steel garage doors

Steel garage doors are now the most popular type of doors. They come with many standard features and sizes, and with several colors out-of-the-box at relatively low costs.

We may consider three main types of steel garage doors: the single layer doors (non-insulated), the double-layer doors and the three-layer doors.

Single-layer doors

Single-layer garage doors have a single sheet of galvanized steel, without any layer of insulation backing that sheet. These are the cheaper units, and a good solution for non-attached doors but a bad choice if your garage is attached to your living space, or if comfort and sound-proofing is important.

Double layer steel doors

Double-layer steel doors have a galvanized steel skin on the outside of it, and a layer of either polyurethane or polystyrene on the inside, for soundproofing and insulation (polyurethane is the more energy-efficient).

Triple layer doors

Triple-layer doors are similar to double layer doors, but include an extra galvanized steel layer on their inside, to protect the insulation layer. That additional skin makes triple layer doors stronger and more energy-efficient.

Most triple layer doors have also thicker insulation, allowing a greater R-Value, that is, a better insulation.

Prefer a triple-layer garage door, if you want to get high-insulation levels, soundproofing and strenght.

Steel garage doors pros

Steel garage can be very strong and durable, and do not warp or crap and rarely dent. They also require less repainting and maintenance than wood garage doors.

Choosing a Good Premium Steel Garage Door

The best doors use thick layers of steel, and polyurethane. A 2 inches thick, 24 gauge steel garage door with a minimum R-value of 7-8 is a very typical option. To get a superior insulation, bet on a higher R-value: the best steel doors have insulation values around 10 (an highly advantageous feature in very cold climates).

The type of galvanization is also very important. A hot-dip galvanized garage door prevents rusting. Rust-preventing zinc coats are highly effective, and preferable to electro-galvanizing.

Note: The streght of a garage door is measured by its gauge number. The lower the gauge number, the stronger and more dent-resistant the door is: 24 gauge doors are stronger than 25 gauge...

Warranties

Steel garage doors may have long warranties: 20 years and more. The warranty should cover all the parts of the door: cover paint finish, hardware, adhesive…

Steel Garage Door Prices

See: Garage Doors Prices and Garage Doors Basics