seal or paint your door on a regular basis.
  • Insulation: Wood doesn’t give you as much protection against the weather as other materials do. Here in Michigan, with such a cold climate in the winter, you will want to choose a wood door with added insulation.
  • Customization: Wood gives you many opportunities for customization, though, which means these doors can easily adapt to the style and color of your home. You can paint your wood doors any color you want, and repaint whenever you change the exterior color of the rest of your home. You’re not locked into one color like you would be with another material.
  • Durability: Wood will last for decades if properly cared for, offering you years of durability and versatility.

Steel

Speaking of durability, steel is also a durable option that’s easy to maintain and comes in many colors and styles. The price you pay for your steel door will vary with the gauge, or thickness, that you choose, as well as the insulation quality and amount you opt for. Most steel doors are made from 24- or 26-gauge steel, with the smaller number indicating a thicker gauge.

Always check for the R-value, which is the amount of heat that can get through the material. The higher the R-value, the better insulation you will get.

Vinyl

This is one of the most cost-effective choices on the market. Vinyl is the easiest of all to maintain, and won’t scratch or dent. If you don’t like to worry about a lot of maintenance, such as painting your garage door regularly, then you will love the low maintenance requirements of vinyl. To clean it, all you have to do is spray it down every once in a while with the garden hose.

Because vinyl itself isn’t naturally insulated well, always check the door’s R-value, especially in cold climates like Michigan.

Selecting the right garage door for your home will require that you do the research to find out which materials are best for your budget and needs.

Contact M&M Garage Doors

Need help choosing the right door to match your home and budget? We can help. Contact us at (586) 610-5434.