When it comes to choosing a custom garage door, you will need to select from an array of materials. Consider one that will match your home and align with the amount of maintenance you are happy to take on. Here are several standard options.
Aluminium
Aluminium doors are durable, lightweight, robust and easy to operate, and they require very little maintenance. This metal naturally repels rust due to an oxide layer that forms on its surface when it comes into contact with oxygen. This means your aluminium doors will never rust, an essential quality for an object that is out in all types of weather. Depending on the degree of impact, however, aluminium can dent when struck. These doors are available in a wide range of styles and colours, giving you options when it comes to matching it to your home. So you will be spoilt for choice.
Wood
Timber evokes a traditional, classic look that coordinates well with various home designs. These garage doors are available in many styles and multiple colours and stains. Though durable and robust, you will need to repaint regularly or re-stain wooden doors to maintain their good looks. This material also needs treatments that protect from mildew and rot.
Steel
Steel also provides many options in terms of garage door styles and colours, as well as insulated versions that help to reduce heating and cooling costs. This metal is available in many different gauges with varying strengths. Though some can dent, a 24- or 25-gauge steel should withstand most impacts. (The lower the gauge number, the stronger the steel.) Steel, however, does not naturally repel rust, so it will typically undergo galvanising, powder coating or other treatments to create a protective layer.
Vinyl and Fibreglass
Vinyl doors are durable and easy to maintain; you can easily clean them using the garden hose. This material typically resists dents, but you might have fewer colour and design options to choose from than with some other materials. Fibreglass doors are ideal for coastal areas as they can withstand corrosive salty air. Fibreglass is very malleable and able to mimic other materials, such as timber.
No matter what substance you choose, you will need to coordinate its colour with your home for a unified look. You could match the garage door with the siding to blend the two together, or you could repeat the window trim colour. The custom garage doors just need some relationship with the overall environment so they look like they belong.