Wood garage doors can be extremely aesthetically-pleasing, creating a warm look that can go well with both modern and more traditional or rustic designs. But wood garage doors do have some downsides when compared to steel or aluminum doors, like generally being more expensive, heavier, more susceptible to weather damage, and more difficult to maintain.
But there is a happy medium – other garage door materials that use a wood grain stain to convincingly imitate the warm and rich look of wood but without the downsides of the material. Let’s look at some faux wood alternatives for your garage door.
Fiberglass garage doors
Fiberglass is perhaps the best garage door material when it comes to mimicking real wood as it can be easily molded to resemble the look and texture of wood. Fiberglass doors are also extremely lightweight and affordable, while still being durable, fairly weather-resistant, and insulative. You can choose from a range of finishes to create the wood look you’re going for. The fact that it is so lightweight can have some downsides though, such as its susceptibility to damage in strong winds.
Metal garage doors
Both steel and aluminum garage doors can be overlaid with a faux wood composite to give you the structural benefits of a metal garage door with the external aesthetics of a wood door. If you’re going for a wood-look metal garage door, then think of the related benefits of both steel and aluminum to help you decide which is best for your home. Aluminum is more lightweight, for example, and can be slightly cheaper, while steel is a tougher and more durable option.
Composite garage doors
Composite garage doors are made from a combination of materials, including real wood fibers. They also contain plastics (often recycled), natural fillers such as pulp fibers, and a binding agent to form these materials together. Wood composite doors are tough but don’t require the same level of maintenance as real wood garage doors, and are also more resistant to moisture and various weather conditions. There are also lots of options for painting and staining your wood composite door to produce the aesthetic you’re looking for.
Whatever garage door material you’re considering, contact Carolina Garage Door for our design, installation, repair, and maintenance services around Winston Salem, Greensboro, High Point, and Kernersville. We can help you make the right choice for your home as well as ensuring your door is installed by trusted professionals.