Garages are a staple for medium-sized homes and a necessary structure to protect and store vehicles and other belongings, such as tools. To ensure that everything inside is safe, garages often have doors that offer protection and privacy. But there are different types of garage doors and different materials used for them, so knowing each could help you choose the best one for your home.
Different types and materials mean different advantages and disadvantages. Some more mechanical types may be vulnerable to broken springs and frequent maintenance, while some materials may not hold well with the summer heat in Utah. So, let’s take a look at the different types of garage doors and the common materials used in making them:
Types of Garage Doors
Sectional Garage Doors
These are the most common garage doors in use, and chances are it’s the one you have in your garage. Sectional garage doors are made up of panels or “sections” that are held by hinges, which allows the door to bend as it moves vertically when opening or closing.
Roll-Up Garage Doors
Also a common garage door variant, this garage door is made of many horizontal panels that allow the door to “roll-up” or curve and bend. When opened, the door rolls up and around a barrel found on top.
Tilt-Up Garage Doors
Unlike sectional and roll-up garage doors, tilt-up garage doors are not made of panels or sections that curve or roll. When they open or close, the entire solid door tilts up into the garage (no curving or bending parts).
Swing-Style Garage Doors
These are also known as swinging carriage doors that look like the typical French doors that swing open and are often made of wood. However, since they swing open and close, they require a large space when opening, and are oftentimes manually opened instead of mechanized or automatic like the other garage doors.
Garage Door Materials
Wood
Wood is the classic material used for the first garage doors and is still in use today, offering a traditional aesthetic to one’s garage. Wood is low-cost and can be easily customized by painting. They serve as better insulators than steel garage doors, helping your garage stay cool, but they require regular maintenance to avoid warping and water damage.
Wood Composite
Wood composites are made of wood fibers and are relatively more durable than regular wood (comparable to steel) and can resist rotting, cracking, and warping much better.
Steel
Steel is a very common and popular material as steel garage doors are cheap, durable, easily customizable, and low maintenance. However, steel retains a lot of heat, which may cause the garage to heat up or be unbearably warm.
Aluminum
Aluminum is relatively cheaper and lighter than steel but is not as durable.
Glass
Glass offers a modern and slick look but offers minimal privacy and protection as glass garage doors are transparent and less durable than any other types of materials stated.
Fiberglass
Fiberglass is lightweight and quiet, and it doesn’t rust like metal or rot/splinter like wood. However, they are not recommended for cold climates as they become brittle when exposed to low temperatures.
These different garage door types and materials offer different functions and aesthetic qualities to fit one’s needs and style. Keep these in mind the next time you’re remodeling your garage or thinking of adding one to your house.
