Things to Know Before Buying a Garage Door

A garage door often makes up one of the largest areas of the front of today’s home, so it can have a very significant impact on curb appeal. This fact combined with the relatively low cost are some of the reasons garage door replacement usually ranks in the #1 or #2 position of highest return on investment of any home improvement you can make. Here are a few simple things you should consider before buying a garage door.

A great quality garage door doesn’t have to cost a lot
The difference between a cheap entry level quality garage door and a good quality door is often as little as $50.00 but the quality difference can be massive. Be sure to ask for pricing on a few different quality levels – you may be surprised at how much difference a few extra dollars can make.

Decide what look you want your new door to have
Less than 10 years ago, all garage doors looked pretty much the same. In the past decade, the industry has become very innovative and there is now a huge variety of door styles to choose from. There are 3 basic categories the various door styles fall into: Traditional style, Contemporary Style, and Carriage Style. The style of your home will usually dictate what door style best compliments your home. There are so many door styles available now that it can become quite overwhelming when trying to choose which door is the best for you. For this reason, it is highly recommended to work with a qualified, experienced door company. They should be able to look at your house and based on experience, and their knowledge of what is available, very quickly suggest 2 or 3 door styles that will best suit your home.

What material should my door be made from?
Insulated steel doors make up over 90% of the garage door market in Canada. For most people they really do offer the best combination of quality, price, durability and low maintenance. Some steel doors are even available in simulated stained finishes to emulate the look of a stained wooden door without the extra maintenance wood doors require. However, nothing is as beautiful as a real wood door, so if for you the additional maintenance is worth it for the enhanced beauty and curb appeal, a real wood door might be for you. Real wood doors are more expensive, but many owners of estate homes wouldn’t consider anything other than a real wood door with real wood charm. There are also garage doors made from composite materials which look more like real wood than steel doors, but they are much more expensive (even than real wood). They promise lower maintenance but there still is additional required maintenance. Garage doors made from composite materials do look more like real wood, but again, nothing looks as good as the real thing.

Have it professionally installed
While you might be interested in saving a little bit of money by installing your new garage door on your own, this can be a hassle that may result in damage to your new garage door. Chances are you’ll be purchasing your door through a reputable garage door dealer who will also install it at a very reasonable price. This is one of those things that really is not worth attempting yourself.

Research which garage door company would be best for you
Before you purchase your new garage door, you need to research and find which local garage door company is going to be the best fit for you. Having a company that will help you choose and install the right garage door is going to make all of the difference. A quick google search and you should see plenty of customer reviews. Even great companies are likely to have a few customers who were less than fully satisfied, but if you see lots of negative reviews there is likely a reason, so pay attention.

These are just a few of the many things that you should know before buying a garage door. With this knowledge, you will be able to make a better decision about which garage door is right for you, and which company you can trust to install and service it properly.