Steel offers superior strength, durability, and energy efficiency.
Aluminum is often more affordable than steel and features more design options.
Aluminum's rust resistance makes it a preferred option for coastal or humid climates.
When considering steel vs. aluminum garage doors, the number of available options and price points may surprise you. Choosing the right door to protect your home and enhance curb appeal requires thoughtful comparisons between the two.
What To Know About Steel Garage Doors
Steel's exceptional strength allows it to easily withstand daily use with minimal upkeep. It also serves as robust security against accidental and intentional impacts.
A full spectrum of style and color options, as well as its durability, make steel garage doors a popular choice for many homeowners. They'll easily outlast the house, but if a replacement is necessary, steel's recyclability adds another tick to the positive column.
That said, they trend toward higher-end price points, and while upkeep is minimal, it's not nonexistent. Steel doors require cleaning and wax sealing a few times a year to protect against corrosion.
What To Know About Aluminum Garage Doors
Aluminum garage doors' affordability is tough to beat, particularly when you're on a tight budget. But price isn't the only advantage to choosing an aluminum door.
Like steel, aluminum offers an impressive array of styles and colors, and it's also an environmentally friendly material. However, the considerable weight difference affords another advantage for aluminum. While it's easier to install, it's also more compatible with a larger selection of garage door openers than its steel counterpart.
Although aluminum doesn't corrode like steel, it does require serious consideration before purchasing. As a lightweight material, you'll need to keep up on maintenance to ensure smooth operation. In addition, aluminum's composition also makes it prone to denting, and it's easier to breach.
Factors To Consider
We'll now provide more detail about the individual characteristics of each type of door to help you make a more informed decision.
Short and Long-Term Costs of Steel vs Aluminum
One of the key factors in deciding between steel and aluminum garage doors is the price point. If budget is a major factor at the outset, you may want to consider aluminum. The cost of steel garage doors can be significantly higher than their aluminum counterparts when you factor in materials and installation. However, maintenance costs tend to be minimal over time.
On the flip side, the cost of an aluminum garage door is lower than that of a steel door initially. They are lighter weight and not as labor-intensive to install. The catch is that they tend to dent more easily and require ongoing upkeep. That said, high-end aluminum can be more expensive than low-end steel. At which point, other considerations like aesthetics could have more significance.
Home Security
Steel garage doors provide greater security than aluminum, delivering enhanced protection against impact and forced entry. Aluminum's corrosion resistance and light weight offer installation and design benefits; however, it's more vulnerable to dents and break-ins. On the other hand, steel's superior strength and durability create a much more secure option for safeguarding the home.
Garage Temperature
The garage walls may be insulated, but HVAC rarely extends to this part of the house, and the doors present a temperature control weak point.
Adding a high R-value insulation will help regulate steel and aluminum. However, steel's superior energy efficiency makes this the sensible option for balanced interior temperatures.
Curb Appeal
Steel is more challenging to customize, resulting in slightly fewer aesthetic options than aluminum. With that in mind, each offers a generous selection of style and color choices. Although aluminum's color options are only limited by the imagination, design features like windows aren't readily available in steel doors.
Get Expert Residential Garage Door Installation from Balanced Garage Doors
When it comes to aluminum vs. steel garage doors, it isn't a one-size-fits-all decision. Each has its benefits and challenges. The knowledgeable team at Balanced Garage Door can help you navigate the pros and cons to find the best choice for your home.
Schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with one of our garage door experts.
Image credit: // Shutterstock // tokar
