What to Look for when Shopping for a Garage Door

Buying a garage door can be confusing due to the wide variety of product offerings by a large number of garage door companies.

Design

Garage doors are available in a wide variety of designs and materials. Homeowners can choose from a simple non-insulated steel pan door, molded wood-grain fiberglass to the more expensive real wood doors. Homeowners can go with a more traditional sectional panel garage door or go back in time with a retro old-fashioned carriage house door. When shopping for a garage door, homeowners should look for a door that would seamlessly blend the garage door to the overall exterior look of the home. Color plays a big role in a garage door design because it covers a large surface area especially when the door faces the street. 

Insulation

Insulation value of a garage door should be an important factor in any purchasing decision especially for homeowners in the snow belt. With soaring energy cost, the energy savings offered by an insulated garage door will more than cover the added expense of buying an insulated door. This is especially true for homes with bedrooms or living space above the garage doors. Uninsulated garage door will not only result in an unpleasant living environment but high energy costs to heat up the living space as well. There are two common types of insulation used in garage doors: polystyrene and polyurethane. A polystyrene-insulated garage door is cheaper than polyurethane insulated door but a polyurethane door is stronger and has more R-Value and thus provide better insulation, although at a higher cost.

Material Composition

Garage doors may require a large investment so it is important to consider the life span of the material used to manufacture the door. Maintenance costs and upkeeps can become a problem when issues show up after a couple of years of ownership. There is a direct correlation between the material used for manufacturing a garage door and the the maintenance costs of the door. Steel garage doors provide durability and they require cleaning at least once every year. Fiberglass doors are more durable than steel doors and can withstand harsh climates. A growing trend in garage door is the introduction of eco-friendly "green" polymer composite door that is design to look like a real wood garage door. Synthetic wood or commonly referred to as faux wood garage door is making inroads and increasingly preferred by owners of higher end homes because real wooden doors are not only more expensive but they often require more maintenance and does not hold up well in humid climates. Clopay (Canyon Ridge), Martin Door (Chatel) and Ranch House Doors are three companies offering faux wood garage doors. Steel garage doors that are design to mimic wood grains are also increasingly used. However, it looks similar to real wood garage door from a distance but on closer inspection, it often looks unrealistic with plasticky look and shallow wood grains when compared to a wooden or faux wood garage door.

Warranty

All garage door manufacturers offer warranties with at least one year of coverage. Garage doors that are serviced and well maintained should last the life of a home. Look for manufacturers that offer extended warranties lasting for more than one year; five years at the very least. 

Opener

Garage door openers are an integral part of any garage door installation. Homeowners have many models from which to choose, including openers that operate on a chain rail. Another variation lifts garage doors by using a solid steel screw drive. Another factor to consider is the noise of the operator. This is important for homeowners with bedrooms or living space above the garage. Belt driven garage door openers are quieter than chain driven operators. Garage door openers come with two to three button transmitters, a wireless keypad, and three-function wall consoles.. Homeowners should consider openers that have the longest range and other safety features. Consider buying an opener with rolling code technology which changes the access codes each time the transmitter is used to prevent code grabbing. 

Garage Door Buying Guide

Homes with front-facing garage doors often take up a large portion of what people see from the street and will have a big impact on a home's curb appeal. The garage door typically has the first impression on visitors. Because the garage door can take up to 30% of the front of the house, it is important to select a garage door that will compliment the other facade of your house.

According to the 2010 Cost vs. Value Report from Remodeling magazine, the garage door is one of the more popular home improvement project that has recorded an improvement in home value. In a buyer's real estate market, you will need an extra edge in curb appeal for your house to stand out in an over saturated market place.

Can you say CURB APPEAL? Simplistic but elegant modern design!
Ranch House Door's Model 705 made of real wood with Plexiglass backing.

The Internet is your friend

There are quite a number of garage door manufacturers in the USA offering all sorts of garage doors ranging from the inexpensive non-insulated models all the way up to the premium high end real wood doors and custom designed faux wood garage doors made of man-made composite materials offered by Clopay, and Ranch House Doors.

Fortunately for you, the research legwork is now easier than ever thanks to the internet. Garage door manufacturer websites are loaded with information on door styles, materials and options. It will take you literally weeks to go through all the manufacturer garage door offerings. However, it is still a big time saver compared to  having to visit each manufacturer's showroom in person. Imagine what your parents had to do when they shop for garage doors without the internet. 

A few manufacturers like Amarr, Clopay and Overhead Door have digital visualization tools that will help you sort through the different door designs and options with a mouse click. 

•  Wayne Dalton's Garage Door Design Center goes a step further by allowing you to upload a picture of your house which can then be overlaid with hundreds of Wayne Dalton door styles, window options and color. Neat!

Garage Door Design Center by Wayne Dalton

• The Door Designer tool from Amarr Garage Doors allows you to uploads a photo of current garage door facade which is then overlaid with Amarr's many door styles and options. It also allows you to select stock home designs that resembles your home and overlaid with Amarr door style and options you selected. You can print out the design, email the rendering design to you, or request a price quote from a local Amarr dealer.

Door Designer by Amarr Garage Doors

•  Overhead Door's DoorView allows you to choose a house style and different garage door styles and color options so you can see how the different combination looks like. You can upload a photo of your house and request a sales person call you for a personal phone consultation.

Door View by Overhead Door Corporation

Types of Garage Doors

• Single-layer garage door construction offers a simple outer layer of steel, fiberglass skin without insulation. The basic door is non-insulated, low cost, lightweight and easier to install. It's perfect for families with a low budget who are looking for a secure their garage space.

• Double-layer construction has a layer of polystyrene board for insulation and rigidity. The board is sandwiched between an inner thick back cover and outer skin layer. The insulation makes the door more energy efficient and increases soundproofing as well as structural integrity of the door. Typical insulation is between R4 and R7.

• Triple layer.  This is the gold standard of garage door. This construction has inner and outer layers of steel, wood or fiberglass sandwiched with a layer of polystyrene or polyurethane insulation for structural integrity and insulating values. Insulation R-Values varies depending on the thickness of the door but typically exceeds R-15. If you have extra budget and are looking for maximum energy efficiency, soundproofing and structural integrity and a quality built product this is the door for you.