What are the most common garage door materials?
Garage doors can be made with several different types of materials which include wood, steel, aluminum, vinyl, and wood composite. The most popular type of overhead garage door is steel. The steel garage door is largely popular for its many design options, durability, low maintenance and they provide the best insulation.
Wood
Wood is a popular choice because the material can be painted in a variety of colors and styles. However, wood doors require more routine maintenance and over time the paint tends to fade and chip.
Steel
Having a steel garage door is the best option for durability, affordability, and looks. Steel doors are strong enough to keep the home or building secure if installed properly with the proper hardware. Not only will they keep unwanted people out, but they can also stand up against fire and other extreme weather conditions like hurricanes or blizzards.
Steel garage doors can be insulated to keep out heat or cold air depending on what you need, and steel doors will not warp or rot like wood does over time, making them an excellent long-term investment in terms of garage door costs.
Aluminum
Another option to consider for your garage door is Aluminum. Aluminum doors can be lighter in weight depending on design and window options, which can make them easier to manually operate. However, these doors do not come in as many different colors and styles as steel or wood, but they are also known for being very energy-efficient and offer an attractive modern look.
Vinyl
The durability of vinyl garage doors has made them a popular choice for those who want security and easy maintenance benefits but don’t need something that will show wear easily.
Unfortunately, this material also comes in fewer colors than many others – which can be an issue if you’re looking to customize your space with bright hues or interesting designs.
Wood Composite
Wood composite doors are becoming more popular because of their realistic and dimensional look. These models typically have fiberboard skins that cover an imitation wood frame, but some also come with higher density polystyrene insulation cores for added detail to mimic the natural material itself.
Cost of steel garage doors and repair costs
A garage door is the largest moving object in the home and when you consider how much force the moving parts are under every day, especially if you have an automatic opener attached to your door, which puts added strain on all these parts.
However, unprecedented global conditions have resulted in higher costs of steel used for new garage doors and even replacement parts for your current garage door.
The cost of steel has gone up every month this year and unfortunately, the trend of monthly cost increases has not stopped. Shipping and receiving products have become more challenging for businesses in all industries nationwide.
High demand and low supply of raw steel are affecting both new product construction and existing product repair because it increases the material of garage door costs significantly without any chance for manufacturers to raise prices for the end-user.
How the continuous rise in the cost of steel affects purchases of new garage doors and garage door repairs
Over the past years, there has been a steady increase in steel prices due to increased demand worldwide, and changing trade laws have made it harder for many countries to export this material.
In addition, the price of crude oil, which is used to make steel, has also fluctuated dramatically, making it much more expensive than before. Garage manufacturers take all these changes into account when coming up with recommended retail prices for garage doors.
The cost of steel is likely to continue to rise until the demand outweighs the supply and there’s a more equal availability of oil which can be used to create steel. Unfortunately, this means it could get even more expensive before you will see any relief from the current cost of garage door materials.
Other factors that affect the cost of a new garage door
The size and weight of the door:
If you have a two-car garage and decide that you need something bigger than 8 feet tall by 7 1/2 feet wide, this will cost more than a door that is 8 feet tall by 7 feet wide.
If your garage doors are heavy because they have insulation or double-paned glass, you may want to consider getting a steel door over an aluminum one, so it’s easier to lift the door up and down every day.
Conclusion
The good news is that Ascend Door of Kernersville is still proudly offering customers in Winston Salem, Greensboro, High Point and throughout the Piedmont Triad area several different options to offer depending on your budget, goals, and aesthetic tastes.
In addition, they always take the time to speak with each of their customers one-on-one before beginning an order to make sure they get everything just right and to offer the most affordable options.
Contact us today for a free estimate.
