Steel Garage Doors vs Aluminum
Doing your due diligence regarding garage doors? If you’re in the market for a new garage door, you’ll likely compare steel and aluminum garage doors. In this article, we’ll compare the key differences between steel and aluminum garage doors.
Your garage door should not only look good but needs to function and insulate from temperature swings. Choosing the right material will make all the difference in your post-purchase satisfaction of a new door.
Materials – Steel Garage Doors vs Aluminum
Steel Garage Doors – An alloy of iron and carbon, steel has a well-earned reputation for durability. Steel garage doors are the most popular garage door material because of their low cost and low maintenance. Having said that, there are a few things to be aware of regarding steel’s performance as a garage door material.
Steel is easily dented and vulnerable to rust. Any scratches on the door will need to be touched up as soon as possible to slow and stop the oxidation of the steel. Steel is magnetic, which means you can add magnetic decorative hardware for a fraction of the cost required for wood garage door hardware.
Heritage Garage Door offers the following steel door selections:
- Amarr Carriage Court
- Amarr Classica
- Amarr Designer’s Choice
- Amarr Heritage
- Amarr Hillcrest
- Amarr Lincoln
- Amarr Oak Summit
- Amarr Olympus
- Amarr Stratford
- CHI Overhead Accent Woodtones
- CHI Overhead Full-View Aluminum
- CHI Overhead High-Definition Fiberglass
- CHI Overhead Overlay Carriage House
- CHI Overhead Planks
- CHI Overhead Raised Panel
- CHI Overhead Recessed Panel
- CHI Overhead Shoreline
- CHI Overhead Skyline Flush
- CHI Overhead Stamped Carriage House
- CHI Overhead Stamped Shaker
- CHI Overhead Sterling
- CLOPAY Canyon Ridge Collection Limited Edition
- CLOPAY Canyon Ridge Collection Modern Series
- CLOPAY Canyon Ridge Collection Ultra Grain
- CLOPAY Classic Collection
- CLOPAY Coachman Collection
- CLOPAY Gallery Collection
- CLOPAY Grand Harbor Collection
- CLOPAY Modern Steel Collection
Aluminum Garage Doors – As a building material, aluminum is lightweight, durable, and requires little maintenance. Aluminum is a water-resistant element, although saltwater can cause corrosion. For most homeowners, this isn’t a problem. It’s a given that it will sometimes rain — and this freshwater is safe for aluminum.
Photo by Volodymyr Hryschenko on Unsplash
Aluminum doors are generally best suited for milder regions. In its purest form, aluminum is a good conductor of heat and cold. This means that it can be less effective in neutralizing temperature fluctuations. Aluminum doors are not magnetic.
Many manufacturers add insulating material during the construction of aluminum doors.
General wear and tear aside, rust and rot are nothing to worry about with aluminum doors.
Heritage Door offers the below aluminum (and glass) garage door options:
Curb appeal impacts your home’s value, so make sure your garage door aligns with your home’s overall style.
Steel Garage Doors – Steel is the perfect blank slate for the most creative homeowner. Steel garage doors offer the broadest range of color options and panel styles. Irrespective of your home’s style (modern, southwestern, ranch, etc.), you’ll be able to create the perfect addition to your home. You have the choice of sleek monotones, woodgrain designs, and more.
Aluminum Garage Doors – Aluminum is a go-to choice for modern homes. Often the material is combined with glass to create an updated, clean-lined profile for a house. A good garage door will increase the value of your home, and it makes sense that a beautiful, high performing door gives a home even more resale value.
One of the biggest pros of aluminum? It’s easy to clean and won’t ruse; a hosing down will suffice to keep the doors looking good.
Pricing – Steel Garage Doors vs Aluminum
Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash
So how much should you expect to pay for a steel garage door vs aluminum?
As the old saying goes “you get what you pay for”. A good steel door will likely cost anywhere between $800 and $4,000. Of course, other features such as panel style, glass lites, hardware, and the garage door opener will impact pricing.
Aluminum garage doors are much more expensive than steel and are most commonly used in full-view door systems with price tags upwards of $7,000.
Want to learn more about garage door pricing? View Heritage Garage Door’s pricing information.
Which garage door material should I choose?
The choice between a steel garage door and an aluminum door largely depends on style preferences and budget considerations. Start with style and work your way up to decorative options and pricing.
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Would you like to learn more about your garage door options? We’re here to help you determine whether steel or aluminum is right for your home.
Explore our door catalog, or schedule an appointment with our team!
