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.