On average, a homeowner will need to replace the garage door for a new one only once or twice during their ownership. Despite this, choosing a new garage door is undoubtedly a daunting task – especially for someone who has no clue what they are supposed to do.
As noticed by the experts from garagedoornation.com, “Shopping for the right garage door for your home needs to be a careful decision. It’s as much a part of home design as the shingles on your roof or your siding. Determine the right garage door for your home by analyzing the most important element of your door for your lifestyle. Also, consider your goals for curb appeal, and how much the door’s design will integrate into the rest of your home’s design. Who you are, your home’s architecture, and how visible your garage door is to the street are questions to weigh when choosing a door.”
Since we understand that it’s a serious decision that needs to be very well thought-through, we decided to gather everything you need to know or be aware of when choosing your new garage door. If you are interested in finding out more about it, all you have to do is keep reading.
How Much Does It Cost
The first thing you need to find out is how much it will cost you to install a new door – contrary to what some people might think; it doesn’t have to be an expensive investment. If you look at the prices, you will notice that you can find a completely new door for less than $500. Of course, the price will change depending on the size, material, and whether it is insulated, but generally speaking, if basic is what you are going for, you shouldn’t have a problem finding doors for less than half a grand.
Besides, even if you spend a little more, it is still worth it, as new garage doors increase the ROI of your house, which is a plus if you are planning on selling it in the future. According to the latest report prepared by Remodeling Magazine, when selling your house, you can recoup even 95% of what you spend on a new door. Not bad, don’t you think?
What Material Should You Choose
Once you have at least a brief idea about how much replacement will cost you, you can start debating over another, very important aspect which will influence the price – the material. Even though we will be focusing on four main types of material, you should, without a problem, be able to find different ones as well – and if you’re feeling fancy, you can order a custom garage door.
Here are the main types:
- Steel – probably the most popular material. Nowadays, steel garage doors are available in a wide range of colors. What’s more, there are also some that look like wood, thanks to which you get the same effect as if your door were made out of real wood, but without the trouble of maintaining them. Their biggest disadvantage though, is that, just like a car, they can dent, and once they do, you will have to deal with the repair, which is not an easy task.
- Aluminum – a great choice if you want your house to look more modern. One of the advantages it has is its rust-resistance. Aluminum is also a very lightweight material. However, just like steel, it is very susceptible to dents.
- Wood – while their price tag is a little higher than aluminum and steel, wood garage doors definitely increase the curb appeal of your house – there’s just something charming about them. What’s more, they are not as prone to accidental damage as the two materials mentioned above. The only downside, if you can call it that, is that they require regular maintenance.
- Composite wood – a great alternative to standard wood, as it doesn’t require as much maintenance, but looks just as good.
Consider Getting Insulated a Door
Many people don’t understand how important having an insulated garage door actually is. Suppose you have insulated the whole house, apart from that one door leading to your garage – your insulation will not be as successful as it could be. That’s because cold and warm air can still enter your garage, making it colder/warmer, which means the AC or heater will have to work harder to lower or increase the temperature.
So, if you want your house to be energy efficient, an insulated garage door is a must – every reliable garage door service will confirm that . When you’re looking for insulated garage doors, keep in mind the r-value and the u-value, as they tell you how good the insulation in that door is.
The Bottom Line
There are a lot of things you need to consider when choosing a new garage door – the ones we mentioned above are just a few of them. Even though it may take a little research, it is definitely worth it, as it benefits you more than you think – apart from making your house more energy-efficient, it also increases your curb appeal, and gives your home a fresh look. Besides, according to the newest report prepared by Remodeling Magazine, garage door replacement has an ROI of 94.5%, which means that when reselling, you can recoup almost all the incurred costs.
As you can see, while it might not be the easiest decision to make, it is definitely worth it. Good luck!