Wood Garage Doors vs. Steel Garage Doors: Which Is Better for Your Home?
Wood and steel are two of the best materials for a new garage door. They’re long-lasting and stylish and can elevate your home’s exterior. If you’re planning to upgrade your home’s garage door, you might have questions about which material is the right option.
Both choices have pros and cons, but ultimately, the best decision comes down to your personal preferences and priorities. Regardless of which material you choose, upgrading your garage doors can protect your home and increase its curb appeal.
A new garage door is a great investment, and you can enjoy the benefits for years. Use this guide to compare wood vs. steel garage doors so you can make an informed decision.
Pros and Cons of Wood Garage Doors
Many people prefer wooden garage doors because of their high-quality look. They’re beautiful, have a classic style and can elevate your home’s curb appeal. Here are some common pros to choosing a wooden door:
- Traditional style
- Customizable
- Long-lasting
- Insulating properties
- Easy to repair
When you choose a wooden door, the custom options are endless. You can specify window shape and size, panel style, stylistic overlays, hardware and stain color. This product can be designed to complement your home and get the exact look you want.
Wood has low thermal conductivity and does have some natural insulating properties, but is not as insulating as some other materials like steel. When properly maintained, a wooden garage door can last for many years. The longevity of a wood garage door can vary depending on factors such as the type of wood, climate conditions, and proper care and maintenance.
Because they’re such high quality, however, wooden doors do require some upkeep. Here are some of the cons that come with investing in a wooden garage door:
- High comparative cost
- Maintenance needs
- Aging from weather
Wood slightly expands and contracts with changes in weather temperature and humidity. Over time, the finish on wood garage doors may wear off, and you’ll need to reseal them. Because they’re so customizable, wooden garage doors also have a much higher price than steel options.
Depending on your goals, wooden garage doors may be the perfect choice for you.
Pros and Cons of Steel Garage Doors
Steel garage doors have many benefits, but people choose this option mainly for its cost and durability. Here’s a quick list of the top pros for choosing a steel garage door for your home:
- Sleek finish
- Insulation options
- Affordability
- Low maintenance
- Range of colors
- Pattern options
The two winning factors for steel garage doors are their affordability and low maintenance requirements. Steel doors can last a long time with minimal care, and they have a wide range of finish and pattern options.
Some homeowners choose a faux wood overlay so their steel doors have the appearance of a wood finish. This kind of door’s wide range of colors and finishes means you can easily match it to your home and exterior aesthetic.
For all their benefits, however, there are a few cons to selecting a steel garage door. Some of these cons include:
- Low insulation quality (when the door is only one-layer steel)
- Potential for dents
- Possible rust damage
If the finish on your steel doors gets damaged, you’ll need to fix it before rust can set in. Steel might also not be the best option if you have kids who play in your driveway since it does dent. A steel garage door alone can easily conduct cold and heat. Steel garage doors are available with a range of insulation options like polystyrene and polyurethane which can help insulate your garage extremely well.
How to Choose Which Garage Doors Are Best for Your Home
At this point, deciding between metal vs. wood garage doors may be easy for you. However, if you like both options and aren’t sure which one is best, keep reading. We’ll go into a detailed comparison between wood and steel garage doors so you can choose the best option for your home.
Cost
Steel is the best choice if you’d like to buy a garage door on a budget. Steel garage doors can cost less than $1,000, while wood garage doors typically cost several thousand. For a highly customized wood garage door, the total cost could be much higher — $4,000 or more, depending on your location, preferences and the size of your garage. However, custom doors are more expensive for both wood and steel options.
Before deciding against wood garage doors based on cost, talk to a local representative to determine specific pricing for your area. You might also be able to opt for a wood composite that’s more affordable but has the kind of style you prefer.
Style
Which style appeals most to you? Which one would work best with your home? Wood garage doors often work well with traditional houses. You can also consider your home’s exterior and whether a wood garage door would work well with existing decor.
Although many people prefer the look of wood garage doors, steel doors come with a wide range of options and can also elevate your home. Modern homes may be a better fit for steel doors, but they can also be aesthetically pleasing for farmhouse-style homes.
To decide which option would work best with your home’s style, look at examples of different homes. Think about what style your home already promotes and how a new garage door could change or enhance that look.
Maintenance
Both wood and steel garage doors can last for a long time. However, wood garage doors typically take more maintenance — they may need to be resealed several times over the years, and they don’t handle weather changes as well as steel doors.
When you invest in steel garage doors, there’s very little you have to do to maintain them. However, they can be dented with enough force and may develop a rust problem if the finish gets damaged. On the whole, steel garage doors require minimal maintenance.
While part of your investment is financial, another part has to do with time. Long-term maintenance is the responsibility you’re committing to when you purchase a new garage door. Think through how much time you want to spend maintaining this part of your home.
Talk to Garage Door Specialists, Inc. Today!
At Garage Door Specialists, we offer competitive pricing for residential garage doors. Our technicians are trained to repair old garage doors and install new ones.
We carry many Clopay® garage doors, including wood, steel and composite options. Reach out to one of our representatives today for a free estimate or to discuss the best garage door style option for your home. We’re excited to work with you!