If you want a garage door that fits well with your home decor, then it may be a good idea to invest in a wooden garage door. While many people may shy away from these doors due to perceived durability issues, your doors can be strong and secure for years to come as long as you consider your options very carefully before you make your purchase. Keep reading to learn about a few things you should think about before you make your final garage door decision.
Outdoor Weather
Wooden garage doors come in a wide variety of options for you to choose from. While the appearance of the wood may be one of the main factors in choosing the garage door, you need to carefully think about the weather in your area before appearance is considered. In general, the amount of precipitation that your area typically receives should be considered. Humidity and water may cause your garage door to contract and constrict if you purchase a door made from a dry wood variety. If you live in an area that regularly sees between 30 and 180 inches of precipitation a year, like in the eastern United States, then you should think about buying a garage door made out of cedar or redwood. Both of these wood varieties contain a good deal of natural oils that keep them from being affected by wet weather conditions.
If you live in a dry area, like in the western part of the United States, then think about a wood variety that is drier and contains little or no oil. Since you will have a much wider variety of woods to choose from, then you also should pick out a wood variety that is considered hard and durable. Hickory, hard maple, white oak, beech, red oak, and yellow birch are a few examples of the hardest woods that you can pick. If you have children, pets, or overall concerns about damage, then hickory is your best option for a wooden garage door since it is one of the hardest woods that is also widely available in this country.
Finishing
Most garage door companies will offer both factory finished doors as well as unfinished doors. Unfinished doors are stained and sealed at your home. Typically, you and your garage door installation professional will be responsible for applying the stain and finish. Most garage doors cost between $1,235 and $2,756, and the addition of stains, hardware, and other accessories can increase the price by about $129. This means that an unfinished garage door can keep your costs down. However, wooden garage doors need to be sealed on all six sides to properly protect the wood. While it is not impossible to seal the door after it is secured, it may be easy to miss side and top sections when adding sealers on your own. Also, if you purchase your garage door when the weather is humid, it may take a good deal of time for stains and finishes to cure properly.
If you are not as worried about the small investment, then think about purchasing a finished wooden garage door. The factory will typically use oil based primers and paints and finish off the door with a UV protection material. Polyurethane sealers and thick varnishes will not be added to the door though. Since the garage door will sit outside, it must be able to breathe and slightly shift and move as the temperatures change. Thick sealers will prevent this from happening.
Wooden garage doors can look beautiful, and you will have some options to think about when you buy these doors. Make sure that you take the time to consider the climate and precipitation in your areas as well as the type of finishing that is offered. Also, think about meeting with a garage door installation expert who can help you find the perfect fit for your needs.
For more information, contact a company like Academy Door & Control Corporation.
Share28 December 2015
How secure your garage door is depends on several elements. How old is the garage door? How well is it maintained? Are there broken windows? Do you have a lock on the door? These are just a few things to check for to find out just how secure your garage door is. Chances are, the items that you store in your garage are of great value, and if they are stolen, they could be hard to replace. This blog is all about increasing garage security. You will learn when to replace the garage door, find out about the different kinds of locks and tips for making the garage as secure as it possibly can be.
