One of the most important factors to take into consideration when you're having a garage door installed on your home is garage door material.

There are a variety of different material options. The most common are typically considered to be wood, steels, and vinyl. Each material has its own respective merits and drawbacks.

If you're considering wood as your garage door material of choice, you should review the following pros and cons of this material before making a final decision:

The Good

Probably the biggest advantage of a wooden garage door is the appearance of wood. Wood is an attractive, traditional material that offers the pleasing natural grain look. Many homeowners consider that this is the most attractive material available for constructing a garage door.

Not only is the appearance of a wood garage door attractive, but it's also important to note that wood can easily be customized to suit a homeowner's needs, tastes, and desires. Wood can be painted any color and fit to a garage door of any size. 

Another huge advantage of wood is its toughness. The other two materials mentioned above--steel and vinyl--just can't complete with wood in terms of its ability to stand up to the demands of everyday use. While steel and vinyl will easily dent if they are struck by hard objects, wood shows an impressive ability to absorb the shock without denting. 

The Bad

Of course, there are a few drawbacks to using wood as a garage door material. First of all, wood needs more maintenance than other materials. Over time, its paint and/or finish will   wear off and need to be reapplied. Another maintenance need of wooden doors is the need to retighten bolts and hardware as they become loosened over time. 

Another drawback involves the insulation capabilities of wood. Wood itself does not insulate well, and it's not easy to add insulation to a wooden garage door. With a steel garage door, insulation can easily be built in to the door's design. 

A last drawback of wood garage doors is their cost. A typical steel garage door could cost anywhere between $750 and $3,000. On the other hand, a wooden door will be more expensive at $1,200 and could cost well over $4,000.

The Verdict

If you'll pay any price for the best possible appearance, you should definitely go with a wooden door. However, you'll have to be willing to put more money into maintaining the door after it is installed. 

If you're looking for a more affordable and easy-maintenance option, you'll probably want to choose vinyl or steel as your garage door material of choice. 

For garage doors, contact a company such as DSI Door Services North Shore.

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