Do you love solid wood doors, hallow-core doors, French doors, screen doors, security doors, garage doors or any other type of door? If you said yes, we have that in common. Hello. My name is Pat, and I take doors seriously. Whether I'm hanging a bedroom door for my kids, buying new doors for my rental properties or advising a real estate client on new doors, I take the task seriously, and I spend a lot of time researching. After years reading about and testing multiple types of doors, I have decided to share my wealth of knowledge. Please explore, and I hope you like what you find.
Purchasing a new garage door is one of the big home improvement expenses. As they last for years, decades even, careful thought must go into this process in order to ensure you make the best decision for you and your family. The right garage door will not only keep your home secure, it improves the curb appeal and hence resale value of your house, should you want to sell. The material of your garage door is one of the first decisions you'll need to make. The following are the most common materials and their suitability for various homes.
Wood
Wood is a popular material with a signature look in terms of curb appeal, particularly for contemporary and old continental home styles. However, this comes at a high price, both in terms of finances and maintenance requirements. Wooden doors can be stained or painted to the colour and look you want. An advantage is that they are more easily repaired than metal doors. However, improperly treated wood can be costly, as it may warp and crack over time. With proper maintenance, including weather treatments and repainting, you can enjoy your wooden door for decades.
Steel
This is also a popular choice in many homes. There are different colours and designs, including embossing with wood-grain patterns allowing you the sturdiness and ease of maintenance of a steel door with the aesthetic appeal of a wooden door. Steel is a durable material, not subject to warping or cracking like its wood counterpart. Steel doors are protected from rusting by using hot-dipped galvanized steel baked with primer. Choose lower gauge steel which is thicker and less prone to denting, as dents on steel doors are quite expensive to repair.
Aluminium
Aluminium doors are the right choice for those that want something lightweight and modern-looking without the prohibitive costs of wood or steel. Aluminium doors can be matched with acrylic panels or clear or frosted glass for a more striking effect. They are also ideal for high-humidity areas as they are rust resistant. A downside to their weight is that they are more prone to denting.
Composite wood
This is a good alternative to wood as it allows you the exterior appeal of faux-wood with the durability of a steel interior. It is low-maintenance since it isn't made of real wood. However, ensure the grade of steel selected is low in order to reduce susceptibility to denting. Rust-treatment through hot-dip galvanization or powder-coating is also necessary, especially for high-humidity regions.
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