subject: Garage Doors – Steel Or Vinyl? [print this page] Garage Doors Steel Or Vinyl? Garage Doors Steel Or Vinyl?
Most homes will come attached with a garage. People may not care about the type of material their garage door is, but there are various reasons for using different materials.
In previous years, traditional wooden doors were the most popular choice for garage doors. Unfortunately, wood is not a very durable material for exposure to the elements over the years. Steel and vinyl are fast becoming the most popular choices in garage doors. This is because they are more durable and resistant to damage. We will discuss the differences between steel and vinyl so that you can make a choice of which material would be better for your garage door.
It is a fact that vinyl garage doors are more expensive to install then steel, but this is a good thing, as they are usually the longest lasting of the two substances. Steel will usually need to be replaced over a certain number of years, whilst vinyl can come with a lifetime guarantee. Some people prefer to use vinyl as it is more resistant to dents and scratches. When a stray ball or object hits a steel door, it can get dented. This is not a major problem with vinyl doors at all, unless they are in a cold climate. If it is very, very cold then any damages to the vinyl door could cause it to crack. Naturally you would need to take the climate you are living in into account before choosing the material for your door.
With regards to colour, most vinyl doors will have an integrated colour throughout the material. This means that any damages will not show up too clearly on the surface. Steel on the other hand, needs to be painted, making it more susceptible to showing damages. Even though this may seem to be a negative point, bear in mind that at least steel doors can be repainted to cover up any damages or scratches. Vinyl, on the other hand, cannot.
Even though people will not normally live in their garages, it is important to know that steel doors are better insulated than vinyl ones. If you would like to maintain a constant temperature in your garage, then you should consider installing a steel door. In the same breath, if you would like a specific colour for your garage door, then it would also be preferable to choose steel. Steel can be painted to resemble wood, but remember if you want a smooth finish then you need to consider vinyl.
At the end of the day the choice is yours. Only you will know what type of garage door will look good on your property. The most important thing is to take all the above considerations into account before choosing your material. Then the next thing that you will need to do is decide whether or not you would like an automated garage door or not.
