Change Your Curb Appeal With A New Garage Door
Today, this handy guide to garage door types and styles by Boulder Garage Door will help you make an informed decision when that time finally rolls around. So, if your garage door is tired and worn, clanking in its tracks, or you’re simply thinking about replacing it for an updated design, our experts will help you make the best decision for your taste, home style and budget.
Garage doors are an essential part of your home. Not only are they important for keeping your valuables safe from burglars but also they make up a considerable part of the curb appeal of your home. A garage door accounts for about 20% of the front of most homes. With a garage door taking up so much space you can imagine how a faded, beat up old garage door can make the wrong impression and even detract from your resale value.
Replacing them with the right garage door types and styles is a popular home improvement project. The reason for this is that it looks great, offers a good return on the investment, and usually isn’t too expensive up front in the whole scheme of things. Of course, the price depends on what kind you choose, but in general, you can expect a good return.
Get ready to learn everything you ever wanted to know about garage door types and styles!
Garage Door Types
First, let’s talk about four different types of garage doors. Garage doors can swing out, swing up, slide to the side or roll up. Which model will work best for you depends on the style of your home and how your garage is built.
The most common choice is a roll-up sectional. However, these types do require about 14 inches of headroom. If you don’t have enough space, there are specially built tracks that cost more but require less headroom. If your garage is the opposite, (it has a high ceiling), there are also specially-built tracks for that.
If the roll-up door doesn’t work for your situation, in the case that you need to keep the ceiling clear, then swing out or sliding doors make great options too.Garage Door StylesThere are a variety of garage door styles to choose from these days. They are all great options, and the right one for you mainly depends on what you want it to look like and what will work with the style of your home. For example, you won’t want to choose a traditional style garage door to put on a contemporary style home. That will just end up looking out of place.
There is an excellent option for those that want the look of the old style swing doors but the convenience of a roll up. Many manufacturers are making roll-ups that are made to look like the old style, complete with fake hinges on the sides and handles in the center.
Garage Door Materials
Beyond choosing from different garage door types and styles, is selecting the material. Each type has pros and cons. Again, it depends on what you are looking for and what will work for your home in regards to the type of material.
Wood
Wood is very hardy and stands up well to the type of abuse that garage doors usually see, such as balls bouncing off it and the like. The look is very traditional and charming and very difficult to achieve in other types of materials.
However, wood garage doors require a fair amount of maintenance and are more susceptible to warping and cracking because of humidity and temperature changes. To keep them looking great, you have to repaint or refinish them often. They also tend to fall closer to the more expensive end of the price spectrum, especially if you want a real, solid wood door. Plus, the warranties typically don’t extend beyond the first year.
Steel
Steel is an excellent choice if you like the idea of low maintenance. It’s strong and secure but yet still close to the inexpensive side of the spectrum. It does dent easier than wood and any scratches will rust so they should be repaired quickly.
You can choose a thicker gauge steel which will be harder to dent and scratch, or you can even get a steel door that comes with a fiberglass front. It’s handy to have the strength of steel but not have to worry about the dents and rust. You will have to repaint the exterior once in a while because fiberglass paint fades over time. These garage doors often come with lifetime warranties, which is a distinct advantage to the consumer.
Aluminum
Aluminum doors are inexpensive but not very sturdy. In fact, most folks are now turning to sturdier versions that have fancy extras. Unfortunately, you have to pay for all those extras, so the price tag on this door makes it cost prohibitive for some. Aluminum is a very light material so it is favored for use as an extra wide double door so the opening mechanism won’t have to work so hard to haul it up.
Garage Door Insulation and Energy Savings
Common sense dictates that an insulated garage door is a better choice for energy savings. However, this isn’t true in all cases. If your garage is unheated, there isn’t that much to insulate against!It’s better to insulate whatever wall is shared with the home. The reason for this is that many items that people keep in garages are toxic and give off toxic fumes. It’s better for those fumes to be able to escape freely and not be trapped in your garage.
We hope that reading about these different garage door types and styles have inspired you to choose the right look for your home. If you’re still wondering about what you should choose, give us a call at Boulder Garage Door.
We have over 40 years of experience working with garage doors in the Boulder area so trust us when we say we have the expertise to help you choose the right garage door types and styles. Plus, once you pick out your perfect door, our expert installation team will have it fully installed in no time!
