You probably know the feeling. Standing in front of displayed models or browsing a catalogue, filled with modern garage door designs, and thinking to yourself: “I wish someone had told me the easiest way to find the best garage door.”

Don’t worry! In this article, we’ll share with you the most common problems people face when buying a new garage door, as well as the most important things to look for. Once you’ve read all the tips, you’ll only need to contact your local San Diego garage door installation professional to install your new door. No matter how much you think you know about garage door installation, it’s always better to leave stuff like this to the pros.

What should I look for when buying a new garage door?

Finding a perfect garage door for your house can be a little tricky. Most common problems people face stem from them being too hung up on the door’s exterior look and potential curb appeal. Many of them tend to ignore the specifications of the door, materials used and the practical nature of the garage itself, all of which are factors that should influence the final decision.

Here are the materials, insulation, installation, and maintenance considerations to help you select the best garage door for your home:

1. Garage door materials

Wood

Wood was a popular choice for many years before the rise of the new more modern materials. Nowadays, wood has taken a backseat to other materials and is located somewhere in the middle of the market. This is mostly due to the necessary regular maintenance and painting that wooden doors require. Most wood garage doors are made from a simple hemlock frame and hardboard panels, providing a sturdy structure but not so great insulation.

Steel

Most new garage doors are made of steel, backed by rigid-foam insulation. They usually come in the form of a panel garage door and most are produced with embossed wood-grain pattern or with a smooth finish.

Plastic

Plastic garage doors are fairly new to the scene, and are slowly becoming top choice among homeowners. Like steel, plastic doors offer lightweight durability without routine upkeep. But, unlike their wood and metal counterparts, they’re corrosion- and rot-free. Not to mention that they open almost silently compared to other two types.

In addition, plastic garage doors are made mostly of PVC, which makes them ideal to be filled with even the best insulation materials without increasing their overall weight. This makes them one of the best insulating garage doors on the market right now.

2. Insulation

A steel-door “sandwich” made of thick-gauge steel outer skin, a core of insulation adhered to this skin and a light-gauge backing material of steel or plastic make a very strong but lightweight door. The thickness of the insulation itself can range from a thin sheet of polystyrene to as much as a few inches of polyurethane, which results in ranging R-values for different doors.

However, you need to make sure you’re comparing the same thing when shopping for a new garage door. Some manufacturers measure the R-value based on the overall door, while others base their numbers on the center of a panel, which produces a higher R-value.

3. Installation

When buying a garage door, you’ll need to select spring and track systems as well. It is usually best not to mix and match parts of a garage door. This runs the risk of incompatibility between track and door, which could lead to a serious failure of the door. Also, replacing just one component of the door system can void the warranty.

Most homeowners prefer to entrust their door installation to an installer who will get the job done in about 3 to 4 hours and haul away the old door, too. Just make sure to check your contractors licence beforehand to see if they are qualified to perform garage door installations.

4. Maintenance

When it comes to maintenance, the steel and plastic doors are by far the easiest ones to maintain. Wooden doors, as previously mentioned, require constant and regular painting to keep fresh and to protect the wood. The only real maintenance that the plastic and steel doors require is:

Torsion springs oiling, only a few times a year
Radius track section lubrication
Exterior washing

How to find the most reliable San Diego garage door installation company?

Were you strolling down the street in the North City neighborhood when you spotted the best-looking garage door you’ve ever seen? Or, were you browsing a brochure online and you just knew that you need to have the same exact garage door?

Either way, RockStar Garage Door Services is here for you, no matter if it’s a brand new garage door installation you require, or maintenance/repair of your existing door. Call us today, we are at your service for all your garage door related needs.