Garage Door Materials and Their Benefits Explained

When it comes to shopping for a garage door, consumers are bombarded with claims from manufacturers about the durability, ease of maintenance and longevity of their products. Each manufacturer states their product is superior to the competition. However, in reality, what really separates one product from another is how each type of material holds up to years of use in a typical household setting.

Steel: The Midpoint Material

As previously mentioned, steel doors make up the largest portion of the garage door market. They provide a reasonable balance of price, durability and performance. A steel door that is properly maintained can last up to 20 to 30 years.

Steel doors are only as good as the gauge number listed on the manufacturer’s website. Lower numbers indicate thicker steel. A 24-gauge steel door is significantly stronger and more durable than a 28-gauge steel door, and users will notice the difference in operation. Thicker steel provides better protection against denting, retains insulation longer and withstands wear and tear better than thinner steel doors.

Another potential weakness of steel doors is rust. While steel doors have improved in recent years, they still have the potential to rust, particularly in humid and coastal climates. That being said, nearly all steel doors come with a galvanized coating and/or a weather-resistant finish to help minimize the risk of rust for several years. Proper maintenance (cleaning, painting, etc.) can extend the amount of time it takes for rust to form.

In addition to rust, steel doors can also dent. Backing into a steel door, children running around a steel door, etc., can cause dents in a steel door. Once a steel door is dented, it remains dented. Although this can be frustrating, the compromise between cost and performance makes steel doors a practical choice for most households.

Aluminum: Light but Less Durable

Aluminum doors are commonly found in modern and contemporary homes where the sleek design fits the home’s aesthetic. Aluminum doors are light, rust-resistant and can accommodate large glass panels without being overly heavy for the garage door opening system.

However, aluminum doors suffer from a major drawback – they dent easily. Additionally, since aluminum is softer than steel, the dents that occur in aluminum doors tend to be deeper and more dramatic than dents that occur in steel doors. If a homeowner has a family with young children, a lot of traffic near the garage door or a difficult-to-park area, aluminum is not the most suitable choice for a garage door.

On the other hand, aluminum doors excel in corrosive environments. Coastal areas or locations with severe weather conditions are ideal places for aluminum doors due to their ability to resist rust. Aluminum garage doors adelaide also require minimal maintenance beyond general cleaning.

Typically, aluminum doors have a lifespan of 15 to 20 years, which is shorter than steel but acceptable if the door does not experience excessive wear and tear.

Wood: Attractive, but Demanding

Wooden garage doors look amazing. Wooden doors have a unique warmth and beauty that is hard to replicate with synthetic materials. For homeowners of historic homes, luxury homes or homeowners who prioritize aesthetics over functionality, wooden doors are a great option.

However, wooden doors require a lot of maintenance. Wooden doors require re-staining or re-painting every few years, checking for signs of rot or pest infestation and maintaining the finish to prevent water from seeping into the wood. If maintenance is not performed regularly, wooden doors deteriorate rapidly. With proper maintenance, a wooden door can last 20+ years. On the other hand, if a wooden door is neglected, it could begin to show significant problems in as little as five to ten years.

Another aspect of owning a wooden garage door is that the wood expands and contracts based on temperature and humidity. This can result in poor operating performance of the door and may require the homeowner to adjust the door periodically. In humid climates or areas with extreme temperature fluctuations, wooden garage doors require additional attention to operate properly.

Lastly, the cost of a quality wooden garage door is typically higher than either steel or aluminum doors. In addition to the initial cost of purchasing a wooden garage door, owners of wooden garage doors can expect to pay a premium for maintenance costs such as re-staining or re-painting.

Composite and Fiberglass: The Middle-of-the-Road Options

Composite garage doors combine wood fibers with resin and polymer to mimic the appearance of natural wood without requiring the same level of maintenance. Many composite garage doors successfully replicate the look of wood and offer better weather resistance and reduced maintenance requirements compared to traditional wood garage doors.

Compared to aluminum, composite garage doors are less prone to denting. Composites do not rust like steel garage doors can, and they do not require the same level of maintenance as natural wood garage doors. Composite garage doors are not indestructible – extreme impact can crack composite garage doors. However, in terms of everyday residential use, composite garage doors hold up well. Depending on quality and environmental factors, composite garage doors generally have a lifespan of 15-25 years.

Like composite garage doors, fiberglass garage doors attempt to capture the aesthetic of a wood garage door, while providing better resistance to moisture and reduced maintenance requirements. Similar to composite garage doors, fiberglass garage doors resist rust and decay, and retain their appearance with relatively little maintenance required. The drawbacks of fiberglass garage doors include becoming brittle in extreme cold temperatures and cracking upon impact. In climates with moderate temperatures and limited exposure to extreme cold, fiberglass garage doors function well. In areas with extremely cold temperatures, a steel garage door may be a better option.

Generally speaking, both composite and fiberglass garage doors cost more than steel garage doors, but are priced less than quality wooden garage doors. As a result, these two types of garage doors represent premium options for homeowners seeking low maintenance without the expense associated with purchasing a full wooden garage door.

What Really Determines How Long a Garage Door Will Last?

While choosing a garage door made of a particular material is important, it is by no means the sole determining factor in how long a garage door will remain functional. The manner in which a garage door is installed also has a substantial impact on its overall lifespan. Installing a door of average quality but installing it improperly will lead to problems from the moment it is opened.

Hardware quality (e.g., springs, rollers, tracks) also determines how long a garage door will remain operational and how well it will continue to operate over time. Climate also plays a substantial role in determining how long a garage door will last. Garage doors installed in mild climates simply last longer than garage doors exposed to extreme heat, extreme cold, high levels of humidity, or salt-filled air. A steel door installed in a moderate climate may last 30 years, whereas the exact same steel door installed near the ocean may develop rust-related problems in 15 years.

Finally, the amount of maintenance a garage door receives greatly contributes to extending its lifespan. All garage doors benefit from occasional cleaning, lubricating moving parts, and addressing minor problems prior to them escalating into larger problems. Garages that receive a check-up once or twice per year will outlast garages that are ignored until something breaks.

Choosing the Right Option

For most residential applications, quality steel garage doors offer the best combination of durability, cost and performance. Steel garage doors handle the rigors of everyday use, last for many years with basic maintenance, and come in numerous styles that will suit most homes.

Aluminum garage doors are ideal for certain situations – modern designs, corrosive environments, and designs that feature large glass panels. Wood garage doors are suitable for homes where aesthetics justify the maintenance commitment.

Composite and fiberglass garage doors serve as middle-ground options for homeowners desiring low maintenance with greater dent resistance than aluminum garage doors.

Ultimately, the material that will last the longest for a given homeowner depends on his/her specific circumstances – the climate of the home, the manner in which the garage door is utilized, and the degree of maintenance the homeowner is willing to commit. A steel garage door installed in a moderate climate with adequate maintenance will likely outlast a wooden garage door installed in a humid climate with variable maintenance, despite quality wooden garage doors potentially lasting longer.

Understanding how various garage door materials perform under real world usage conditions enables consumers to sift through marketing hype and select a door that will function properly for years to come.

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