Why Steel Outperforms Wood for Carriage Style Garage Doors

Get the look you want without the added maintenance of wood with steel carriage style garage doors.

Carriage style garage doors are quite popular for their ability to lend an air of refinement and old-world charm to many different styles of homes. Traditionally, these doors were made from solid wood and opened outward. Purists can of course get custom carriage style garage doors that match this authentic design and construction, but others may prefer a modern update in the form of a roll-up steel door. Steel carriage style garage doors mimic the look of a traditional wood door very well and you can still customize them with your choice of decorative hardware, windows, and other design elements. Plus, steel simply performs better than wood long term. Here’s why.

Better Insulation

While wood is a pretty good insulator, it doesn’t compare to a quality steel door with 25 gauge or thicker metal panels sandwiched around polyurethane foam insulation. These types of doors can provide an R-value of 15 or greater, which helps keep temperatures in the garage more stable and reduce your energy costs.

Better Durability

While wood can warp or crack due to fluctuating temperatures and humidity, steel remains impervious. Steel is also better able to resist damage from impacts.

Lower Maintenance

Perhaps the biggest advantage of steel over wood carriage style garage doors is that they require much less maintenance. While you will of course still have to get your annual inspections and service for the mechanical components of the door for safety reasons, you won’t have to worry about tasks like repainting or refinishing.

Same Fantastic Look (Almost)

Assuming you choose a high-quality steel carriage style garage door, you will be able to achieve much the same high-end look as with a wood door. Many steel doors have a variety of finishing options that can very convincingly mimic the look of painted or stained wood in a number of different colors.

Want the Best of Both Worlds?

If you want to combine the insulating power and strength of steel with the inimitable look of real wood, consider a custom carriage style door featuring a steel frame fronted by a thin layer of real wood. You’ll still have to maintain the wood layer, but you won’t have to worry so much about warping or cracking rendering the door inoperable. Dynamic Garage Door will be happy to help you design the perfect garage door that meets your unique needs for design and functionality.