Steel vs. Aluminum Garage Doors: Which Is Better?

So, you know you want your new garage door to be metal, but you’re still undecided between steel and aluminum. If you want a single correct answer to the problem, we regret to tell you there isn’t one “right” answer.

The best material for a metal garage door is determined by your home’s style, needs and budget — but we can give you some guidelines for making that choice wisely and evaluating the pros and cons of each.

Benefits of Steel Garage Doors

Steel is the most popular material for garage doors, and with good reason — steel garage doors give you the most reliable investment in most cases, giving the most for the least cost.

Steel is durable enough to last as long as your entire home, and its popularity means a correctly sized steel garage door is always easy to find. You’ll also find it easy to customize a steel garage door to meet your preferences.

Steel garage doors are:

• Durable: You won’t have to worry about driving rain, heavy winds, or intense summer heat and humidity wearing down your steel garage doors.
• Low-maintenance: A pre-painted steel garage door will need to be sprayed clean with the hose from time to time and might need a repaint eventually.
• Versatile: Steel allows for all sorts of finishes and can be shaped to make any style of garage door, including:
  • Sectional garage doors
  • Side-hinged garage doors
  • Traditional up-and-over garage doors
  • Rolled garage doors
• Strong: Steel garage doors built correctly are strong enough to defend against break-ins, physical damage and daily wear and tear.
• Environmentally friendly: Garage doors made of steel can be made of recycled materials and recycled again in the far future.

Benefits of Aluminum Garage Doors

Aluminum garage doors offer much of the same features you see in steel, but with significantly reduced weight. Aluminum doors are usually less expensive than equivalent steel doors, meaning they’re a good option if you’re on a budget.

Aluminum garage doors are:

• Lightweight: The lower weight of an aluminum garage door makes it easier to install and less stressful on the components of your garage door opener, meaning it will wear down slower and require less maintenance and fewer repairs.
• Corrosion-resistant: Aluminum naturally resists corrosion that would do a number on steel, making it ideal anywhere natural or industrial sources of corrosion might be a factor.
• Recyclable: Like steel, aluminum garage doors can be made of recycled materials and recycled again at the end of their service life.
• Low-maintenance: Like steel, you can simply spray down aluminum and not expect any problems.

Factors to Consider When Picking Your Garage Door

So, we know both steel & aluminum options are viable choices for homes, but how about your specific residence? Consider:

• What is my budget? Prices vary between models, but equivalent steel is more expensive than aluminum. It might last longer, making it more cost-effective over time. High-end aluminum doors will still cost more than low-end steel doors, so consider how you want to spend your money even if you’re not on a tight budget.
• Do I care about rust resistance? Aluminum naturally resists rust, while steel will need to be coated for protection — and damage to that coating could significantly compromise the door.
• How durable do I want my garage door to be? Aluminum doors are fairly dent-resistant, but good steel doors can endure far more abuse without any deformity or damage.

Quality Steel & Aluminum Garage Door Services in Fort Wayne, IN

Regardless of the material you choose, Overhead Door Company of Fort Wayne will be glad to help with your garage door replacement. If you’re not sure what makes the most sense for you, our experienced team will help you decide based on your needs, budget and other factors.

Want to learn more about garage door installation? Call (260) 205-8509 today or contact us online.