Despite the fact that the garage is usually the least noticed room in your entire house, the garage door can be one of the most attention‑grabbing features of your home. If your garage door is warped, damaged and otherwise run down, it creates a negative impression that's detrimental to the look of your entire home, regardless of the effort you put into the rest of your property.
No matter what your budget consists of for the installation of a new garage door, you will be able to create a look that matches the rest of your home. While wooden doors are the most attractive option for those seeking to create rustic charm, aluminum, steel and even fiberglass doors may be used to achieve the same result.
The Authenticity of Wood
Choosing to install a wooden garage door adds an air of authenticity to any garage renovation project that seeks to capture a countryside vibe. While you may attempt to use steel, aluminum or vinyl doors to lend rustic charm to your property, there's simply no substitute for the beauty of wood.
The vast majority of door fashioned from wood are custom installations that match the requirements of your garage. Due to the versatility of this material, you can construct coverings that match garage floors that aren't level while creating a unique look for the exterior. Damaged doors may be fixed without a great deal of hassle and expense. Also, wood provides superb sound and heat insulation, especially when treated with the appropriate finish and additional insulation.
Types of Wooden Garage Doors
For those on a budget, plywood in the most inexpensive option. While it doesn't provide the same level of panache and protection as more expensive options, plywood may be coated with a thin slice of a more expensive wood to improve appearances. R‑value and the strength of the door may be increased by sandwiching foam insulation within the panels.
One of the main advantages of a cedar garage door is the fact that this type of wood is naturally resistant to threats such as rot, insects and moisture. One of the biggest drawbacks is the fact that the door will need to be treated once every two years to ensure maximum durability. This beautiful type of wood is red or white, although it may be stained to complement the look of the rest of your home.
Redwood garage doors are expensive but beautiful. The impressive redwood tree provides tremendous strength, as long as it's constructed with layers of wood to eliminate warping that occurs due to moisture and heat. Similar to cedar, redwood may be painted or stained if desired.
Perhaps the most prized garage door material is mahogany, which provides dramatic styling and fantastic strength and durability. Due to the fact that it's a heavy hardwood, mahogany doors are among the most expensive. While some of these doors are made of solid mahogany, many consist of a douglas‑fir frame with mahogany panels inserted within. Despite being a lightweight softwood, douglas‑fir provides similar durability while avoiding warping due to the material's superb density and stiffness. Applying finishes and paints to mahogany helps to create a unique final product.
Non‑Wood Garage Door Options
If, for whatever reason, installing a wooden garage door is simply not an option, you can also choose to install an aluminum, steel or vinyl garage door that imitates the appearance of wood.
Despite being inexpensive compared to wood, doors made of steel often provide the best durability and strength. The latest steel manufacturing techniques have created results that manage to copy the aesthetic appeal of wood in a much more proficient manner than previously possible.
Fiberglass doors are a relative newcomer to the garage door marke. This type of artificial material may be used to create an incredible array of looks, including rustic wood. However, fiberglass doors perform poorly in terms of insulation and strength in cold weather conditions. Additionally, it may turn yellow as time passes.
Aluminum, sandwich type with polyurethane injection, tends to be a good alternative, providing a lightweight material that is durable, as much as most of other types of garage door installations. The look of wood may be embossed as part of a finish that makes the entire door sturdier. One of the main disadvantages of aluminum is the fact that it dents and warps easily compared to other, more solid materials.
The sheer variety of modern garage doors to choose from gives consumers a wealth of options in the pursuit a beautiful, rustic home exterior. Contact Environmental Door to learn more about how a great garage door helps create an aesthetically‑pleasing result that doesn't sacrifice sturdiness and longevity.
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