The garage door is the single biggest design element people see when they look at your home which means it has an enormous impact on your home’s curb appeal. But that’s just part of the story when it comes to garage doors. In recent years garage doors have graduated from being low-tech affairs to being high-tech mechanisms that can be controlled from anywhere on earth, can help you cut your home’s energy consumption and can greatly enhance your home’s security profile as well. Below we’re going to look at popular garage door styles and materials.
Choosing the Right Garage Doors Installation
In recent years garage doors have become not only more technologically sophisticated but more aesthetically sophisticated as well. The standard white, wood panel garage doors of yesterday have given way to a wide variety of materials and finishes that embody an almost unlimited expressive range. Here is the lowdown on the various garage door styles and materials so you can decide which garage doors installation may be right for you.
Common Garage Door Types
Sectional Doors
By far the most common garage door type in Calgary and the rest of North America is the sectional door. This type of door is comprised of several rows of panels fitted together and hinged between the rows enabling the door to make the transition between being vertical and being horizontal. This type of door is attached via rollers to parallel tracks that guide the door up and down. A heavy duty spring or pair of springs is used to provide the necessary lift and a mechanical opener is used to get the door moving before the spring takes over. The sectional door may or may not have windows. for more information about check this article about 3 common Garage Door Questions
Carriage House Doors
A distant second in popularity is the carriage house door which takes its name from its ancestors that were attached to horse and buggy garages of the distant past. These doors are mounted on hinges and swing open like your front door or the door to the bathroom or bedroom. They typically come in pairs with each door covering 50% of the garage opening. This type of door, which is often made of genuine wood with an attractive finish and classic style hardware, looks great and seals nice and tight against the elements. It is however very expensive to automate and creates unusable space in front of the garage because the doors need to swing open.
Now let’s look at the different garage door materials being offered today.
Wood
Wood is the classic garage door material and is still quite popular. It tends to appeal to those who prefer natural materials and it can be easily painted should you decide to change the colour scheme of your home. Wood panels are susceptible to rot however, although replacing rotten panels is a fairly simple undertaking.
Aluminum
Aluminum panel doors won’t rot like wood or rust like steel but they will ding and dent easier than other doors. That said they provide a high degree of security and are available in a variety of colours and finishes. Aluminum panel doors are also available fully insulated which can help reduce your energy use.
Steel
If security is an issue for you you’ll want to consider a steel garage door. Steel doors can be painted or stained or even covered with a composite material to provide myriad different looks. They’re also available fully insulated. Steel may not be the right choice however if you live near the ocean.
Fiberglass
A fiberglass garage door won’t dent like aluminum or steel. Nor will it rot like wood or wood composites. They’re also available in a stunning variety of styles and finishes and can be fully insulated. If they have a downside it’s that they tend to break rather than dent when impacted.
Vinyl
Vinyl doors won’t rust like steel, dent like steel or aluminum, rot like wood or break apart like fiberglass. They’re also available either insulated or non-insulated, require very little by way of maintenance and will last as long or longer than any other material. Their downside is that you’re limited in your choice of colours and appearance.
Selecting the right garage doors installation for your home is a matter of determining how much maintenance you’re willing to do, what colour and type of finish you want, what material may be best given your location and of course, your budget. You should also give serious consideration to an insulated garage doors installation as it could wind up saving you big on energy in the long run. Have more questions about Garage door Installation’s FAQ’s
B&W Garage Door Specialists are the most trusted garage doors installation experts in the Calgary area. Give us a call to learn more about which type of garage door will be perfect for your home.