1. What Type of Material Do You Want?

Most garage doors are made from wood or metal. Wood garage doors tend to come in cedar, redwood, and fir, and metal doors often come in steel or aluminum. Both wood and metal garage doors are durable, but they have their own potential risks. Wood may be prone to warping and rotting if you don’t keep it well protected. The metal garage door can dent or rust if scratched.

Fiberglass garage doors are less common but also a possibility. They withstand cracking and denting, but they can break if hit hard enough. Vinyl garage doors are an affordable option that require little maintenance. They are durable but can fade in the sunlight, and you won’t be able to repaint the vinyl.

2. What Style of Garage Door Do You Prefer?

You’ll want to choose a style of garage door you prefer. There are three popular choices that you could choose from: raised-panel doors, carriage doors, and contemporary slab doors. Raised-panel doors are one of the most common. This type of door consists of several panels that bend as the door opens so it can roll up. Some doors may slide to the side.

Carriage doors swing outward like regular doors. They mimic the style of old-style carriage house doors. They typically have handles that you can use to pull open the door. For this reason, carriage doors are a better choice if you have enough room for the doors to swing open. Alternatively, you could get raised-panel doors that mirror the look of carriage doors.

Contemporary slab doors are more common on newer houses. They raise up to open, but instead of rolling up like a raised-panel door, they tilt up. The downside, however, is that if one piece becomes broken, you’ll have to replace the whole door. With raised-panel doors, you only have to replace the panel.

3. Will You Also Install an Automatic Opener?

If you want an automatic opener, raised-panel doors and contemporary slab doors are a good choice. Openers typically don’t work with carriage style doors, so you will need to manually open them. When choosing your automatic opener, you’ll need to make sure it can support the full weight of the door.

Automatic openers can also be made to work with your phone. These smart openers let you control and monitor the door from your phone. Even with an automatic opener, you will be able to lock the door, which will prevent the wireless controller from working.

4. Are You Concerned About Heat Gain/Loss?

Some people don’t use their garage often, or they may only park their car in it. If this is the case, you probably don’t care about heat gain or loss. However, if you use your garage frequently, have rooms above the garage, or store sensitive items in your garage that could be damaged by sudden changes in temperature, you should be concerned about heat gain/loss as much.

Most garages aren’t temperature controlled, but there are many ways you can reduce heat gain/loss, and one of the best ways is by choosing the right door. You’ll want a door with insulation inside and has good weather-stripping. You should also avoid garage doors that have windows.

A garage door is a big investment, but it can boost the curb appeal and value of your home. Plus, it provides better security and protection. If you would like to know more, or if you want a quote on a new garage door, contact us at Plano Overhead Garage Door today.

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