subject: Factors For Choosing Garage Doors [print this page] Factors For Choosing Garage Doors Factors For Choosing Garage Doors
Most likely the first thing to consider in looking at replacement garage doors are prices. Then, the type of house, and the size of the space you have, and lastly the materials used in manufacturing the door.
There are several different types of doors largely determined by how they are hung and stored. The sectional, roll up, sliding, side-hung, and the up-and-over or the tilt up door.
There are definite advantages to the roll up, sliding, or sectional type door. Both the roll up and the sectional door store conveniently in the ceiling of your garage space, and they roll straight up with no out swing whatsoever. This means that you can park a vehicle directly in front of the garage and it will still open.
The sliding door moves on tracks to the side of the garage, and also leaves the front of the garage available for parking. Additionally, the sliding door can be as wide as you need it to be since the weight of the door is always supported by the tracks. The sliding door is used in many commercial and industrial applications, but is also seen in residential homes.
The tilt up or up-and-over type door is made in one piece. They also store in the ceiling, but they swing out and then up thus limiting how close you can park a vehicle in front of the garage. They are usually one of the most inexpensive types of doors, but it couldn't be said that they are cheap. The low range price for any door is probably around $500, but if you are patient, you can sometimes find the top drawer doors at a good discount.
The side-hung doors are hung on either side of the garage and swing out and then lock in the middle. These doors are typically not automated like the sectional, roll up and sliding doors are.
Garage doors are made from many different materials including metal, wood, and composite materials like fiberglass. The wooden doors are beautiful, but require regular refinishing or re-painting, as the nature of wood is to warp with weathering. The western red cedar doors are among the most expensive of all doors. If curb appeal is important to you, then select cedar doors for a lasting impression.
If you live in colder climates like Toronto and Denver, the door you choose should be insulated. Doors are insulated with several different materials with Polyurethane foam being the most expensive and the best. Door installations for warmer climates like San Diego or San Antonio may not be insulated at all.
The first thing to consider before you even start looking for a new door is to determine what your garage space will be used for. Will you be repairing your car in the garage space? Will the kids be using it for a play area? Do you plan to use the area for your hobby area?
Once you know how the space will be used then, you can go online to shop and compare types and prices for garage doors. The Internet is your best bet for finding discount garage doors that won't bust your budget. Oh, and if you do order your door online, be sure to check out the shipping and installation costs, they can greatly add to your overall costs.
