How To Pick the Most Durable Garage Door

A garage door enhances the safety of your home or business and plays many other important roles. One of the things you should never compromise when selecting a garage door is durability. A durable garage door will save you money because you won’t have to spend money on repairs now and then. Besides, it will keep thieves out of your garage. However, picking a durable garage door can be overwhelming. With the many options available these days, choosing a garage door that will last for many years to come can be daunting. 

Here’s what to consider when picking the most durable garage door for your home or business. 

Garage Door Materials 

Garage doors are available in the following materials:

• Steel 
• Wood
• Wood composite 
• Aluminum
• Fiberglass
• Vinyl 

These materials differ in terms of durability. Steel garage doors are made of galvanized steel and backed by rigid foam insulation. These doors are reasonably durable and can last 20 to 30 years. They also come in different thicknesses ranging from thin panels of 27-gauge steel to thicker panels made with 24-gauge steel. Thicker steel garage doors are ideal for hurricane-prone areas and areas with higher security risks. When choosing steel garage doors, it's important to consider thickness, insulation, and the type of rust protection used on the doors.

Aluminum garage doors are less durable when compared to steel, so they’re more likely to dent. But they are lightweight, corrosion-resistant, and less expensive. These garage doors can stand up to the elements much better than wood garage doors. 

Fiberglass garage doors are made by bonding two layers of fiberglass with a steel or aluminum frame to improve their rigidity. These garage doors offer considerable resistance to dents, though they can be pricier. They also come in different thicknesses, with thicker models offering greater durability. 

Vinyl garage doors reinforced with steel frames are highly resistant to damage. They can last 20 to 30 years provided you maintain them well. Vinyl garage doors are corrosion resistant, won’t warp or crack easily, and can stand up to the elements much better than wood and aluminum. 

Steel, aluminum, vinyl, and fiberglass are the most durable materials for garage doors. The other materials i.e. wood and wood composite cannot match the four garage door materials when it comes to durability. 

The climatic conditions of your area will determine the garage door material you’ll go for. Steel garage doors may not be an ideal option in coastal regions as they are more prone to rust especially if they've not been painted with a tough topcoat finish. Vinyl garage doors can be an ideal option for homes in coastal regions as they offer greater corrosion resistance.  

Also, your budget is an important consideration when choosing garage doors. Steel garage doors tend to be pricier than less durable options such as fiberglass and natural wood. 

Call Bob’s Advance Garage For All Of Your Garage Door Needs

 If you need help with selecting the most durable garage door for your home or business, you can count on Bob’s Advance Garage Doors to guide you. We also provide garage door replacement, repair, and installation.