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Garage Door Contractors

Jeffrey Anderson | Improvement Center Columnist | December 13, 2011

It can be a great feeling to pull up to your home after a trip to the grocery store and be able to drive right into your garage--especially when it's a cold winter day or raining cats and dogs. A garage can be a great convenience, but if one of its main components becomes a problem, pulling your car in can quickly turn into a major aggravation. Garage doors and their assemblies often wear out over time and if your door isn't opening properly, it may be time for a new garage door.

What to look for in a new garage door

Garage door contractors have numerous things to consider when a new garage door is on the horizon. Such as:

  1. Material--garage doors are available in materials such as wood, metal, fiberglass, and vinyl. Vinyl and metal are usually the most budget friendly, but they can also be the most susceptible to dings from everyday use. A wood door can be very elegant and beautiful, but requires regular maintenance to remain looking its best. Fiberglass doors are very durable and some models can be stained to look just like wood, but they can also be a little more costly than other door types
  2. Insulation--if you use your garage to maintain your vehicles or perhaps as a workshop, you may want it toasty on cold winter days. Many varieties of doors offer the ability to upgrade their interior insulation. With a space heater or supply vent in the room, your garage can feel just like the inside of your home
  3. Windows--windows, or lites as they are sometimes called, can add to the appearance of your doors and also allow a little natural light into what can often be a fairly dark room. If you keep a lot of valuable tools in your garage, some homeowners consider glass in the doors to be a security concern

These are just a few of the factors to think about when purchasing new doors--a local garage door contractor can show you the many styles available and the openers they recommend for the doors you're considering. Pricing can vary depending on the type and style of doors you choose and where you're located, but expect garage door costs to come in around $850 for a standard 9-by-7 metal door. A wood door the same size could cost about $950 and a fiberglass door as much as $1,200. If you would like a more accurate estimate from local garage door contractors, just fill out the form on this page.