Steel, wood, aluminum and composite garage doors compared

The material of a garage door decides how much upkeep it needs, how it handles weather, and what it weighs. This guide compares steel, wood, aluminum with glass, and composite overlay doors so you know the trade-offs before you replace a door.

Four questions narrow the choice quickly. How much upkeep will you do? How wet, salty or humid is your location? Do you want the garage insulated? How heavy a door can your springs and opener handle?

The answers vary by manufacturer and product line. The comparisons below come from one manufacturer's guidance and are general, not a promise about a specific door. Ask for the care manual and the specifications of the exact door you are considering.

Steel is the most common material. Clopay lists low maintenance, durability, a wide range of styles and generally the most affordable price among its advantages. Steel can stand up to strong winds and heavy rain.

• Strengths: durable, low upkeep, wide choice of styles and finishes.
• Watch for: thinner-gauge doors dent more easily, and steel is a poor insulator unless it has an insulated core. A scratch that exposes the metal can rust if left unrepaired.
• Care: occasional washing with soap and water, and prompt touch-up of scratches.

See insulated vs non-insulated garage doors for how the core changes performance, and garage door finishes that last outdoors for finish care.

Wood gives a warm, rustic look and many design options, and it can be stained or painted. The trade-off is upkeep and weight.

• Strengths: natural look, custom design, can be refinished.
• Watch for: wood is heavy and harder to operate by hand, especially on larger doors. It needs regular care and can warp, swell or rot if not sealed. Clopay notes wood can warp or rot in humid climates.
• Care: cleaning, sanding and restaining or repainting. Clopay says the frequency depends on the climate and sun exposure, and its door care guidance for painted wood is to repaint every one to two years as needed and check yearly for cracking or peeling.

Because wood is heavy, the springs have to match the door's actual weight. A technician sizes them for the door that is installed.

Aluminum frames with glass panels give a modern look and bring daylight into the garage.

• Strengths: aluminum does not rust or corrode, and the doors are lightweight. Clopay says this makes them a good choice for coastal areas or places with high humidity.
• Watch for: aluminum has a low R-value, so it conducts heat readily. Glass can reduce privacy, though tinted or opaque glass helps. An insulated core improves thermal performance.
• Care: the manufacturer's article gives no specific upkeep steps, so follow the care manual for the door.

See garage door windows and styles for glass options.

A composite overlay door has an insulated steel base with a composite surface. Clopay lists it as moisture resistant, durable, energy efficient when insulated, and low maintenance, and says it suits humid climates or places with heavy rain or snow.

• Strengths: resists moisture, low maintenance, and does not need the upkeep of real wood.
• Watch for: significant damage is hard to repair and may call for replacement. It is not real wood and lacks its natural character.
• Care: regular washing with soap and water.

Fiberglass and vinyl doors are sold by some manufacturers, but the source read for this guide does not cover them, so we do not compare them here.

Prices vary widely by product, size and options. We do not quote price ranges here.

1. Look at your door's label or care manual to identify the material and finish.
2. Note what bothers you: dents, rust, warping, peeling, weight or heat in the garage.
3. Look for damage, such as rust at the bottom edge or a section that has swollen or warped, and photograph it from the floor.

A door that is crooked, off its track, hard to lift, or has a damaged section should not be run. Springs, cables and brackets hold dangerous tension, and a replacement door needs springs and tracks matched to its weight. DASMA recommends trained door systems technicians for installation and says replacement doors should not be fitted to old track, since track must suit the door's section thickness, weight, headroom and opener location.

Our technicians handle new garage door installation and panel replacement. For repair-versus-replace thinking, see repair or replace the whole garage door and how long a garage door lasts.

• New Garage Door Installation
• Garage Door Panel Replacement

• Clopay: The pros and cons of common garage door materials
• Clopay: Repairing damaged door sections
• Clopay: Improve energy efficiency with insulated garage doors
• DASMA: Garage door safety