Aluminum Garage Doors

Last we looked at steel garage doors and why they are one of the most common materials used for garage doors in the nation. Steel garage doors are common because they are not very expensive and because they can be adapted to nearly any aesthetic specifications that are needed. Aluminum is another extremely common option for many of the same reasons. Aluminum garage doors are cheaper than steel garage doors and have a lot of the same pros because of this but because they are another relatively thin metal door they also share a lot of the disadvantages. Aluminum garage doors also don't really benefit from being thicker and so are somewhat less flexible when compared to steel garage doors. The look of your garage door is an Important part of your home's overall exterior aesthetic so choosing the right garage door is extremely important. Because, like in most cases, the material that a garage door is made out of affects its usefulness and how nice it looks it is important to take the material a garage door is made out of into account. Below we will go into a few of the details that go with choosing aluminum for your garage door's material.

Aluminum garage doors, like steel garage doors, can be imprinted with fake wood grains and gan be painted any number of colors. This gives them the same flexibility to match, complement or contrast any sort of home's style. This also gives them the ability to be changed a ways down the road, meaning that for however long your garage door lasts it can match your home perfectly with something as simple as a new coat of paint. Aluminum garage doors are pretty much as low maintenance as you can get when it comes to a garage door which works perfectly to complement their already low price tag.

Aluminum garage doors also are some of the lightest garage doors available, this means that you won't need the heftiest garage door opener and that the door won't be putting a lot stress on your garage door opener over time. While this is a very small concern for most garage door openers a light garage door could mean a faster opening time for your garage door saving you tiny fractions of a second every time you need to wait for your garage door to open.

Despite all of these benefits there is a reason that the aluminum garage door is not as popular or common as the steel garage door. One of the main reasons is because it cannot hold up to impacts as well as other materials. Garage doors made from aluminum can dent very easily, meaning that something like a ball thrown too hard can even cause lasting damage if it hits the right spot. This means that while aluminum garage doors are extremely cost effective, they may not be the right choice for everyone. If you have an active family or a garage door that is directly adjacent to your basketball hoop or at the bottom of a long hill that seems to attract sports equipment from all over you may want to invest in a sturdier garage door. A dent doesn't necessarily mean that you need to replace your garage door right away, but a dented garage door obviously makes a house look a little less taken care of especially if your neighbors recognize that you have had a dented garage door for months without getting it fixed.

The last disadvantage to an aluminum garage door is again quite similar to the steel garage door, the lack of insulation. Because Aluminum garage doors can be so thin and still structurally sound they do not offer much in the way of insulation, in noise or temperature. This means that you are someone plagued with noisy neighbors or neighbors who like to complain about noise you might run into some trouble when it comes to an aluminum garage door. Additionally if you are someone who spends a lot of time in their garage, using it as a workshop or just an extra room, you may want a bit more privacy and heat insulation than an aluminum door can offer without any additional insulation. These things won't come with your average aluminum garage door installation and so may cost a bit more or may simply cause you to pick a different material for your garage door.

In summary, the aluminum garage door is a great choice for many and can be an extremely versatile and inexpensive choice for many homeowners. If you are looking to revamp your garage door for not a lot of money in order to make the whole thing look better for buyers the aluminum garage door might just be the perfect choice for you. If you only use your garage door of keeping your cars and live in a place where both noise and temperature insulation aren't really a deciding factor than the aluminum garage door can be a long lasting and cost effective solution to your garage door problems. However, if you are not in one of these categories you may want to refrain from suggesting an aluminum garage door to your local garage door professional because you will most likely end up wanting or needing to replace it down the road. In any case the material that your garage door is made out of is an important consideration and so should be thought about seriously and talked about with a garage door professional. A garage door professional an help you weigh the pros and cons of your garage door choices and your garage door needs in order to make sure that you are happy with your choice for many years to come.