Garage doors have come a long way from the wood-paneled, manually-lifted squeak-o-matics of a few decades ago. To begin with, almost no one today would opt for a manually operated overhead door with the advances that have been made in opener technology. Likewise, while wood is still a popular option you now have a plethora of other lighter, more durable panel materials to choose from. But while it’s great to have lots of choices many homeowners today are at a loss when it comes to choosing which type of contemporary garage doors might be right for their home.

Contemporary Garage Doors: An Embarrassment of Riches

In this post, we’ll take a look at contemporary garage doors and try to make sense of your choices for you. We’ll start by taking a quick look at materials and work our way through some of the other things you may want to consider.

• Garage Door Materials: As mentioned wood remains a popular choice but these days it’s far from the only one. Contemporary garage doors can be made of steel, aluminum, fiberglass, and a variety of composites as well. Metal doors will provide you with the highest degree of safety, while fiberglass and composites will typically last far longer than other materials and require the least maintenance. You also have a slew of options when it comes to glass panels; including the option of having an entirely glass door.
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• Garage Door Styles: Once you’ve determined which material you’ll be going with you then need to decide on a style. Your garage door is the single biggest visual component of your home’s exterior and therefore you must match it stylistically with the rest of the house. Take a picture of your home and then go online and search for different garage door styles. Match these up with the photo of your home until you find a few that click. Then use those door styles as a starting point when you talk to the garage door installation company.
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• Required Upkeep: Different materials require different levels of maintenance. As mentioned fiberglass doors are a popular choice in Toronto, Richmond Hill, and Vaughan because they’ll stand up to anything Mother Nature can throw at them. Wood on the other hand will require the most maintenance lest it rot, crack, and collect mold. Steel must be properly treated regularly to prevent it from rusting and glass doors will need to be cleaned regularly because they tend to show every piece of dirt along with every smudge and scratch.
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• Who is in the House?
• While a stylish glass overhead door may work well with your contemporary home from a design perspective it may not dovetail with who lives in the house. For instance: if you have children who play in the drive it may not be the best choice. Likewise, keep in mind that contemporary garage doors are not perfect. On rare occasions, you may be forced to lift the door manually until you can have it repaired. In cases like this, a steel door may be too heavy for you so you should consider a lighter material like fiberglass.
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At Smart Doors we offer high-quality Overhead garage door replacement and repairs at a price that won’t break the bank. We’ve become the go-to garage door company in Toronto, and elsewhere because our customers know that they’ll get what they need every time with no games at any point in the installation or repair process.