Garage Door Materials 101: Wood vs. Wood Composite

Wooden Garage Doors vs. Faux Wood Garage Doors

As you know, the material of a garage door has a fair bit of what affects the overall design and functionality of a garage door. Let’s take a look at what wooden and faux wood garage doors have to offer.

Wooden Doors

Wood garage doors are built with layers, or plies, to prevent warping. Woods include cedar, redwood, fir, and meranti (luan). Wood doors may be factory-stained or painted, or finished on-site.

This material offers a warm, homey appearance. Custom wood garage doors are made by skilled craftsmen and can be extremely attractive, distinctive -and pricey. Wood is a better insulator against cold and noise than steel alone, but not as good as an insulated steel door.

However, wood garage doors require significant upkeep, including periodic painting or staining. Wood doors age quickly, especially when frequently subjected to precipitation or direct sunlight. Plus, they are heavy. Still, a wood door might be appropriate if used in a location that is not directly exposed to sunlight and is sheltered from precipitation by an overhang.

Custom Wooden Garage Door Denver Colorado

Faux Wood Garage Doors

Wood Composite Doors or Faux Wood doors typically have a wood frame covered with sheets of fiberboard. Better models offer higher-density fiberboard skins and include realistic details, such as overlays and grooves to simulate a real wood door. Cores are filled with polystyrene insulation.

Faux wood doors are durable, low-maintenance material that looks like real wood. Plus, faux wood composite eliminates many of the drawbacks of natural material- traditional wood doors are susceptible to cracking, splitting, warping, or rotting. Wood Composite Doors are moisture-resistant so that they won’t rot, split, shrink, separate or crack. Also, they are insulated and can be painted or stained.

Wood Composite - Traditional Collection by Amarr
Residential garage door: Wood Composite – Traditional Collection by Amarr

Composite-wood doors are affordable and are meant to be painted—a reasonable choice if the price is your primary concern or if you want the color of your garage door to match the siding of your house. Appearance-grade wood doors are meant to be stained for an attractive natural-wood-like look.

These eco-friendly garage doors combine the appearance of solid wood with the durability of a steel garage door.

On the whole, a wood composite door may run you slightly more money but in the end, it will most likely last longer and require less maintenance, saving you money and hassle in the long-term. Plus, they are an eco-friendly solution for the environment.

Should you need a new garage door or replace your old trusty overhead door in Denver, contact Colorado Overhead Door experts.

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