Questions That Need Answers When Buying a New Garage Door

A garage door may seem like a mundane purchase, but think about how the door will affect the look (and value of your home). Also, consider that it’s a purchase that you’re not likely to make very often – maybe only a handful of times over the course of your entire life.

It is therefore a decision that you should take seriously. In order to guide your decision-making process, and to ensure that you arrive at the garage door that will be perfect for your home, here are the questions that you’ll need to answer:

Why are you buying a garage door in the first place?

It’s a simple question, certainly, but it’s also an important one that people forget to ask. Answering this question will help you to gain a grasp on what goals you have for your next garage door. There are many different reasons that people have, including:

• They’re simply sick of painting their garage doors every other year.
• They’re trying to better insulate their garage for the winter months.
• Their current garage door simply doesn’t work right.
• The garage doors that they have are simply old and broken down.

What function does your garage serve?

Next up, you’ll want to think about the purpose that your garage is going to be serving for years to come.

• Do you use your garage for storage?
• Is it used simply for parking your car?
• Will you need it to function as a workspace?
• Does anyone spend a lot of time in there?
• Is it part of a renovation or new construction project?
• Is it attached or detached?

Which of these three factors is most important to you?

What are those three factors that you’ll be choosing from? Let’s take a look:

• Functionality: Are you primarily concerned with the functional aspects of the garage door, such as its durability or insulation. Do you need the garage door to be weatherproof? What kind of warranty and guarantees do you need? Are you concerned about who will be installing the garage door?
• The look: Once installed, a garage door is going to become a part of your home. Is there a specific style that you’re trying to cultivate? Do you need to match your garage door to your front door?
• Money: What kind of a budget are you working with? The least expensive garage doors can be under $1000. If you’re looking for more out of the above categories, though, you’ll need to be willing to pay more than that.

Which of the three kinds of garage door appeals most to you?

The overwhelming majority of garage doors are made out of one of the three following materials. Each material has its own advantages and disadvantages.

• Aluminum: For those with homes that have a contemporary look, this may be the ideal choice. However, these garage doors tend to have a number of windows, which drives up the price of such a door considerably.
• Steel: The price for one of these doors will vary depending upon the quality of the construction and the insulation involved. On the cheaper side, there are steel doors that are entirely uninsulated. However, most people choose a metal door precisely to provide insulation to their garages. Another reason that they’re often chosen is because they require the least maintenance. While prices will vary, metal is, generally speaking, the most economical option for garage doors. What’s more, today’s steel doors come in finishes, colors and designs that can achieve a myriad of looks.
• Wood: This is the classic garage door material. Much like metal, the price will vary and depends upon the kind of wood used as well as the quality of the construction. The classic look and the myriad options for customization are what attract most people to wood garage doors. Their only downside is that they require the most maintenance out of these three options.

There are other options available for materials, namely PVC and fiberglass, but they are not as widely used (or desired) as the above three options.

How important is the look of the garage door?

In order to make your home look as good as it can, you’re going to want to choose an attractive garage door. According to leading real estate brokers, an attractive and high quality garage door can make it much easier to sell your home, should you ever want or need to. In fact, you also stand to save money by investing in a high-quality garage door. According to Remodeling Magazine, those who invest $1000 in their garage door can expect an 84% return on their investment.

When considering the look, there are a number of other things you’ll want to take into account. For one, you’ll want to select a color that complements the look of your home. Many will often opt to have their garage door painted the same color as their front door in order to give their homes a balanced look. In addition to color, you may also want to have windows installed in your garage door, as this can make your garage space much cheerier. Finally, if you have a two-car garage, you’ll have to choose between two single doors or one double door. Personally, we always recommend two single doors, as a double door is quite massive and will overpower the rest of your home. However, the choice is yours to make.

Check out our video

By answering these five questions, you should be able to choose the garage door that is going to be right for you. If you want to explore the topic a bit further and review the material we’ve covered, then please check out this highly informative video that we’ve put together.

For over 35 years, we’ve been helping customers like you to choose the right garage doors for their homes. In order to have the fine team at A‑1 Overhead Door Systems help you through the process of purchasing and installing your new garage door, simply get in touch. You can call us at any time at 978-342-3344.