How to Find the Best Garage Door
When maximizing the value of your home you will find garage doors are an easy and affordable method to increase your home’s curb appeal. It will distinguish it from the rest of the neighbourhood. For something extra special, custom made garage doors can be designed to your specifications.
The most common types are:
- Retractable,
- Hinged Sectional Retractable, and
- Canopy Side.
Where limited space in your driveway is an issue, sectional is the right choice. They open and shut vertically, allowing cars to park very close to the door without keeping it from opening. Among the wide variety of designs, the most popular garage doors in Melbourne are sectional, upward acting, and self-storing.
Styles
Gone are the old manual doors. Today you’ll find that remote controlled and motorized garage doors have produced a more usable garage. The most popular style is the overhead garage door.
Selecting the best materials for your needs will depend on a few things like the style of your home, and how warm you want your garage to be.
There are 3 main materials:
- Wood,
- Steel and
- Fibreglass (GRP)
- (Other composite materials exist for garage doors also)
When you’re planning to install a garage door, you must consider the material and of course style.
Overhead
Overhead garage doors are by far the most popular type available to homeowners. With automatic features, people find overhead garage doors easy to use, with wonderful options and safety features. They work with a rolling system. The door rolls up and stores along the roof of the garage, and are smooth, quiet and compact. Installation is important; whilst you can do it yourself, it is wise to get it installed by a reputable provider – like us!
The Appeal of Wood
Wood is preferred more for its appearance and affordability than for its durability.
You can select wood types like solid cedar for a durable garage door, which will last for years and look wonderful. Sections of roll-up wood doors may have either panel or flush construction. For panel doors, manufacturers fit several separate, rectangular panels into a wooden frame. Flush sections are made by fastening a plywood panel on top of a wooden frame.
The main disadvantage to a wooden garage door is that wood expands and contracts and can warp or crack as it weathers. It demands re-painting or refinishing every couple of years to keep it looking good and in top condition.
Steel
The main advantage of choosing steel is that it won’t warp, crack, or fall apart because of the weather. With no painting or refinishing requirements, steel doors are a low maintenance possibility that will keep your home looking stylish. Nowadays most steel garage doors are made of hot-dipped galvanized steel that is vinyl clad or given a baked-on polyester finish. They will not rust or require repainting like wooden doors.
Another important advantage of steel is that they achieve the look of wood without maintenance. Some have grained steel skins that can be stained to look just like wood. A design mimicking carriage house doors has become quite popular for nearly a decade. Some manufacturers use composite or vinyl boards on the exterior of a steel door to make it look like an outward swinging door.
The only disadvantage to steel doors is that they dent and can be difficult to repair. A premium door is often 2 inches thick, filled with insulation, and clad in 24-gauge steel. Less-expensive doors are usually thinner and made of 28 gauge steel. So steel offers real benefits over wood; it costs less and it needs much less maintenance and can look just like wood.
The Assets of Fiberglass
Fibreglass, sometimes called GRP, is chosen for locations where light is important or in salty ocean climates. GRP garage doors need only mild exterior cleaning to retain their quality finish. They generally do not need to be stained or finished. The most popular style for a GRP garage door is the retractable door. Fibreglass is a tough and durable material that will keep looking good for years.
Conclusions
Each of the materials has its own benefits: Steel up and over doors are sturdy and give great value for money; wood doors are insulated and have an appealing look, and fibreglass up and over garage doors are extremely low maintenance offering a timber effect without the maintenance of real wood. Whichever you pick you’ll be sure that it will elevate the curb appeal and the value of your home, and increase your feeling of security.
For a new garage door to be installed at your home or business, call us, your local Garage Door expert – Melbourne Garage Doors.
We would be happy to help lead you in the right direction, answer any questions and fulfil any of your garage door needs.
Contact us today to find out how we can help you.
Kind Regards,