Most homeowners will have to purchase a new garage door at least once, maybe twice while living in their home. If you are in the market to buy a new garage door, chances are, you are in unfamiliar territory. We will help you understand the many aspects of buying a garage door so you can be confident when you are buying a new door.
One of the best investments you can make for your home his replacing the garage door or the front door. In this article, we will discuss the six most important factors you should take into consideration when shopping for your garage door.
Garage Door Measurements
It is important to know the size of your garage opening before beginning the journey of buying a garage door. If you hire Parker Door’s & More to install your new garage door, we will take measurements before beginning the job, but we recommend you take measurements for your records. Not all garage door companies operate the same. Knowing the size of the garage door will be the first step to knowing the expected cost and what materials will work best for the job.
Material Used
The material you decide to use will have an affect on the appearance and the maintenance requirements for the door. It is important to determine the best garage door material for your home. The types of material you can choose from is steel, aluminum, wood and composite wood.
Steel Garage Doors
Steel is probably the most used when it comes to garage door’s. There is a large variety of colors, insulation options and prices. Most companies are able to add wood grain patterns to give the appearance of wood being on the garage door. Steel doors can be painted to match the color combination of your homes exterior. Steel garage doors do not warp or crack, making it a very durable option. Because these types of doors are hot dipped galvanized steel with primer baked on, it will not rust or will not need to be repainted frequently. The biggest complaint there is with steel doors is that they are capable of accumulating dents and they are not easy repairs. Purchasing a garage door with thicker steel will help you avoid this issue. Consider asking what is the ‘gauge number’ of the garage door. The ‘gauge number’ determines its thickness.
Aluminum Garage Doors
Aluminum is the most popular choice if you prefer a modern-looking garage door. The panels on an aluminum garage door can be made with a variety of different material giving the garage door a stylish appearance. Aluminum doors are also rust resistance and extremely lightweight. The cost the maintain these doors are more expensive than steel doors.
Wood Garage Doors
Wood garage doors usually come with a higher price tag and more maintenance requirements, but they offer a superior curb appeal. Wooden doors can easily be painted and stained to your desired results. They are vulnerable to accidental damage and are easily repaired. Wooden garage doors can have a very long lifespan if cared for correctly.
Composite Wood is a great substitute for wood because of its durability and it is very easy to maintain. These door’s usually contain a steel interior then overlaid with artificial wood.
Once you come to a decision on the size and the type of material needed, you can now decide if you want to buy a garage door that is ready for installation, or if you want to have one custom made to fit your needs.
Price Tag
Buying a new garage door does not have to be an large investment. The average cost for a single car garage door is usually less than $500, depending on the brand. Simple garage door openers can be found for around $100 in most cases. Pricing of the garage door can also vary depending on size, material used, insulation and decorative elements. Garage door opener price can change depending on horsepower and additional features that might be included. The average cost for a two-car garage with an automatic opener professionally installed can be estimated at $1500-$2000.
Garage Door Openers
Now that you picked the perfect garage door, now it is time to pick the perfect garage door opener. First, it is important to know the difference between garage doors that are operated by chain, screw or belt drive. Chain drives works by attaching a chain to a metal trolley. This is the most affordable but is much noisier than the other choices. Screw drives uses a steel rod to raise and lower the garage door. This needs to be lubricated on a regular basis. Belt drives use a rubber belt to open and close the garage door along the rails. There is no metal to metal contact, causing a quieter, smoother operation. You can also add a keypad outside the garage door just in case you lost your garage door remote of your key to the house.
What Is Insulation?
The number one question customers ask us when purchasing a new door is ‘should I insulate the door?’ The answer is simple. Yes! In most cases, the garage is attached to the house. Insulation protects the house from wasting energy. If you use our garage as an additional room, then you must insulate your garage door. Be sure to check the ‘R-value’ when insulating. The higher ‘R-value’, the better the insulation. Not only does it help with energy waste, it increases durability, improves security and helps reduce noise.
Additional Features
Although the material chosen will have an effect on the style and appearance of your garage door, you can choose to add windows, hardware and customized paneling to increase the uniqueness of your garage door. The ‘carriage style’ garage doors are very popular right now. These additional features can really give your garage door a new look. There are also option to connect the garage door system to Wi-Fi which allows you to open your garage door from your smartphone.
Call Parker Door’s & More Now!
Now that you are educated in the process of buying garage doors, choosing the right one will now be an easy task for you. Call 602-870-9848 for more information on our garage door installation services. We service Phoenix, AZ and its surrounding areas. We also provide service in the Lake Havasu and Parker, Arizona. Call or contact us online for more information now!
