Wood vs Aluminum Garage Doors: Pros & Cons Compared
What are some differences between wood and aluminum garage doors?
Doing your due diligence regarding garage doors? You’re in the right place. If you’re thinking of replacing your garage door, there are several options to choose from. We at Heritage have compiled comprehensive guides on the variety of materials and styles available.
Material & Performance – Wood vs Aluminum
Photo by Sara Worth on Unsplash
Your garage door selection is an important choice for functionality and curb appeal. For example, garage doors play an important role in securing our homes.
They also protect the interior from the elements and help to insulate heat and cold. That said, choosing the right material that will meet your home’s needs is of utmost importance.
Wood Garage Doors – To begin with, garage doors are available in a variety of wood species, both hardwoods, and softwoods.
Some of the most popular tree species used for garage doors are cedar (s), eucalyptus (h), hemlock (s), mahogany (h), oak (h), and redwood (h).
(s) = softwood; (h) = hardwood
It’s important to note that softwoods are not necessarily softer than hardwoods. Amongst the groups, there’s a lot of variation in wood hardness.
From a performance perspective, thick wood provides excellent insulation from heat and cold. Homeowners concerned about keeping their home’s temperature regulated will find that wood garage doors can take some of the stress off of their HVAC systems.
Wood doors offer a more secure boundary between your home and the outside world. Their weight and strength help make them more difficult for intruders to breach.
But wood is not without its challenges. It’s an organic material, which means that it can rot and suffer from termite and other insect damage. In wetter climates, there’s an opportunity for swelling and warping.
Also, wood’s weight makes for a more involved installation process and wood garage doors require regular maintenance. Again, wood is heavy and this means the door requires an automatic opener.
Heritage Door offers the below wood garage door options:
- Amarr by Design
- CLOPAY Reserve Wood Collection Custom Series
- CLOPAY Reserve Wood Collection Limited Edition Series
- CLOPAY Reserve Wood Collection Modern Series
Aluminum Garage Doors – As a building material, aluminum is lightweight, durable, and requires little maintenance. Aluminum is a water-resistant element, although salt water 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.
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.
Many manufacturers add insulating material during the construction of aluminum doors.
Because the material is thinner, it’s more susceptible to dings and dents. High winds, in particular, can damage aluminum doors. This, paired with its weakness for saltwater make aluminum doors a concern for coastal areas. General wear and tear aside, rust and rot are nothing to worry about with aluminum doors.
From a security perspective, aluminum doors are moderately secure. The addition of glass or other materials may impact the door’s security capacities. Looking for a door that’s more ornamental than functional for security? Aluminum provides a great trade-off.
Heritage Door offers the below aluminum (and glass) garage door options:
Garage Door Style – Wood vs Aluminum
CLOPAY Reserve Wood Collection
Garage doors take up a good amount of a home’s facade. That’s why it’s important to consider the design profile of your home and how you’d like your garage door to compliment it.
Wood Garage Doors – Wood’s a popular material for garage doors because of its visual appeal and customization. A well-done wood door helps add an upscale air to your home. Hello, curb-appeal!
Since there are many options to choose from regarding wood species, these doors can be matched with a variety of home styles.
Because you can sand and patch wood, this material can look nicer longer.
For more insight on how customizable wood doors can be, take a look at our Amarr Wood Style Guide.
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; a hosing down will suffice to keep the doors looking good.
Garge Door Pricing – Wood vs Aluminum
Amarr Vista Specialty Design
So how much should you expect to pay for a wood garage door vs aluminum?
As the old saying goes “you get what you pay for”. The premium benefits of a good wood door – insulation, beauty, and security will cost anywhere from around $2,000 to $5,000. Of course, other features such as panel style, glass lites, hardware, and the garage door opener will impact pricing.
Extra features like handles, glass lites, and panel intricacy will also influence the rates for aluminum doors. Because the material is man-made, lighter, and less durable than wood, you’ll find aluminum to be a more affordable material. You can expect an aluminum garage door to cost anywhere between $1,000 and $2,000.
Want to learn more about garage door pricing? View Heritage Garage Door’s pricing information.
Which garage door material should I choose?
CLOPAY Reserve Wood Collection
Your garage door is an important choice to ensure your home’s beauty and security are top-notch.
The choice between a wood garage door and an aluminum door largely depends on homeowner preferences and budget considerations.
Start by narrowing down the most important features your home needs.
Are you willing to provide regular maintenance to your door in exchange for superior security, beauty, and longevity? Or, are you interested in the most economical options on the market?
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Would you like to learn more about your garage door options? We’re here to help whether you determine wood or aluminum is right for your home.
Explore our door catalog, or schedule an appointment with our team!
