Garage Doors: A Buying Guide to Garage Doors in Canada

You may not think so but garage doors are a very important feature of your home. A garage door doesn’t just provide safety to your vehicle, but also to your belongings and possibly your family if your garage is connected to your home. A beautiful garage door that matches the style of your home will add to its curb appeal. So, if you have been thinking about installing a new garage door, or replacing an old, malfunctioning door, then it’s time that you start doing some research.

Select the right provider

One of the surefire ways to get your hands on the right product is to approach a reputable and experienced garage door specialist. Always look for experts that are skilled, experienced and will provide you accurate estimates, warranties and varieties so that you can select whatever suits you the best.

Material for garage doors

You may come across garage doors that are made from different materials. Below are some of the materials that you can find in Canada.

Steel

Steel garage doors have recently become very famous in Canada. They are durable and energy-efficient. They also don't require maintenance. They are the most affordable option for garage doors.

Wood

Many garage owners go for steel doors because they are relatively cheaper. But there are also multiple benefits to garage doors made with wood. They may cost a bit more than steel doors, but they don't dent and have a rustic appeal. They are also environment friendly.

Fiberglass

Doors made with fiberglass offer the benefits of steel but with the looks of traditional wood. However, fiberglass doors are known to crack and bend in very cold conditions. You can also find doors that are a combination of fiberglass and steel. These doors are comparatively stronger.

Insulation

You’ll also need to consider the R-value of your door as you’d do with different rooms in your home. R-value is the measure of an insulating material’s conductive heat flow. It is also called thermal resistance. The door should be able to effectively block the cold air out. Two materials are commonly used for insulating garage doors: polystyrene and polyurethane. Garage doors that are coated with polystyrene for insulation are cheaper. Their average R-value is around 10.

On the other hand, garage doors that have polyurethane insulation are on the expensive end. They provide good insulation though. The highest R-value of PU insulated doors is 17 ½. It would be best if you consider garage doors with PU as core material. Besides providing good insulation, they also add to the strength of your door. Having high-quality core material is good, but your door should also have a PVC gasket and perimeter weather stripping. This would enhance the thermal resistance of your garage door.

If your home is in a warmer area, then you might be Ok with insulated doors having low R-value. However, if you live in a cold place, then you'd be very comfortable with a garage door that has a high R-value, particularly if you use your garage as a living space.

Common garage door R-values

- R-16

- R-12

- R-10

- R-6.6

Door styles

Normally, you’ll find only three styles of garage doors in a Canadian market. These include contemporary, traditional and carriage house door styles.

Traditional door style

Garage doors with these styles are available in steel, wood and fiberglass. They are characterized by their classical recessed or raised panels.

Carriage house door styles

These types of doors have a horse-drawn carriage style, which will remind you of the past days. However, they are extremely functional with their roll-top feature, iron strap hinges, handles and stylish separation in the middle.

Contemporary door styles

These doors stand out in the crowd. The use of doors gives them a sleek look, which offers both style and functionality. These kinds of doors go best with homes that have a contemporary or mid-century style construction.

Door size

You usually have no say over what size of garage door you want. It will either be a single or double door. You only have to find a door that fits the available space. If you are building a new garage, you still might be able to make a choice, but if you are renovating then most likely the decision has been made for you. Single doors with 9 X 7 feet size and double doors with 26 X 7 feet are the most common sizes of garage doors. You may still come across garage doors that are larger or smaller than the aforementioned sizes. For example, 1 ½ car garages that fall in the middle of single and double door sizes.

If you’d like some help with sizing your garage door, insulation, style or material, then it’d be best to reach out to your garage door specialist. You can easily find a garage door specialist here.