You may not give much thought to your home's garage door until it breaks and needs replacing. When you are in the market for a new door, you might want to take some time to check out all your options for the door's material to ensure you get the best and most durable choice available. This will mean having a door that lasts over the years without needing to be repaired. Note a few suggestions.

Steel

Steel is one of the most popular options for a garage door, and with good reason. Galvanized or coated steel is virtually maintenance free, as it isn't prone to rust or corrosion, and you don't need to repaint or re-coat it over the years. Steel is very durable, and it won't dent and ding as easily as other materials. However, if you're very worried about errant drivers in the home, kids on bikes and other such hazards, check the gauge or thickness of steel you choose. It can be confusing, but the higher the gauge, the thinner the steel door. An inexpensive and thin door might be 28 gauge, whereas high-quality thick doors will be at about 24 gauge. These will be the most resistant to damage and will also be the most difficult for a potential intruder to try to pry away from the garage door frame.

Wood composite

A wood composite is made by combining recycled wood pieces and plastic, which are heated and then pressed and formed. This makes a wood composite door much stronger and more durable than solid wood, while still offering you the look of real wood. A wood composite is also typically lighter than solid wood, so there is less wear and tear on the parts that open the garage. In turn, these may also wear out and need replacing less often.

Fibreglass

Fibreglass is also very lightweight, so it can mean less wear and tear on the chains, spring and other such parts of the garage door opener. Fibreglass is also very difficult to bend or break, and the material is resistant to saltwater and pool chemicals, so it's the most durable for coastal regions and for a garage that is located near your home's pool. However, the material itself may not be very durable against constant exposure to other weather elements, so plan on having the fibreglass refaced over the years if this is your choice.

Share