Beautifying My Garage Door

If it's time to replace your old garage doors, you may be considering wood garage doors. Wood garage doors have an unmatched beauty, making them a favorite for many homeowners. If you're considering wood garage doors, check out these five facts to help you determine if they are right for your home.

Wooden Garage Doors Require a Lot of Work

If you prefer low-maintenance options, keep looking because wood garage doors require a lot more work than steel or aluminum garage doors. Besides the standard maintenance needed by all garage doors (keeping the moving parts lubricated, checking alignment and cleaning tracks), you have to ensure the door itself is well protected. Wood is prone to decay and rot when exposed to the elements and insects. You'll need to keep the door sealed and/or painted and routinely check for bug infestation. It's also important to examine the weather-stripping along the bottom of the door, which is more exposed to water.  

They Are One of the Most Durable Options

Despite their vulnerability to the weather and bugs, wooden garage doors are actually one of the more durable options. Cheap steel and aluminum garage door parts are prone to dent even when hit with something small. Wood doors don't dent, so they withstand common threats, such as basketballs, bikes and storms. Wood doors are also more resistant to scratches than other alternatives. If your door does get damaged, it's unlikely you'll need to replace the entire door. In most cases, you can simply replace the damaged panel.

They Offer Good Insulation

If you heat your garage or keep valuable temperature-sensitive items in there, such as photographs, a wood garage door is a great option because wood has an excellent R-value, especially when compared to steel and aluminum. If you do heat your garage or have bedrooms above your garage, switching out an old metal garage door for a new wood one may save you money on your heating and cooling costs. Keep in mind, however, that wood garage doors are solid wood, so you can't add insulation to the center, which you can do with hollow steel and aluminum garage doors.

You Can Design the Door Exactly How You Want It

Wooden garage doors are the most customizable option. Other materials have different stock options, but it may be difficult to find someone to customize an aluminum garage door for you. Even if you did, it wouldn't be very cost effective. First, you can choose from many different types of woods, and many of them have unique grains, such as ironwood, cedar and knotty alder. However, the customization doesn't stop there. If you're willing to spend the money, you can even have the garage door carved to your specifications, turning it into something completely unique and special for your home. 

Wooden Garage Doors Are an Expensive Investment

All these great benefits, however, come with a high cost. Wooden garage doors are the most expensive option, especially if you choose to customize the doors. If you want your own specifically customized wood garage doors, expect to pay about $3000, which doesn't include installation. You can also purchase semi-custom doors, which are made to order, but you only have so many options from which to choose. Even these semi-custom wood doors cost between $1500 and $3000 before installation. There are significantly cheaper options, however. Stock garage doors made from pressed wood are more affordable, costing closer to $575 before installation.

When it comes to garage doors, no other type of material can perfectly capture the beauty of wood. They are durable and customizable. If you are considering installing wood garage doors in your home, contact a contractor today and request a quote.