How to Choose a New Garage Door
Thinking About a New Garage Door?
Your garage door often takes center stage on your home’s facade. It not only adds convenience and style but also boosts your home’s curb appeal and value. Selecting the perfect one may seem daunting, but we’re here to help!
At Precision, we assist you every step of the way from design to installation.
Here’s how to choose a new garage door and what to expect when making your selection.
Understanding Garage Door Materials
Part of knowing how to choose a new garage door means learning about different materials. The material of your garage door significantly impacts its durability, appearance, and maintenance requirements. It may also affect the design choices available to you. Here’s what to know about popular options.
Steel
Pros
- Highly durable and can withstand harsh weather conditions, including extreme heat, cold, and moisture
- Requires minimal maintenance compared to some other materials
- Comes in lots of different styles with plenty of customization options
Cons
- Can be susceptible to rust in areas with high humidity or salt exposure
- Paint can chip or fade over time, requiring periodic touch-ups
Wood
Pros
- Known for its natural beauty and timeless appeal
- Extensive customization options to match your home’s style
- Good insulation properties to help regulate the temperature inside your garage and home
Cons
- Requires regular maintenance, including staining or painting every few years to protect it from the elements, rot, and insect damage
- Tends to be pricier than other materials
- Wood doors are heavy and can add more pressure to the opener
Wood Composite
Pros
- Offers the natural and timeless look of real wood + plenty of customization options without the high price tag
- Requires less maintenance compared to solid wood doors
- Less susceptible to expansion and contraction due to temperature changes
Cons
- Susceptible to dents, dings and scuffs
- While cheaper than solid wood, composite doors can still be more expensive than steel or aluminum
- May be heavy and require a strong opener
Aluminum
Pros
- Tends to be more lightweight than steel or wood doors, making it easier to install and operate
- Suitable for areas with extreme temperatures or high humidity
- Resistant to corrosion – it won’t warp, crack, rust, or rot like some other doors
Cons
- Limited insulation options, so if insulation is a top priority, you may want to select a different material
- May require touch-ups or repainting to maintain their appearance over time
- Can be prone to dents, especially if they are of lower gauge thickness
Fiberglass
Pros
- Can closely mimic the look of real wood
- Unaffected by shrinking, warping, or cracking, making them excellent for homes in regions with high humidity levels
- Does not need regular painting or staining
Cons
- Panel replacement is not an option (you would need to get a new door)
- Vulnerable to high winds – best to choose a different material if you live in a hurricane or other storm-prone area
- Can be noisier than other materials
Choosing Your Design & Panel Style
Your home’s architecture and overall look, as well as your personal taste, will determine which style is right for your garage door.
Traditional or Timeless garage doors feature classic panel designs and are versatile enough to suit various home styles. Traditional doors typically feature elements like recessed panels, classic colors, and simple window inserts.
Carriage House garage doors offer a rustic and timeless appearance, often with many customization options and decorative hardware. They’re designed to imitate the look of historical, swinging carriage house doors.
Contemporary or Modern garage doors typically feature clean lines, sleek materials like aluminum or glass, and minimalistic design elements. These doors often have flush panels that span the entire garage door length.
Full view garage doors are predominantly made of glass and/or aluminum, providing a modern and transparent look, often seen in contemporary or commercial settings.
Some of the popular panel options include:
- Long panels that cover larger sections of the door (typically one to two panels across a single-car garage door)
- Short panels that have shorter horizontal sections (typically four or more)
- Raised panels with raised rectangles or squares on the surface
- Recessed panels with indented rectangles or squares
- Flush panels that have a smooth, flat surface without any raised or recessed elements
For more detailed information about panel options, see our panel design guide.
Warranty & Financing Options
Choosing a new garage door isn’t something you do every day. When you make the big decision, it’s important to work with professionals who get the job done correctly.
At Precision, we help you figure out how to choose a new garage door that harmonizes with your home’s character and aligns with your personal taste. We’re with you through every step of the process from choosing your design to installation, and we back our work with an industry-leading warranty.
Although our goal is that you never need to use it, if anything does go wrong, you have peace of mind knowing we’ll be there to fix it. (This is a big reason we don’t recommend DIY garage door installation.)
We also offer flexible financing options to make getting a new garage door more accessible for everyone.
Precision is Ready To Help!
Our expert technicians repair all major garage door and opener brands, and our work is backed by an industry-leading warranty. Call any time to schedule your appointment. We'll be here when you need us.