All garages should come with doors fitted and ready to go. However, that doesn’t mean you have to stick with the default option! What’s more, over time, you may find that you need to buy a new door for various reasons. Think about security, style and deterioration. These are all factors which can sway your decision to move towards completely new door options!
Think about what you need from a garage door. Do you choose electric or manual? What are the pros and cons to wood garage doors? Have you considered buying an up and over garage door before?
In this guide, we’ll look at a few things you should keep in mind when buying a new garage door. Even if you’ve bought garage doors before, there are still a few things you can learn from the process!
How to Buy a Garage Door
Consider Garage Door Style
It’s safe to say that no two doors are quite the same. However, when it comes to buying garage doors, quite a few fall under a handful of categories. For example, do you need an up and over garage door, which will lift and lock into place via vertical framework? How about a roll up garage door, for complete ease of access and minimal fuss?
The style of garage door you choose will likely appeal to your sense of aesthetics. However, it should also appeal to your individual convenience. Is your garage doorway big enough for an up and over style? Will a roll up system really work for you in practice?
Thankfully, there are now more styles of garage door for you to choose from than ever before. That doesn’t necessarily make it easier for you to reach a decision, but it does at least broaden your range of choice!
Do also bear in mind that some doors will swing up, while others will tuck into the side. Which option appeals to you the most?
Consider Garage Door Function
Of course, all garage doors will split into manual or electric types. As you can imagine, a manual door will need you to physically unlock and move it to open. Electric doors, meanwhile, are operational through a remote control. With the press of a button, you can ask your garage door to slide up or move out of the way for clear access!
However, there are reasons why people choose one option over the other. Some people prefer an electric door for the convenience. Manual garage doors can be heavy to lift and move, for example. However, some people will prefer a manual system! Not everyone likes the idea of going full electric, and there is a risk that a system will break down if you choose from an inferior product line or manufacturer.
The choice is yours, of course – there are middle-grounds, too, where you’ll find some manual garage doors are smooth and easy to open. You’ll even find some electric doors which are quick to open and close.
Consider Garage Door Security
Of course, one of the main reasons to buy a garage door at all is for the security. You’re going to need to keep everything in your garage safe and secure! However, the security you receive with garage doors can vary, too.
Some manual doors will have traditional locking mechanisms and will even let you take full control with a key or external padlock. For those of us who prefer something a little more advanced, electric doors will, naturally, lock at the press of a button. Some will even lock automatically.
Once again, the security standards you choose will depend largely on what you’re looking for in terms of ease of use, as well as in terms of pricing. Don’t worry about cost, as that’s something we will come to very shortly!
Consider Materials
As you may already have seen, garage doors arrive in various materials and builds. You can buy wooden garage doors, aluminium garage doors and steel garage doors. But what really is the difference?
The pros and cons of wood garage doors lie in its manufacture. They look fantastic and are likely to be a premium option for many people. However, they may not weather the rain and wet in quite the same way a metal door can.
An aluminium door is a middle ground option. Pros and cons of aluminium doors state that while these options are sturdy and easy to clean, there are hardier options out there. Overall, however, an aluminium option is likely to be a popular choice.
Finally, the pros and cons of steel garage doors. Steel doors will, undoubtedly, be amongst the strongest and the easiest to maintain. However, they can also be quite expensive compared to basic aluminium. What’s more, not everyone likes the look of a steel door!
These are all crucial points to consider – you need to balance aesthetics with functionality. It’s not always easy to do, so make sure you speak with a garage door expert for full advice and support.
How Much do Garage Doors Cost?
The cost of a good garage door will vary. Factors that can impact cost will include the size of the door you need, as well as the material you choose. Of course, an electric system is also likely to cost more than a manual one – that much is obvious!
However, as the prices for garage doors can vary, we always advise that you get in touch for a bespoke quotation. This means we will always be happy to offer you a custom quote based on your exact needs and requirements.
Why choose a set option from a list when you can buy bespoke? It will likely cost you less than you imagine, too!
Buying the Perfect Garage Door
Buying the perfect garage door means having to juggle plenty of options. However, the process doesn’t have to be stressful. Here at Affordable Windows, we want to make the buying process as straightforward for you as possible.
Working from our office in Stevenage, we cover Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Essex. Why not call us or email our team for a free garage door quote? Get in touch with us today and we’ll be ready to help you as soon as possible.
