Which Garage Door Material is Best For You?

Investing in a new garage door can instantly improve the aesthetic of a home, but only if you choose the right one! Not only can a high quality garage door improve the look of your home, it can also enhance your security, safety and efficiency, especially if you choose a garage door with top of the range automated operation that will save you the time and effort of lifting a heavy garage door manually every time. Simply press a button and drive straight in!

So, how do you chose exactly what type of garage door material is best for you and your home? There are a few essential things you will have to decide – such as do you want a plain or coloured garage door? A red painted front door would ideally have a garage door to complement it, or if you have plain white uPVC windows, you might prefer a matching white GRP garage door.

Steel Garage Doors

Steel garage doors are renowned for their strength and durability, so you can be sure of a door that will be long lasting and enhance your security – making it great value for money! And, because it is made of steel and not plastic or wood, it is highly unlikely to crack, chip or warp, so it will remain in great condition for many years.

Steel can rust, but because steel garage doors are usually galvanized steel and vinyl-coated, you won’t need to worry about that, so they require very little maintenance to retain their appearance and security. The coatings can also be patterned or coloured, so you aren’t limited to a plain steel door – you can choose one to suit your home.

The main disadvantage of steel is that it can be dented – if you bump it with the car for example – which can be difficult to repair. But if you invest in a high quality, thicker steel garage door, it will be much sturdier and resistant to bumps and scrapes.

Wood Garage Doors

Timber or wooden garage doors are most popular thanks to the wonderful warm, welcoming, traditional appearance. They are available in a wide range of types and styles, from conventional side hinged to complement a real period home, to sectional timber doors that are easier to automate. They can also be re-painted to complement the colours of your home whenever you fancy a change!

Many people choose wooden garage doors, not just for their appearance, but for their natural strength, security and insulating qualities. They are also great for weather-proofing your garage, and are very difficult to break into.

Despite all these benefits, a timber door can be very high maintenance. If they aren’t properly cared for they can easily succumb to warping, weather-related expansion and contraction. But if you’re willing to spend a little time each moth checking over your door, ensuring it’s clean and re-treating or painting every year or so, it can be a great investment that will last for years!

GRP Garage Doors

GRP garage doors are made of Lightweight fiberglass, making them very easy to lift and open if you choose to have a manual door.  They offer a host of benefits, including being available in a huge range of colours, patterns and wood effects to complement any home, and can be installed in almost any garage of any size or shape due to the huge range of types and styles.

They are renowned for their resilience to corrosion and damage, and will stay in great condition for years – you simply need to keep them clean. In fact, the only real disadvantage to a GRP garage door is that the material is a very poor insulator, making them unsuitable for garages that lead to your home as they let the cold in, making your home very energy inefficient.