Steel Garage Doors
Most new garage doors are made of steel backed by rigid-foam insulation. Panels made of 24-ga. steel are the strongest (26- and 28-ga. steel is also used); most are produced with an embossed wood-grain pattern or with a smooth finish. Look for a model with a baked-on primer and polyester topcoat for maximum rust protection. Warranties for steel doors start at 10 years; limited lifetime coverage is not uncommon.
Wood Garage Doors
Once the mainstay garage door material, wood has somewhat taken a backseat to other materials in the middle of the market. To a great extent, this is due to the added maintenance and regular painting, staining & refinishing that wood doors require. Most wood doors are constructed with a hemlock frame and hardboard panels. But custom doors are often made from Mahogany, Cedar, Douglas Fir and Hemlock. The typical warranty for a factory-made wood door is one year; many custom doors are backed for 15 years.Vinyl Garage Doors
Plastic or Vinyl doors are fairly new to the scene, and they might eventually be the door of choice. Like steel, plastic doors offer lightweight durability without routine upkeep. Unlike their metal and wood counterparts, they're corrosion- and rot-free, and they operate almost silently. Because they contain UV-resistant additives, light-colored versions can take sun without fading. Plastic doors carry 20-year or longer warranties.