Buying a new garage door is an investment. Whether you are building a new home or replacing a garage door on an existing home, your door matters when it comes to the look and security of your home. However, buying a new garage door can be a bit confusing and overwhelming if you have never done it before. We have helped hundreds of homeowners buy and install their garage doors. From our design consultation and garage door installation services here at Spectrum Overhead Door, to selling the doors so homeowners can install the door themselves through our sister company, Parts 4 Garage Doors, we have heard of all sorts of confusion. That’s why we will break down considerations for buying a garage door you may not have thought of. 

Garage Door Buying Considerations

Know What You are Replacing.

When you are looking to replace something, it’s always good to know what you are currently replacing. Look for any documentation about the garage door from when you bought the home. Also, do not just assume your garage door measurement. Not all garage doors are a standard size. If you bought a house that was previously custom-built, the garage door may be a custom size as well. To find out the measurement, you should measure the opening and the distance from the door track to the garage ceiling.

Find Out if You Have HOA Requirements.

If you live in a neighborhood with an HOA (Homeowners Association), they may already have a guideline for the garage doors they will allow. Guidelines may include that you need a wind-rated garage door in consideration of hurricanes and storms here in the Houston area.

Know Your Costs for a Garage Door.

Garage doors can vary tremendously depending on the material and the style you are looking for. Aluminum garage doors can start as low as around $500. Custom wood garage doors can run several thousand dollars. On average, expect to pay $1200 to $5000 for a mid-range 16’x7′ door.

Learn Materials.

Garage doors come in several different types of materials. The materials include steel, aluminum, fiberglass, and wood. The 2 most common are wood and steel. We outline some of the basic differences in our Steel Garage Doors vs Wooden Garage Doors blog post. Each of these materials has advantages and disadvantages to them. You want to get to know what they are so you can make an informed decision on what type of garage door you want.

To Match or Feature.

Garage Doors take up to 40% on one side of the outside of the home. So you can either decide to have the garage door blend into the rest of the house or stand out. For example, you can use a white garage door to blend with a lighter color home or have a wooden overlay garage door with dark wood tones to make it stand out. We have a great blog that dives deep into Garage Door Style: To Match or to Stand Out. 

Decide on Insulation.

It gets hot here in Houston, really hot. Due to this, you may want to consider getting an insulated garage door. Here in Houston, an insulated door prevents excess hot air from entering your garage, lowering your cooling cost. We go more into garage door insulation at Insulated Garage Door – Have a Cooler Houston Home.

Bonus Tip: DIY or Professional installation.

If you are a regular handyman (or handywoman) type of person, to save on costs you may want to buy a garage door you can install yourself. However, if something breaks during installation, you do not have a parts and labor warranty to cover the need to get a new door or any damages. With a professional garage door installation, you do get parts and a labor warranty to make sure you get what you want, and if not, it’s fixed without any extra costs. You will want to go with a reputable garage door installation company. You can read about tips for hiring a garage door contractor here.

Garage doors are meant to last 10-15 years or more. When you buy a new garage door, you are going to be living with it for a while, so you want to pick the right door. These considerations will help you decide what is best for your home. If you’re in the Houston area, contact us at Spectrum Overhead Door if you are looking for some guidance in choosing the right garage door for you. We offer free in-home consultations and whichever garage door you decide, we want you to be happy for years to come.