Wood vs Steel Garage doors

The garage doors you install have a significant impact on your curb appeal as well as your home’s security. In this article, we dive deep into comparing garage door material – focusing on wood and steel. You can also get garage doors made of aluminium or fibreglass. But these are less common in our local Zimbabwe market.

1.  Appearance

Both wood & steel garage doors can be custom-made to match your home’s architecture & design.

Wood: These have a timeless charm & beauty. They better improve the curb appeal of your home. Choices range from rustic to classic to luxurious when it comes to the sizes, look, type of timber, color or stain. You can get them carved or sculpted with designs and inscriptions.

Steel: Steel doors also come in various shapes and sizes. You can choose between panels and full length sheets. The sheets can be plain or corrugated. Steel can also be painted in any color, including colors & textures that mimic wood.

2. Maintenance

The opening mechanisms for the  garage doors up is the same whether you install the doors with motors or they open manually. So the maintenance notes below only refer to the actual wood & steel panels. Rather than the components opening/ closing or holding up the garage doors.

Steel: Steel garage doors need very little maintenance. A possible problem unique to steel is the possibility of rusting. But, rust will not appear for at least 5 to 7 years provided red oxide steel primer is applied when manufacturing the doors. When rust does it occur it can be remedied. The process involves scrapping off old paint and re-applying red oxide primer to stop and prevent further rusting. 

Wood: Wooden garage doors need regular maintenance. It’s not advisable to invest in wooden garage doors if you are not prepared or ready to pay attention. Among other things you’ll need to

• regularly inspect your doors for signs of rot and termite damage
• invest in anti-termite cures
• sand and stain or paint the doors every two to three years

3. Durability

Wood: The wood species and door quality affect the life span and durability. Some hardwood garage doors are extremely durable.  Wooden garage doors are affected by rain, heat, and humidity. They can warp, crack, chip, rot, or suffer from termite damage. But, if this happens, you can replace any damaged panels or an individual panel instead of the entire door.

• Impact Resistance – If you hit a  wooden garage door it is way less likely to dent or crack because of its hard, tough surface.
• Fire Resistance – Wood garage doors can be easily damaged by fire.
• Installation components – The motor or springs or wheels pretty much wear out with use but last at least 7 years

Steel: Steel doors can rust/ corrode over time. But if higher-density steel is used and the required steel primer is applied, the chances of this diminish.  If rust does occur it can be remedied. The process involves re-applying steel primer to prevents further rust from developing.  In cases of advanced damage, individual steel panels can be also be replaced. Though a new panel may stand out if the rest of the door is weathered in any way.

• Impact Resistance – If you hit a steel garage door, it could dent but if you choose a higher density steel, the chances of deep scratches and dents lessens.
• Fire Resistance – Fire-rated steel doors have excellent resistance to open fires. But there will be a need to repaint the steel in the event of a fire.
• Installation components – The motor or springs or wheels pretty much wear out with use but last years at least 7 years

4. Insulation

If your garage is attached to your home or a living space – and in certain climates – you may be concerned about energy efficiency. In general, steel is a poor insulator, so using wood decreases your chances of suffering from poor insulation (and also reduces noise).

5. Weight

Steel garage doors are a lot lighter than wood. This can affect your costs of transport & installation.

6. Price

Wood is generally more expensive than steel and other types of garage doors. And the more you customize your door, the more it will cost. Steel is probably one of the most popular garage door material around. It is also favoured by people who want to have the best dollar value for their garage door installations. Garage door prices are not cheap and installing one requires quite a significant financial investment. Over time, steel garage doors are more likely to provide the best economic value. ​

In Summary

Wood and Steel have different advantages and disadvantages. The final decision comes down to you. Your budget, your tastes & preferences. We trust that this article has served as a guide for you to make an informed decision.

TSG Garage door services

We supply, install and automate steel and wood garage doors.

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