Feeling like your garage door’s gotten a little high-maintenance? If you’ve got a wooden or steel door, you very well may. And while we love a good solid wooden carriage house garage door, not everyone wants to deal with the extra care. What’s the laziest solution to a long-lasting garage door? Arguably, aluminum.
Wooden Garage Doors are High-Maintenance
Granted, wooden garage doors are beautiful, but they are also expensive and are sure to ruin many a weekend. These doors require considerable maintenance. They need to be repainted periodically. They also need to be sanded and varnished. And you’ve got to worry about termites and other pests that can ruin a wooden garage door.
Steel Garage Doors are Susceptible to Rust
Steel is a great choice of garage door material, but it has a few drawbacks. It’s more prone to rust and corrosion than aluminum, it’s heavier, and you can’t technically repair a dented steel garage door panel in the way you can with aluminum.
Aluminum Garage Doors Need Less Attention
If you are considering installing a new garage door, aluminum might be a safer and more affordable option. These doors don’t cost nearly as much as wooden doors and they require virtually no upkeep. Plus, modern aluminum doors don’t dent easily as older models. Here are a few advantages to consider when it comes to installing a new aluminum garage door:
1. You’ll Have a Shorter To-Do List.
Wooden doors break down overtime. They need painted and sanded every few years. This can be expensive as well as labor intensive. Steel doors can rust. The beauty of aluminum is it doesn’t rust and provides a sturdy protective coating to your garage door that doesn’t require any work. It’s highly resistant to weather, which can be a big plus considering how harsh Sacramento winter storms can be. All an aluminum door requires is a spray down with the hose from time to time.
If you’ve got a wooden frame, an aluminum protective layer will make it last much longer. You could easily get an extra decade or more of use for your door. It’s a highly cost effective investment.
Here’s a hint: Cover the joint between the frame weather stripping and the exterior finish with a weather sealant. This will help the door stay flexible, no matter the weather. It also provides a much smoother seal to the door’s components.
2. Your Home Will Look Beautiful.
Your garage door is the most noticeable visual center piece to your home. It’s what people pay attention to the most and sets the tone of your home. An aluminum exterior doesn’t require much effort to maintain and it looks great. This upgrade can be a big improvement not only to your door but your home itself.
3. New Garage Doors Boost Property Values.
Curb appeal plays a deciding factor in estimating the resale value of your home. You’ve probably read on our blog about what a great return you can get out of installing a new garage door because of the boost in property value. In fact, replacing a garage door results in a 97-100% ROI, which blows away the return on equity of any other home renovation.
The Convenience & Cost Savings of Modern Aluminum Garage Doors
If you’re considering installing a new aluminum door, keep in mind that their technology has really come a long way over the years. Older aluminum doors can be prone to denting. Modern aluminum doors are quite sturdy — dent and impact resistant. This means aluminum is an affordable and durable option that also lasts a long time.
Aluminum garage doors are also one of the more sustainable options of garage door construction, because aluminum is infinitely recyclable. Plus, since aluminum doors are lighter than steel, there’s less work for your garage door opener to do. So in turn, your garage door opener will last longer, too.Is aluminum the right choice for everyone’s next garage door replacement? No, which is why you can design a custom door with SACS. But for people looking for a durable, convenient and affordable option that still gets them the look and function they’re looking for, an aluminum overhead door may be the answer.