Types of doors: Two kinds of garage doors are available: tilt-ups and sectional roll-up doors. The tilt-up type is a single panel that pivots out and up. A sectional roll-up door is made of four or more horizontal sections, hinged together and mounted with rollers to tracks at each side so the door can roll straight up and back.

Wood garage doors may have flush, raised-panel or recessed-panel construction. With flush construction, a frame is covered with plywood. With panel construction, a series of panels are fitted into a softwood framework. The most durable panels are made of composites and are guaranteed to last for 20 years or more.

Because of wood-grain embossing, vinyl-cladding and baked-on finishes, steel successfully imitates the look of wood yet offers finishes that are guaranteed not to rust.

Other options: If you have kids that will be playing anywhere near the garage door you might want to avoid expensive garage doors and doors made of lightweight steel or aluminum. Kids have a tendency to throw balls against any flat surface they find, and decorative and metal doors may get damaged.

Garage doors can be built of wood, steel, aluminum or masonite. Wood sets the standard for appearance, is relatively inexpensive and easily tooled. The problem with wood is that it's vulnerable to the weather and must be repainted periodically.

Steel is strong, durable and easy to maintain. Because of wood-grain embossing, vinyl-cladding and baked-on finishes, steel can successfully imitate the look of wood yet offers finishes that are guaranteed not to rust.

Steel doors may feature single-skin and frame construction. The first type looks less finished from inside the garage. The double-skin construction, which contains rigid insulation between interior and exterior steel panels, looks finished from both sides and provides a better weather barrier.

If you don't mind taking a small step away from the look of real wood, check out the latest in embossed steel garage doors, which are much stronger, more secure, and virtually maintenance free.

Aluminum garage doors have enjoyed many of the same design advances as steel. Aluminum single-piece, tilt-up doors are fairly popular because they are lightweight, won't rust and are relatively inexpensive. However they do dent more easily than steel doors.

-- Tips courtesy of Service Magic

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