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Should You Buy Faux Wooden Garage Doors?

Wooden doors are considered both charming and practical by many homeowners. They offer a warm, inviting appearance to guests while providing adequate protection to your home. Wooden doors can be expensive and difficult to maintain, especially when they are south facing exposed to the harsh UV from the sun.  If not kept properly sealed the wood can swell up, crack and pieces may break off due to UV exposure and water penetration.   A south-facing wood door typically will require re-finishing every year, while a north-facing door may only require a new coat of finish every 5 or 6 years.

So, what’s the solution? Faux wood garage doors! These doors are made to look like wood but they’re actually made of steel, aluminium, or fiberglass. This means they won’t rot, warp, or crack in extreme weather conditions. They’re also easier to clean than real wood doors; simply wipe them down with a damp cloth when they get dirty.

If you’re considering faux wood garage doors for your home, read on for more information about the pros and cons of these products.

What Are Faux Wooden Garage Doors?

You can purchase doors in just about any material these days, from steel to fiberglass to wood. Faux wooden doors are incredibly popular – especially doors that look highly convincing.

We can trace faux wood back to the French Renaissance, when artists began painting ‘faux bois’ or ‘false wood’. This painting technique was used to create the illusion of wood grain on surfaces that weren’t actually made of wood.

Nowadays, faux wood is more likely to be used in products like garage doors where it can serve a functional purpose. Faux wood garage doors are made from steel, aluminium, or fiberglass and then given a wood grain finish. This gives them the appearance of real wood but with added durability.

Why Can’t I Use Real Wood?

Although faux wood is incredibly popular, real wood is still used throughout the home – in particular, for interior doors and entrance doors. So why not use real wood for your garage doors?

There are a few reasons:

  • Wood is more expensive. A garage door is a large, thick piece of material. This means that it would be very expensive to purchase a garage door made entirely of stain-grade wood.
  • Wood is more difficult to maintain. Wooden doors require regular sealing, staining, and repainting in order to keep them looking their best.
  • Garage doors are exposed to the elements. Your garage door is constantly exposed to the sun, rain, and wind – so it’s best to use a material that can withstand these conditions without deteriorating.

Keep in mind, too, that garage doors are constantly opening and closing. Even the most well-made wooden door is going to suffer from wear and tear over time; not to mention, the heavy wood can cause the raising and lowering mechanics to wear out more quickly.

Different Types of Faux Wooden Doors

There are two types of faux wood doors: those made with a wood composite, and those made with a steel or aluminium.

Wood composites are made from wood fiber that’s bound together with adhesives, or very dense polyurethane foam, poured into moulds created from real pieces of wood.  This gives these products a more realistic wood look than doors made with steel or aluminium, but they’re also much more expensive. Most manufacturers of composite doors require re-sealing of the exterior every 2-3 years to keep the warranty intact.

Doors made with steel or aluminium have a simulated stained finish which means it has been printed/painted with a wood grain design that mimics the colour variance found in stained wood. While the look is potentially less convincing than wood composites, these products are much more affordable. Some manufacturer’s doors in this category look much more like real wood than other others.  To avoid disappointment, we highly recommended you see a whole door and not just rely on small samples or brochures when making your decision.  It is literally impossible to tell the difference between a great-looking wood finish and a very fake looking wood finish by looking at small samples or brochures as some manufacturers have great-looking images of not so great looking doors.

Steel and aluminium also have the advantage of being the lowest maintenance and longest-lasting material. Most manufacturers of these products offer lifetime warranties on the door sections as well as the paint finish with little to no maintenance required to maintain the finish.

How To Choose The Right Faux Wooden Garage Door

Garage doors are an investment; they can cost anywhere between $1200 and $15,000, and sometimes even more. That’s why it’s important to choose a door that will not only look good, but also stand the test of time.

Here are some factors to consider when choosing a faux wooden garage door:

  • The overall style of your home: You want a door that complements the rest of your house. If you have a modern home, for example, you might want a sleek, minimalistic garage door. A more traditional home would look best with a door that has more ornate features.
  • The climate: Do you live in an area with extreme weather conditions? In that case, you’ll want a door that can withstand high winds, heavy rain, or snow.
  • The size of your garage: Make sure to measure your garage before you buy a door. You don’t want to end up with a door that’s too big or too small for the space.
  • Your budget: Faux wood doors can be expensive, so it’s important to set a budget and stick to it. Keep in mind that some of the cheaper doors are great looking and can be as or more durable than the more expensive composite ones, with less maintenance required.

Looking for expert guidance on which door to choose? Here at The Door House, we’re ready to help. Give us a call or email us today!