An upgraded garage door can produce an ROI of up to 88%, according to Houselogic.com, and can have just as much of an impact on the perception and resale value of your home as a well maintained landscape. It’s because of these statistics that many homeowners are jumping on the garage door bandwagon. Modern garage doors can be made with a number of different materials, but one of the most common, versatile and timeless – is wood.
Wood allows you to customize the look, stain, color and style of the garage door in ways that aluminum, steel and other material do not. Wood offers a charm and authenticity that other materials merely mimic. Check out some of these before and after photos –
Won’t the outdoor elements affect or ruin my wood garage door?
Many people mistakenly perceive wood to be a low-durability material, when in fact wood has tremendous natural strength, inherent insulating properties and is a renewable resource. A properly finished and regularly maintained wood garage door can last a long time – even as long as a door constructed in steel.
Some of the more popular species choices for wood garage door construction are Hemlock, Cedar, Spanish Cedar, Fir, and Redwood. Cedar performs very well in almost any environment, and is great for homes located in rainy, humid climates. Cedar is also very light, which makes it easier on your garage door operator, and it is bug resistant. Redwood is also another good option for regions with a lot of moisture. For custom designs, homeowners are asking for more requests for specialty woods like Knotty Alder, Ironwood and Knotty Cedar, which creates a more distressed, rustic appearance versus the pristine, smooth look of the more common grains.
How can I ensure my custom wood garage door will be protected?
Improper finishing is enemy number one to the beauty and longevity of a wood garage door. Any wood garage door should be sanded, caulked and finished on all six sides under controlled conditions, before it is installed into any home. We only use the Sikkens Cetol line of stains, which are considered to be one of the highest quality and most durable exterior stain finish system on the market. The finish is typically backed by a two year limited warranty. When staining, make sure your manufacturer uses an exterior grade stain and it is finished with a UV protecting topcoat.
The beauty of staining a wood door is you are left with a completely one-of-a-kind garage door, unique to you and your home. No two doors will look exactly alike because of natural grain variations in the wood. The same principle applies to finishing. The finish appearance will vary based on the interaction of the wood species and the stain color penetration. Wood doors are NOT wood floors. Avoid using varnishes and urethanes because they seal the wood eliminating it’s ability to breathe. This can trap moisture behind the finish and lead to warping, rotting or cracking over time.
Remember, as with any natural exterior wood product, they do require more maintenance. But if proper finish recommendations are followed, the maintenance is usually limited to re-applying a fresh topcoat finish every couple of years, without sanding or scraping. This process generally takes no more than an hour or two.
What should a homeowner look for when choosing a wood door manufacturer?
Look for a LOCAL manufacturer that actually makes wood garage doors in-house. They are often better equipped to assist customers in selecting the right wood species and design options for a particular project and location since they have the expertise to construct the doors to the exact specifications. It also helps to use a local manufacturer in the event any maintenance or repairs are needed on your wood garage door. Since they are the company who originally created and installed your garage door, they will have an understanding and a history of your garage door unlike an out of state manufacturer.
How much can wood garage doors cost?
Wood doors can be made locally in whatever size you need and range from mid-price to very expensive. This can depending on whether they consist of a lightweight wooden frame filled with foam insulation wrapped in a plywood or hardboard skin (the least expensive) or are true frame-and-panel doors made of durable mahogany, redwood, or cedar. You also need to factor in additional add-ons, like windows or custom decorative hardware. Even though the overall cost of a custom wood garage door can more than the cost of your typical steel door, many builders offer financing and payment plans.
When you are ready to transform your garage door into a timeless, stunning work of art, call Cedar Park Overhead Doors. We are local to Austin and we have a local showroom where you can view some life size samples of our work, and speak with one of our experts to find the perfect garage door for your home. For more inspiration, check out our gallery on line at https://www.cedarparkgaragedoors.com/gallery/ or on HOUZZ at http://www.houzz.com/pro/austingarage/cedar-park-overhead-doors.