Nothing lasts forever in a home, and garage doors are no different. An aging garage door will eventually fall victim to the law of gravity or look worse for wear thanks to Minnesota weather conditions. As your garage door nears the end of its life, which can range from 15-20 years, you may begin noticing more problems arise. Like anything, it may begin requiring more frequent maintenance and repair, and generally just run rougher than it has in the past.

Modern garage doors are stronger, better insulated, more secure and require less maintenance than garage doors that are more than 10 years old. A new garage door can enhance this access point to your home, while also increasing your home's value.

When shopping for a new garage door, the biggest decision you will encounter is what type of door is best suited for your home. Garage doors are available in a variety of materials such as wood, steel, fiberglass and aluminum.

TYPES OF GARAGE DOORS

Wood

Wood is a classic choice that can be customized with a coating of paint to match any home. Wood garage doors require ongoing maintenance to keep the wood sealed and protected. Usually, wood doors are constructed from hard-board panels and boast a hemlock frame. You can custom order doors made from more durable wood such as Douglas fir.



Steel

Steel doors are strong, secure and somewhat inexpensive. Modern steel doors have generally been manufactured to imitate the look of wood, but you won't have to worry about painting and maintaining its surface like a real wood garage door. These steel garage doors are mostly made with steel backed by rigid-foam insulation.



Full View Aluminum1367759893_EMHE-2010-close-up-garage.jpg

Contemporary aluminum and glass garage doors are low maintenance, durable, and available in a variety of color panels with custom color and glass options. Controlling the amount of light and privacy is easy with the many window options available. Choose from anodized, powder-coated or Clopay’s Ultra-Grain ® finish for the commercial grade aluminum frame and solid aluminum panels to match. If you're looking to modernize your home, this option is it.

Picking a garage door isn't an easy decision, but knowing when it is time for your door to be replaced is an imporant first step. When you're ready to choose the replacement door, you will want to balance functionality with your cosmetic preferences to find the perfect garage door for your home.