You might not spend much time thinking about it, but your garage door is an extremely important aspect of your home. Your garage door plays a prominent role in your home’s curb appeal, while also providing security for your car, belongings and possibly even your family (if your garage is a home access point). So, if it’s time to replace an old, noisy, malfunctioning, or uninsulated garage door, you’ll want to do your homework prior to buying.
Choosing the Right Provider
The best way to choose the right garage door for your home is to start off with a reputable, experienced garage door specialist. Look for a garage door expert that provides real, in-person estimates, warranties, and a variety of options to suit your needs.
Construction
Garage doors are available in a number of different materials. Here’s a look at some of the most common options here in Canada.
Steel Garage Doors
Steel garage doors have become the most popular variety of garage door in Canada. They are durable, energy-efficient, and virtually maintenance-free. Steel doors are also considered to be the most affordable option.
Wood Garage Doors
While some homeowners have turned to lower maintenance steel garage doors, there are still many benefits to choosing wood. Wood garage doors don’t dent, are eco-friendly, and offer a traditional look.
Fibreglass Garage Doors
Fibreglass garage doors offer many of the same benefits of steel, but with the ability to take on the traditional look of wood.
Note: Fibreglass garage doors have been known to crack or break over time in extremely cold climates. Be aware that there are fibreglass-steel composite doors that are known to be stronger.
Insulation
Source: Dodds Doors
As with insulating any other room in your home, you want to consider the R-value of the garage door that you’re purchasing. In other words, you want to think about how able it is to keep the cold air out and the warm air in.
Garage doors are typically insulated with one of two types of material: Polystyrene or Polyurethane. Polystyrene-insulated garage doors are the less expensive option in most cases and have an average R-value of around R-10.
Polyurethane-insulated garage doors tend to be costlier than the polystyrene option; however, they provide greater insulation. The maximum R-value of a polyurethane-insulated garage door is about R-17 1/2.
Opting for a door that has a core of polyurethane insulation is generally considered to be your best option. This core also adds to the door’s strength. In addition to the core insulation, it’s also a good idea to look for a garage door that has its thermal efficiency enhanced by a PVC gasket and good perimeter weather stripping.
If you live in a warmer province, you may be ok with choosing a door with a slightly lower R-value. However, in provinces that experience particularly cold winters, or if you use your garage as an extended living space, you may then wish to look for a garage door that has a high R-value.
Typical Garage Door R-Values Include:
- R-6.6
- R-10
- R-12
- R-16
Garage Door Styles
There are three main styles of garage doors in the Canadian marketplace: Traditional, Carriage House, and Contemporary.
Traditional Garage Doors
Source: Garaga
The traditional style of garage door is available in wood, steel, and fibreglass. It can be easily identified by its quintessential grid of raised or recessed panels.
Carriage House Garage Doors
Source: Phoenix Garage Doors
The Carriage House style of garage door offers a nostalgic nod to the days of horse-drawn carriages. It’s the roll-top doors, iron strap hinges, handles and stylized separation down the middle that give Carriage House garage doors a look that hints at swing-out functionality.
Contemporary Garage Doors
Source: Clopay
This style of garage door tends to stand out from the others. It offers a sleek look, and makes use of glass in a way that is equal parts style and function. This style works best with a contemporary or mid-century-style house.
Size
9×7’ Single and 26×7’ double doors are the most typical garage doors sizes. Although there are garages with smaller or larger openings, such as 1 ½ car garages, that fall somewhere in the middle.
If you are uncertain about garage door sizing, style, insulation, or any other details, you should speak to your local garage door specialist. To find a garage door specialist near you, be sure to explore the listings here on eieihome.com.
Featured Image Source: Garaga
