buying and selecting the best garage door for you

Today's garage doors come in a wide range of materials, styles, colors and windows. But when selecting a garage door do not overestimate its aesthetical side or its price. If you use your garage for gatherings or as a workspace, its energy-efficiency and air sealing performance are also very important. A low-maintenance door is also very important. Strength, durability, safety and ease of use should also be considered.

See: Choosing the Design of your garage door.

The type of door

In America, the residential market is largely dominated by sectional doors (steel and wood). Old one-piece wood doors are becoming rather outdated and uncommon, but there are other types of doors, usually more inexpensive, namely fiberglass, aluminum and other metal tilt-up garage doors. You can buy these doors out of the main retail channels. Lowe's, Home Depot or the main American manufacturers and their dealers do not sell these type of garage doors.

The energy-efficiency

Even the better garage doors aren't very energy efficient, but without an insulated door with good edge seals the garages become too uncomfortable. Even if less efficient than advertised, insulated garage are important to provide energy savings and smaller energy bills.

So, when buying a garage door pay special attention to the energy-efficiency of the door. See: Insulated Garage Doors and Attached Garage Insulation.

Strength

When shopping, pay also attention to the strength of the garage door. Simple vinyl doors, for instance, aren't very strong – to say the least. Strength is important not only for cases where high wind loads are likely, but also for durability or safety.

See: Garage Door Strength

Safety devices

The weight of a garage door can make it a very dangerous moving object… To reduce the chance of hazards, if shopping, bet on a well safety-equipped garage door.

See: Garage Door Safety

The ease of use

Modern garage doors are relatively lightweight and some types (sectional doors….) are often designed to be used with an automatic opener, for ease of use.

The maintenance

Wood garage doors are high-maintenance… You will have to re-finish your wood door in a one-two year basis to maintain its natural beauty. Even composite wood doors should be stained or re-painted every two years (or even every year if the door is very sun-exposed).

But you also have low-maintenance garage doors, demanding very small maintenance cares. Obviously, they require the lubrication of the springs one or two times a year, and periodical inspection of the springs or more damageable parts, but not repainting or refinishing. Do not underestimate this feature when selecting a garage door. That’s one of the most critical.

See: Garage Door Maintenance

The price

Steel garage doors are a popular and competitive choice. They offer strength, energy efficiency, competitiveness… You have many choices, and a large array of moderate prices. You can buy a very good garage door at a relatively low price - as long as you select a steel door…

See: Garage Door Prices

Warranties and lifespan

When buying a garage door, pay attention to its warranty. The warranty is very telling of the quality and durability of the door. Most wood and cheap doors have very short warranties.

Even the best wood doors have short warranties (limited one or two year warranties) while steel doors have warranties of 10 years or more (the best steel doors have limited lifetime coverage…).