Garage doors can be made from a variety of materials such as steel, aluminum, and fiberglass. Wood is known for being one of the most distinct material options for garage doors. If you’re considering installing wood garage doors, it’s a good idea to learn as much as possible about them before finalizing your decision. Here are all the facts you need to know about wood garage doors to make an informed decision about installing them.
Nearly Endless Style and Customization Options
One of the biggest draws to wood garage doors is their luxurious aesthetic appeal. Even if some other materials can be designed to mimic the look of wood, they can’t emulate the exact appearance, the style options, and the texture. Wood garage doors can be cut to nearly any size, have custom window designs, have custom patterns etched in, be made of many types of wood, and more. Since wood garage doors are stained or painted, you can also easily change the color and patterns of your doors whenever you want.
Wood garage doors are especially beneficial in old homes to help maintain their classic appearance. Carriage-style wood garage doors are one of the most popular, beautiful, and distinctive types of doors that add a nostalgic and rustic touch to any older home.
One of the Strongest Types of Garage Door
The strength of wood garage doors is another massive advantage they have over other garage door materials. They don’t dent like metal garage doors, and most damage like scratches, gashes, and cracks are much more easily fixed on wood than they are on metal. The high durability and strength allow the doors to last 15 to 30 years as long as they’re properly maintained. Wood has one of the longest lifespans of any garage door material.
Great for Insulation
One of the biggest issues with many other garage door materials is that they provide poor insulation. Wood is a highly effective natural insulator. It’s thick and has air pockets within the fibers to trap heat in the winter. Wood garage doors also come with the option of adding sheets of insulation within the panels. With two strong insulation barriers in your garage doors, you can easily regulate temperatures and sound within your garage.
Very Eco-Friendly
Wood is one of the most eco-friendly materials for garage doors. It’s a natural and renewable resource that is easily recycled. In addition, you can order wood garage doors made from reclaimed wood to help further reduce the environmental impact of their production. Since wood garage doors provide a lot of insulation, they’ll also help your house be more eco-friendly and reduce your energy bills.
Susceptible to Rotting, Warping, and Cracking
All garage doors have issues as they age such as rust or discoloration. However, wood is susceptible to more issues as it ages such as rotting, warping, and cracking. While rust and discoloration are mostly aesthetic issues, rotting, warping, and cracking cause significant functionality issues if they become severe.
Water, extreme temperatures, other weather issues, and pests such as termites are the biggest causes of damage to wood garage doors. The good news is that most modern varieties of wood garage doors are designed to be as resistant to pests and moisture as possible to prevent damage and rot.
Regular Maintenance Is Required
Wood garage doors require more regular maintenance than other types of garage doors to prevent aesthetic and functionality problems.
Cleaning
Cleaning is required every six months to help prevent staining, remove dirt and grime buildup that may retain moisture on the surface, and prepare the doors for refinishing. Light cleaning can be performed with a dry soft cloth. Deeper cleaning can be done with a damp soft cloth and mild detergent. However, it’s important to avoid any spots with a thin coating of finish or exposed unprotected wood to prevent water damage. These areas should be wiped with a dry cloth instead.
Inspections
Wood garage doors need to be inspected annually to check for signs of rot and damage. An inspection is also necessary before you begin the process of refinishing. Putting finish over rotted areas and cracks won’t fix the problems. Fixing them after refinishing will only force you to refinish the wood again after the repairs. It’s always best to do a thorough inspection to find and repair any issues before refinishing.
Inspecting a wood garage door involves looking over the wood for any obvious signs of rotting, cracking, warping, discoloration, fading finish, and other issues. Next, the door should be gently prodded with a screwdriver or other tool, carefully avoiding marring the surface to check for less obvious signs of rot or pest damage. The bottom of the door is usually the first area to be affected since it gets the most water damage and is closer to the ground. If pest damage is detected, it’s important to contact a pest control expert immediately to get the pests under control and prevent further damage.
If rotting or cracks are found, they will need to be fixed as soon as possible. Both rot and cracks will only get worse over time. Contact a professional to repair the damages. In many cases, the damage can be repaired without replacing a panel or the door entirely.
Refinishing
Good sealing and finishing are essential to all wood garage doors. Not only does a good finish make the doors look great, but it also protects the doors from water damage and weathering. Wood garage doors should be refinished once every year or two. Refinishing schedules change depending on the type of wood used in your door. Check the manufacturer’s guidelines for a more precise idea of when you should refinish the doors.
Heavy
Wood is one of the heavier materials used in garage doors. A single aluminum garage door weighs around 90 to 120 pounds. Steel garage doors are slightly heavier at around 100 to 200 pounds per door. Wood doors are much heavier weighing around 300 pounds for a single door. A normal garage door opener may suffer from damage due to excessive strain while trying to lift and lower a heavy door. You may have to install a heavy-duty garage door opener to lift wood garage doors smoothly and without damage.
High Price
Wood is second only to glass when comparing prices for garage door materials. Single doors can cost between $1000 to $4000. It’s a hefty investment, but many people find that the benefits are worth the cost.
If you need any garage door installation, repairs, or maintenance, you can rely on our skilled technicians at ADS Automatic Door Specialists to provide you with the best service. In addition to repairing, installing, and maintaining garage doors on homes, we also provide garage door services for commercial buildings as well as gate installation and repair. For more information on any of the services we provide to the areas in and around San Diego, California, contact us at ADS Automatic Door Specialists today.
