Garage doors come in a variety of types and specifications. You will be spoiled for choices. It is your own particular requirement and need, which will decide what kind of garage door would fit the bill. If what is being offered does not fulfill your needs, you can always get the one made custom built for you. Choose a good service garage door company for getting one made for your own environment. Now let’s have a look at some of the common and popular types of garage doors.
Types of garage doors:
There are many types of garage doors, and they can be grouped in the following broad categories;
- According to material
- According to the opening mechanism
- According to style
Let’s discuss each of them one after another.
According to the material:
According to material implies the type of material used in the construction of garage doors. The materials could be any of the following;
- Pure wood
- Wood combo
- Aluminum
- Steel
- Glass
- Fiberglass
We now briefly look at the pros and cons of each one of them:
Pure Wood Garage Doors
As evident from the name, they are made of solid wood. Their pros and cons can be summarized below;
Pros: They are beautiful to look at. It comes in a lot of designs. You can impress your family and friends through their sleek polished look. Being made of solid wood, they are strong and sturdy as well.
Cons: They are expensive because of their nature. Wood being an organic element is prone to weather hostilities. Rain, sunlight, moisture, snow, a storm can cause weak havoc to your wooden garage doors. Wood tends to rot, expand, and warp with time. Termites can be a problem too. Due to this, they need constant maintenance in the form of paint and polish jobs.
Verdict: Not a wise option.
Wood Combo Garage Doors
It is made of fiberboard and has a wooden frame. Some are made with a higher density of fiberboard and a rick texture to it.
Pros: It is cheaper than wood. It is more energy-efficient and less prone to weather hazards. It is insulated with material like polystyrene which does not let the cool or hot air to pass through it.
Cons: It gives a cheap look. The design options are limited, especially compared to wooden ones. It provides the feeling of a compromise as you could not afford expensive ones.
Verdict: Go for it if you are on a tight budget.
Aluminum Garage Doors:
It is made of aluminum. Let’s have a look at its pros and cons.
Pros: It is cheap. It will not rot or warp or expand due to weather. It’s lightweight and durable at the same time. It does not require any running maintenance.
Cons: Aluminum absorbs heat, so during summers, it can get very hot. Whatever you store inside the garage will get hot too. Being lightweight in nature, it can dent pretty easily. Even a football can damage it so can hail and heavy winds.
Verdict: Not a bad option where the weather is moderate and not the damage can be controlled.
Steel Garage Doors
Made with steel material lets have a look at its pros and cons:
Pros: It comes in many designs and customization options. It is strong and durable. Weather won’t affect it. It has almost no maintenance. The foam core in it keeps the air trapped.
Cons: All these advantages come with a heavy price tag.
Verdict: Good option if you have no budget concerns.
Glass Garage Doors:
Made with glass, they have become popular not so long ago. Let’s take a look at them.
Pros: They look stylish. You can get a spacious feel while using them.
Cons: Not as strong as say, wood or steel doors. Chips and cracks do appear over time. You can have privacy and safety issues with them.
Verdict: Go for them if you like to get a modern contemporary feel.
Fiberglass Garage Doors:
Let’s take a look at them.
Pros: Lightweight. Economical. Weather-resistant.
Cons: Can get brittle with time. Will absorb heat.
Verdict: It’s better for areas with mild temperatures.
According to opening mechanisms:
According to this, the garage doors can be of the following types.
Sectional Garage Doors:
The panel of this garage door is broken into sections. These are held by hinges. It moves up in a vertical track until it reaches the top, and from there, it bends and runs parallel to the ceiling along the horizontal path.
Roll up Garage Doors:
A roll-up garage board rolls up as you open it. It is rolled up in a barrel present at the top of the door opening. The door itself is made of a horizontal bar that allows it to roll.
Slide to the Side Garage Doors:
Its opening mechanism is that it will slide side to the wall and run parallel to it instead of running parallel to the ceiling. It is used where the roof space is constrained.
Side Hinged Garage Doors:
In these types of garage doors, the hinges are on the sides. They let the door swing open. You can customize it to open inwards or outwards.
Tilt-up Garage Doors:
They don’t have a section. They tilt up to the ceiling of the garage when you open them. They have further two types which are;
Tilt-up canopy garage door: The door lifts and runs parallel to the ceiling with a little section extending out.
Tilt-up retractable garage door: Same as above, the only difference no part of the door juts out.
Conclusion:
These are some of the popular types of garage doors. You can have one made for yourself with your customized design, size, color, window inserts, and material. The possibilities are endless. You just have to know your requirements and your budget to choose the best option for yourself.
