There will come a time in every homeowners life when they’ll need to replace their garage door, and since this is a significant investment, it’s important to try and get it right first time around.
To help you choose the right replacement garage door for your needs, here are a few tips:
Decide upon the style of garage door
There are typically tilt-up doors and sectional roll-up doors, and while the latter are more expensive, this extra investment may well be worth it.
Let’s look at both types in a little more detail:
- Tilt-up doors – constructed from one single panel of material, these doors have to be pulled out and angled upward before sliding along the roof of your garage to open fully. Because the door has to be pulled out, this could mean that there’s less room both outside and inside your garage for keeping a vehicle (or anything else).
- Sectional roll-up doors – comprised of a number of horizontal sections, the door is mounted on rollers and can easily be lifted to roll into place along the roof of the garage. Taking up less room, these doors give you more space for storage.
Choose the material your new door is made from
All garage doors, whether they be tilt-up or sectional, are made from wood or steel (occasionally from aluminium or fiberglass, too) with wood being the cheaper option. However, while wooden doors are cheaper – and arguably more aesthetically pleasing – they are more prone to weather damage than a steel door, and this can be a problem for homeowners living in particularly hot or cold climates.
While steel doors are undoubtedly more costly than their wooden counterparts, they tend to be more robust and less prone to weather damage. That said, you will need to check that when installed, it has been treated to prevent rust.
Check how to maintain your new garage door
Garage doors require periodic, albeit minimal maintenance, to keep them performing as they should and looking good. Garage doors often make up a significant portion of the exterior of a home, so it’s important that they look good at all times, especially if you plan to sell your property, or simply want the best looking home in the neighborhood!
Whatever material your garage door is made from, it should be washed regularly, and for wooden doors, they should be repainted annually (or as often as required) to ensure that the wood stays protected. For steel doors, you can shine it up on a yearly basis with car wax.
Mechanical parts should be lubricated periodically to keep them functioning for longer, and if you’re not comfortable doing this yourself, or would like a garage door specialist to check whether everything is working as it should, you can schedule a garage door inspection as frequently as needed.
A new garage door is a large, but worthy investment, and it’s important not to rush the selection process. Use the tips above to select the right door for your home, and if you need any further guidance or advice, simply call in to your local garage door showroom and chat to the experts there.
