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Whether you’re buying a new garage door because you don’t like your existing one, or are replacing one that’s old and not functioning properly, all garage doors are an investment, and as such, you should think carefully before choosing one.

Below are 8 of the best tips for making the right choice of door for your garage:

1.Don’t simply order online

Even if you know what style and design of garage door you want, it’s always best to have a garage door specialist help you make your choice, and wherever possible, by visiting your home.

2.Think about whether you really want a wooden garage door

While wooden garage doors look undeniably attractive, they do require a certain degree of maintenance, and unless you’re prepared to devote time and money towards keeping them looking good, you might be better off opting for an embossed steel door with a faux wood-grain finish.

3.Do you need to upgrade your insulation?

It might cost you a bit extra to choose an insulated garage door, but provided you’re willing to spend a bit more to upgrade from extruded polystyrene to polyurethane insulation, you could save energy and keep your garage warm. When browsing insulated doors, look out for their R-values; the higher the number, the better it insulates.

4.Should you pay more for stronger springs?

The majority of garage doors use torsion springs that are rated for around 10,000 cycles, and the average family open their garage door around 5 or 6 times a day; meaning they’ll reach 10,000 in less than five years. That isn’t long on the scale of things, but if you spend an extra $50 or so when you buy a new garage door, you can get a spring rated for 20,000 cycles, which should last up to twice as long as a standard torsion spring.

5.Always get your new garage door professionally installed

There’s no doubt that installing your garage door yourself will save you a couple of hundred dollars, but unless you really know what you’re doing (and the average homeowner doesn’t), it will take you many hours to put all the parts together correctly, and without the proper tools, winding the spring can be tough and dangerous. Simply have a garage door specialist (in some cases, this might be your local licensed locksmith) install your new garage door and not only will the work be completed much quicker, but they’ll take away the old door and leave you their contact details should something go wrong with it in the future.

6.Get a new opener when you get a new door

It makes sense to have the specialist who installs your garage door, install a new garage door opener, too, and who knows, you might even get a good deal on buying them both at the same time.

7.Looking for a quiet door? You’ll need these features:

Selecting a new garage door with polyurethane insulation and nylon rollers will mean that it’s quieter when going up and down, which can be important when your garage is adjoining your home. A garage door opener with a belt drive can also help minimize noise.

8.Note the thickness of the steel

Unless you’re buying an insulated garage door (which is a great idea, by the way), you’ll need to choose one that’s made from at least 24-gauge steel. Insulated doors help to prevent denting by acting as a protective backing for the steel, but without this, you’ll need thicker steel, for sure.

Make buying a new garage door a breeze, by consulting with your local garage door specialist.

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