Frequently Asked Questions: Garage Door Materials
Choosing a new garage door is a big decision. Here are the answers to the questions we hear most often at Bruce Garage Door Bloomington regarding materials, durability, and maintenance.
Because Bloomington experiences both extreme humidity and freezing winters, Insulated Steel or Wood Composite are our top recommendations. Steel doesn’t warp in the humidity, and high-quality insulation (a high R-value) keeps your garage—and the rooms above it—significantly warmer during January and February.
It depends on your priorities! Natural wood offers a level of character and “curb appeal” that is hard to beat, especially for historic homes. However, it does require regular painting or staining every 2–3 years to prevent rot and warping caused by Indiana’s moisture. If you love the look but hate the work, we recommend Clopay’s Ultra-Grain® finishes on steel or composite.
R-value is the measurement of a material’s thermal resistance. The higher the R-value, the better the door is at keeping heat inside during the winter and outside during the summer. For Bloomington homeowners, we recommend an R-value of at least 12 to 18 if your garage is attached to your home or used as a workspace.
If you have kids who play basketball or soccer in the driveway, Vinyl or Heavy-Duty 24-gauge Steel are your best bets. Vinyl is incredibly flexible and “bounces back” from minor impacts, while thicker-gauge steel is much harder to dent than the thinner, “builder-grade” doors often found on new constructions.
- Steel: Yes, but it requires a high-quality acrylic latex house paint.
- Wood: Yes, wood is the easiest to customize with paint or stain.
- Vinyl/Fiberglass: We generally recommend against painting these, as the paint may not bond well to the surface and could void your warranty.
Standard aluminum and glass doors offer very little insulation. However, we can install insulated glass panels and thermal break frames. These allow you to have that modern, “Full-View” look while still maintaining a comfortable temperature inside the garage.
- Steel: 20–30 years with minimal maintenance.
- Wood: 15–20 years (if properly maintained).
- Composite: 25–30 years (highly resistant to the elements).
