The right garage door solidifies your security – and adds comfort, class, and curb appeal to any home.
Modern times offer a multitude of models to choose from. Whether you want the wild wonder of wood, the sleek safety of steel, or the graceful glamour of glass: there is a garage door to suit every taste, type, and time – whatever your budget.
Contents
6 Types of Garage Doors: According to Opening
1. Roll Up Garage Doors
Often spring-less and made from galvanized steel, these garage doors are robust and resistant to rust, rain, and other rough handling – ideal for use in industrial settings.
Affordable and easy to use, roll-up doors are a good option for adding a layer of security and strength to a garage without breaking the bank.
Pros:
– Ideal for smaller spaces
– Weather & rust resistant
– Value for money
– Easy to use
Cons:
– Few design options
– Industrial appearance
– Noisy when in use
Cost:
As roll-up doors focus on their utility instead of beauty, the main factor influencing cost is size. They range somewhere between $600-$2000.
2. Sectional Garage Doors (Overhead Garage Doors)
Sectional garage doors consist of panels secured with hinges that bend and fold onto one another as the door closes into the ceiling.
Available in almost any garage door material (wood, fiberglass, uPVC, aluminum), there is ample ability to adapt the door to a particular appearance.
As they are easy to move, sectional doors can work manually or electronically. Their design makes them easy to customize to almost any shape or size garage opening.
As the panels fold onto one another and store above the entryway when opened, sectional doors are only available for garages with sufficient overhead clearing space.
Pros:
– Highly adaptable
– Quiet operation
– Space efficient
– Easy to operate
Cons:
– Requires overhead space
– Higher maintenance
– Fiddly repairs
Cost:
With insulated and non-insulated models and a wide range of materials and modifications available, sectional doors range between $500-$4000.
3. Sliding Garage Doors (Slide To Side Garage Door)
One of the oldest garage door designs, sliding garage doors are another clever choice for saving on ceiling space.
Their doors open horizontally, sliding against the walls on either side inside, where they are stored until shut. They have a spring-less, streamlined design that can operate manually and does not require an exterior motor.
However, sliding garage doors require room on either side of the garage to accommodate the doors sliding inwards – and they usually have to be tailor-made to fit.
Pros:
– Time tested design
– Easy to work manually
– Flexible opening level
– Saves headroom
Cons:
– Have to be custom-made
– Requires wall space
– Bottom track issues
Cost:
Sliding garage doors come in many materials and are tailored to the size for each customer – meaning their cost can vary significantly. Expect to pay anywhere between $500-$2000.
4. Swing Out Garage Doors (Side-Hinged Garage Doors)
Swing-out garage doors – like extravagant interior doors – are hinged to the walls and open outwards.
A classical door style, swing-out doors can also be customized to suit contemporary homes and operate electronically or manually.
Because they do not disappear into either wall or ceiling space when opened, these doors can fit an entryway of varying dimensions. However, they do require adequate exterior clearance space to operate effectively.
Pros:
– Suits shorter spaces
– Preserve energy well
– Simple operation
– Allow light in
Cons:
– Require clearance space
– Must be swung with care
– Can be cumbersome
Cost
Depending on size and materials, this delectable door design can cost anywhere from $2000-$10,000.
5. Tilt Up Garage Doors (Up-and-over garage doors)
The most affordable style of garage door, tilt-up doors (also known as up-and-over doors), consist of a singular panel and open by tilting upwards.
Tilt-up doors come in 2 types: canopy and retractable. Canopy tilt-up doors tilt up on a spring and rest above the garage entrance, remaining visible. They tend to be light and easy to operate.
Retractable tilt-up doors slide into the garage roof cavity when opened. They tend to be automated and more robust than canopy doors but require more ceiling space.
Both canopy and retractable tilt-up doors are available in wood, uPVC, or metal. Aluminum is a popular choice as it is light but strong.
Pros:
Budget-friendly
Fewer moving parts
Easy to modify
Suitable for home garages
Cons:
Tricky manual operation (canopy)
Vulnerable to adverse weather
Requires outer clearance
Cost
Canopy tilt-ups can be a steal at somewhere between $500-$800, whereas the more sophisticated retractables costing closer to $1000-$1500.
6. High-Speed Garage Door
High-speed garage doors allow speedy and sanitary access to and from a garage. Electronically operated, they also offer enhanced security and energy efficiency.
Available as an enhanced version of almost any style of regular garage doors, their understated design enables them to blend into any environment effortlessly.
Pros:
– Extra secure
– Faster access
– Hygiene barrier
– User friendly
Cons:
– Not a DIY job
– Can be noisy
– Electrical issues
Cost
The price of a high-speed garage door can vary widely depending on the size and style, with most costing somewhere between $1000-$5000.
6 Types Of Garage Doors: According to Materials
1. Steel Garage Doors
Steel garage doors offer a combination of strength, style, and savings – stronger than aluminum and lower maintenance than wood, steel doors are a good all-rounder option.
As a metal, steel doors do not suffer from damage or distortion after exposure to moisture or mishandling. Steel is very resilient to various adverse conditions and will not dent or scratch.
Steel doors can be painted or inset with windows – and even modified to resemble wood without the upkeep.
Pros:
– Best of both worlds
– Energy efficient
– Extremely strong
– Minimal upkeep
Cons:
– Retains heat
– Heavy to move
– Rust if neglected
Cost
Steel garage doors are usually slightly pricier than similar aluminum models, costing between $750-$2500.
2. Aluminum Garage Doors
Similarly to steel doors, aluminum garage doors are not subject to the vulnerabilities of less durable materials such as wood and uPVC.
They are resilient to impacts and inclement weather and are lighter and cheaper than steel. Aluminum garage doors are also anti-rust and one of the easiest to install – making it the ideal DIY job.
However, aluminum is still a heat conductor, and unlike steel, aluminum does not work well as an insulator.
Pros:
– Lightweight
– Cost-effective
– Simple installation
– High corrosion resistance
Cons:
– Poor insulator
– Prone to dents/damage
– Flimsier than steel/wood
Cost
Aluminum garage doors can be quite a bargain, with most setting a buyer back no more than somewhere between $500-$2000.
3. Glass Garage Doors
Sleek and state-of-the-art, glass doors make a stunning and striking addition to any garage. They can enlarge a space, encouraging natural light to enhance even the most darkened or drab interiors.
However, despite their dazzling look, glass garage doors are relatively delicate. They can chip, crack, and break more than other garage door materials – and repairs are costly.
They are also not ideal for the privacy-conscious. Their transparency can leave anyone inside noticeable to neighbors and passers-by – plus valuables visible to would-be thieves.
Pros:
– Stylish and modern
– Enhances natural light
– Easily blends with décor
– Open up a space
Cons:
– Vulnerable to damage
– Security concerns
– Limited privacy
Cost
Due to their aesthetic appeal, glass garage doors are expensive, ranging between $2500-$8000.
4. Fiberglass Garage Doors
Fiberglass is a first choice material for those who love the look of glass but need more durability in their doors.
A durable artificial material, fiberglass can withstand weather and wear and tear well – and its doors are lightweight and discreet, making little noise when in use.
However, fiberglass also holds no natural insulation. In addition, fiberglass is known to become brittle in colder climates and can discolor over time.
Pros:
– Lightweight
– Stronger than glass
– Long-lasting
– Low maintenance
Cons:
– Low energy efficiency
– Brittle when cold
– Can turn yellow
Cost
Fiberglass is a decent, durable, and less dear alternative to real glass, with most garage door models costing between $2000-$4000.
5. UPVC (Vinyl) Garage Doors
Although they lack the aesthetic appeal of wood and the robust resilience of metal, uPVC garage doors can provide an easy, economical alternative to the pricier garage doors.
uPVC doors are often made with polystyrene-filled cores to enhance their natural insulation and do not conduct heat – making them a safe bet for energy savings.
In addition, as a plastic-based material, uPVC tolerates moisture surprisingly well – so these doors will not be ruined by rain, hail, or snow.
Pros:
– High moisture resistance
– Resilient to scuffing
– Low maintenance
– Very affordable
Cons:
– Cannot be painted/stained
– Needs added insulation
– Not the beauty of wood
Cost
as the most cost-effective choice, most sets of uPVC garage doors will fall between $500-$1200 (including installation), with a few highly customized designs costing more.
6. Wood Garage Doors
Timeless and traditional, wood garage doors have a character and class that never goes out of style.
Usually made from oak, cedar, timber, redwood, or plywood, wood garage doors are natural insulators.
They are also easily customized with paint, staining, engraving, and additions to achieve a level of appeal not possible with other materials.
However, wooden garage doors are high maintenance. As well as being expensive, they need staining or repainting every few years to sustain their splendor.
In addition, these fine, fancy doors are not for the fainthearted. Moisture exposure can lead to damage, distortion, and even rotting of these doors – and repairs are not cheap.
Pros:
– Elegant and attractive
– Can be customized
– Good insulator
– Curb appeal
Cons:
_ Moisture vulnerable
– High maintenance
– Expensive
Cost
As a premium material, wooden garage doors will always have demand. Depending on the size, type of wood, and personal modifications, expect to pay between $3000-$13,000.
Conclusion
Security. Sanctuary. Safety. These are just a few words that we like to associate with home. We strive to make our home a place of peace, a haven in the hard times.
Our garage door – a discreet line of defence for our prized possessions – is a firm part of our fortress. It preserves, protects, and fortifies the oasis we create.
The right garage door not only keeps the contents of your garage safe – but enables you to sleep soundly, plan purposefully – and hope higher.