Garage
Door Materials |
Along
with knowing which type of operating gear to buy, a major decision
in potential garage
doors purchase has to be "which material to choose"
and can as confusing as choosing the door itself, so we have
given you a brief explanation of each type of operating gear
below. |
Steel
Doors |
 |
Steel garage doors are much stronger
and more secure than wood, aluminum, or fiberglass ones. Thanks
primarily to new technologies in embossing metals with wood-grain
patterns, and new durable coatings, today's steel
garage doors rival the look of wood without the maintenance
headaches. Steel doors won't warp, crack, delaminate or fall apart
because of weather. And, because most are made of hot-dipped,
galvanized steel that is vinyl clad or given a baked-on polyester
finish, they don't rust or require repainting as often as wood
doors. Most warranties guarantee the door won't rust for as long
as you own the house, but do not protect against fading. On the
downside, steel does dent and can be difficult to repair |
Timber
Doors |
 |
Wood timber
garage doors is preferred more for its natural look, affordability
and easy tooling than for its durability. Because wood expands
and contracts and can warp or crack as it weathers, it demands
regular maintenance--repainting or refinishing every couple
of years.
The easiest to build and most affordable type of door is a
tilt-up wood door. In many cases, it can be built right in the
driveway by applying a skin of exterior plywood--usually 3/8-inch
thick--to a frame of Douglas fir, spruce or a similar softwood.
Or the frame and plywood can be covered with siding to match
the house. This type of flush construction is quite strong,
stable and affordable |
GRP
(Fibreglass) Doors |
 |
Fiberglass doors actually have an
aluminum frame with fiberglass sections. Like aluminum, fiberglass
is very lightweight. Other advantages of fiberglass are resistance
to salt air corrosion and translucency--fiberglass doors are sometimes
chosen for locations where light transmission is important or
in corrosive ocean climates. For more standard uses, fiberglass
isn't a very popular material because it is a poor insulator,
it yellows with age, and it breaks relatively easily, especially
when it's cold |
ABS
(UPVC) Doors |
 |
State-of-the-art impact resistant
doors are built using modern, lightweight, yet highly durable
materials.
Characterised by deep crisp panel detailing and medium gloss,
maintenance-free, UV stable, white finish they are an ideal match
if you have UPVC windows and doors. ABS doors generally carry
a 10-year manufacturer's guarantee |
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