Your garage is one of the first things people will see when they pull up outside your house. That’s why it’s important to research the best materials for garage doors before you buy a new one.
If you’re looking to sell your property, one of your top priorities should be kerb appeal. Whether you’re getting ready to put your home on the market or you just want to impress the neighbours, take a look at our 3 top materials to find out which is best for your garage door.
Wood
Lots of people have wooden garage doors as they look fantastic on most properties.
They match the look of older homes and can add class to more modern properties.
Benefits:
- Strength: Wood is a very strong material so won’t be damaged if it gets knocked occasionally.
- Choice: There is a lot of choice with wood garage doors as they can be made into any shape or size, and you can paint and varnish them however you like.
Disadvantages:
- Maintenance: The top disadvantage to wood is that you will need to look after it. You’ll need to repaint it frequently and you must remember to tighten the bolts. And if a lot of rain hits the garage door, you could end up with swelling.
- Insulation: Wood isn’t a great material for keeping heat in. It can be difficult to modify if you do need it insulated too.
- Cracks: Wood won’t dent, but it can crack and split if you don’t maintain it properly.
- Cost: Wooden garage doors are often expensive. A solid garage door can be quite heavy too, so you may need to pay for a stronger opener than with other door types.
Steel
Steel garage doors look modern and appealing. They can be a good option for homes looking for a sleek look. 
Benefits:
- Range: You can choose from lots of design options with steel garage doors. You can even get doors that are painted to look like wood.
- Maintenance: Unlike wooden garage doors, you don’t need to regularly maintain a steel door. They won’t swell with heat or split or peel.
Disadvantages:
- Insulation: Steel conducts heat very well so it’s not a good insulator, but you can easily make changes to the door to insulate it.
- Dents: Unlike wood, steel garage doors are susceptible to dents if they get hit.
Vinyl
Vinyl is a great option for homes on a budget and those who want to fit and forget about their garage door.
Benefits:
- Inexpensive: Vinyl costs a lot less than steel or wood and is a long-term affordable solution for garage doors.
- Durable: Vinyl is strong and won’t dent like steel or split like wood. It also does well in wet environments as it is resistant to warping and swelling. You can even buy coatings that will stop the colour of the garage door fading so you don’t have to replace it as quickly.
- Low-maintenance: You don’t need to paint a vinyl door as it is a composite that is made from one colour material. Vinyl doesn’t rust either, so you won’t need to spend time preventing oxidisation.
Disadvantages:
- Colour: If you don’t get a protective coating on your garage door and the colour fades, vinyl can be difficult to re-paint. If you want to change the colour of your vinyl garage door you’re probably going to have to replace the whole thing as painting it will not create the same effect.
- Insulation: Vinyl garage doors don’t offer much insulation on their own, but if you fit insulation they can act as well as steel doors.
Once you’ve decided on a material for your garage door, next on the list is choosing from a range of colours!