Selecting a new garage door for your Fort Lee home may seem straightforward at first, but there are actually many factors to weigh from insulation needs and material choices to specific considerations for our northern New Jersey climate. The garage door takes abuse from weather and is a focal point of your home’s curb appeal, so it’s important to get this choice right!
The purpose of this ultimate guide is to provide the key criteria you need to evaluate when shopping for the ideal garage door. We’ll compare popular Fort Lee garage door materials like steel, wood, aluminum, fiberglass and vinyl on durability, appearance, insulation properties and cost. You’ll get an overview of common garage door styles that work for traditional vs. modern architecture. Since winters in Fort Lee can be bitter cold, we’ll also cover insulation and discuss R-values.
In addition, you’ll learn about leading garage door brands sold in our area and the warranties and service they provide. And we share considerations like windows, openers and hardware upgrades you may wish to incorporate. This guide also discusses measuring basics and how new doors are sized and fitted to your garage. Finally, we offer a cost comparison across materials and styles along with tips for saving on your new investment with Eagle Garage Doors.
When evaluating garage doors for your Fort Lee home, the material it’s constructed from is an important consideration that impacts appearance, insulation, durability and maintenance requirements. Here we’ll overview and compare some of the most popular garage door materials on the market today so you can determine the best fit for your needs and preferences.
Wood Garage Doors
The most traditional option, wood doors provide a timeless, elegant look. Wood can be painted or stained to achieve nearly any desired color scheme. There are different wood types to choose from like cedar, hemlock and oak. The downside is that wood doors require the most maintenance with periodic refinishing and repainting to keep up the appearance and prevent rot and warping. The cost is also on the higher end.
Steel Garage Doors
Known for their durability and competitive pricing, steel is one of the most popular choices. Steel won’t crack, peel, warp or dent easily. Designs aim to mimic wood with embossed woodgrain textures in different patterns. Most steel doors have a baked-on factory finish but can also be painted. On the downside, the thin metal can dent if impacted forcefully. Overall steel provides an affordable, low-maintenance option.
Aluminum Garage Doors
Even more lightweight than steel, aluminum doors have resilience and are rust-proof. Specialty aluminum allows for custom finishes, windows and hardware options for modern designs. But thinner aluminum also has dents as a drawback. Aluminum is on the higher end for garage door costs given it’s a specialty metal.
Fiberglass Garage Doors
For homeowners who love the look of wood but not the upkeep, fiberglass doors are a great solution. With authentic woodgrain textures and stainable finishes, fiberglass provides the appeal of real wood with much easier maintenance. The fiberglass itself holds up well to cold, heat and impact without expanding, contracting or rotting. Fiberglass does come at a higher cost than steel and other materials.
Vinyl Garage Doors
Known for low-maintenance, vinyl garage doors are constructed from tough PVC resin. Available in woodgrain patterns, vinyl doors won’t peel, dent or rust. Vinyl doors provide good insulation properties as well. On the downside, vinyl panels can become brittle and crack in extremely cold temperatures. And vinyl lacks the elegant finishes and appearance of wood doors. Overall vinyl is an affordable low-maintenance choice.
With New Jersey winters subject to freezing temps, snow and bitter winds off the river, insulation is an important factor when selecting a Fort Lee garage door. The right insulation regulates temperature in your garage space and makes a huge impact on energy efficiency.
Why Insulation Matters
A poorly insulated garage door allows valuable heated or cooled air from your home to escape into the garage. And exterior elements like cold, heat and moisture transfer through the less insulated garage door and permeate into interior home spaces. This heat transfer leads to higher energy bills as your HVAC system works harder.
What R-Value to Aim For
R-value is the standard measure of how well insulation can resist heat traveling through it. The higher the R-value, the more effective the insulation. For New Jersey, an R-value between 12 and 18 is ideal. Some materials like wood provide zero actual insulation, so you’d rely just on paint or stain coatings for minimal insulation.
Types of Garage Door Insulation
Polyurethane foam provides premium R-values up to 18. Polystyrene insulation boards also rate over 15. Newer vinyl garage doors can incorporate air pockets for surprisingly good insulation usually around 12 without sacrificing sturdiness.
Air Sealing the Frame
Even the best insulated door loses effectiveness if outside air is leaking around the frame. Ensuring proper seals are on the perimeter is key.
When selecting a garage door for Fort Lee homes, you’ll typically be choosing from leading national brands carried by local contractors. Here we overview some of the top names in residential garage doors and what sets each apart:
Haas Garage Doors
Manufactured in the Midwest, Haas provides exceptional custom wood carriage house styles but also steel and glass panel options. Known for high quality construction and materials, Haas offers industry-leading warranties against cracking and warping. Many unique finishes like faux bronze and iron are available. Insulated options reach R-16. An attractive offering but pricing at the highest end.
Clopay Garage Doors
One of the largest garage door brands in the U.S., Clopay is a trusted and affordable choice carried by most contractors. Clopay’s focus is steel doors offering woodgrain and ribbed panel variety. Durability and value are hallmarks of the brand. Clopay’s Intellicore series hits insulation ratings around R-16 with polystyrene in steel. Warranties up to 10 years.
Wayne Dalton Garage Doors
Another leading steel garage door provider, Wayne Dalton is known for standard and custom designs from traditional to modern. Wayne Dalton uses quality foamed-in-place polyurethane insulation to achieve higher R-values up to 18 with an energy efficient seal. Appealing lifetime warranties on finish and hardware with 20 years coverage on springs and rollers.
Beyond the door itself, some optional upgrades and features may be worth incorporating depending on your needs:
Windows
Windows can provide an aesthetic focal point to an otherwise blank garage door expanse. Common styles are square, arched or circular. Windows allow natural daylight into your garage interior. Available tinted or frosted for privacy. Insulated glass helps prevent heat transfer.
Garage Door Openers
Today’s modern openers provide conveniences like WiFi connectivity, motion detecting lighting and integration with smart home systems. Keyless entry pads and smartphone app access add security. Battery backup ensures access when the power is down. Compare features across different motor types and lifting capacities needed.
Hardware & Accessories
Attention to hardware and accessories provides visual appeal. Decorative handles, hinges, latches and strap hinges in finishes like black, bronze and stainless steel coordinate nicely with home fixtures. Custom wood trim surrounds can offer a built-in look around the door.
What can Fort Lee homeowners expect to invest in a new garage door? While specific quotes will vary broadly depending on materials, insulation, size and accessories selected, here are some ballpark figures and cost saving tips:
Typical Cost Range
Basic steel garage doors tend to range from $800 – $2,000 including professional installation. High quality wood doors go up from there, averaging $3,000 to as high as $5,000 or more for custom carriage house styles. Factors like insulation, windows, hardware, tricky installations etc. impact final budgets.
Wood doors command the highest prices while steel and vinyl doors tend to be the most budget friendly. Aluminum and fiberglass doors fall somewhere in between. Insulation does add more expense but saves money long term through energy efficiency. Larger multi-car garage doors add cost over standard single bay. Windows, especially anything custom or energy efficient, also add cost quickly. Wood trim kits, high-end hardware and opening systems bump up budgets as nice-to-have upgrades. Any structural issues requiring repair add cost as well.
Choosing standard sized doors makes replacement easier and far more economical. Providing your own paint or stain finish keeps costs lower too. And shopping end of season sales, display models and limited color choices can mean significant bargain opportunities that still look beautiful.
Finding the ideal garage door for your Fort Lee home may seem complicated given the range of materials, insulation levels, styles and accessories on the market. But by taking the time to carefully evaluate what functionality and aesthetics are most important for your home and lifestyle, you can confidently invest in a new garage door that checks all of your boxes. Use this guide to weigh whether a classic raised panel steel door or contemporary glass design makes the boldest curb appeal statement. Determine whether insulation or decorative hardware upgrades merit stretching your budget. And seek out the brands and product lines with durable construction and lengthy warranties that bring you piece of mind.
With strategic planning using the criteria we outlined plus a quote from our team at Eagle Garage Doors Repair, you will be well on your way to enhanced aesthetics, comfort and functionality that will have you excited to pull in to your newly upgraded garage space for years to come. Contact Eagle Garage Doors today to explore how we can make your dream garage door design into reality with quality installation and service backing in northern New Jersey.
The most common standard sizes for single garage doors are 8×7 feet and 9×7 feet. For double garage bays, 16×7 feet doors are typical. Measuring the exact height and width of your opening is important for proper sizing. Be aware that garage door sizes are documented using the exterior frame dimensions. Standard sizing makes replacement easier and more economical if feasible.
For a straightforward replacement in good condition, plan for 2-5 hours for removal of old door, prepping the opening, installing and adjusting the new door including opener and any accessories. Complex installations tack on more time. Once the old door is removed make sure to identify any structural issues, rotted wood or challenges with springs/alignment ahead of the new door arrival.
Some clear signals a garage door replacement is due in Fort Lee climates are energy bills spiking from poor insulation, sagging or uneven door appearance, chips or cracks in the finish allowing rust or rot, annoying noise when opening, broken springs or problems reliably opening/closing. If your dated door is an eyesore or functional headache, the time for an upgrade may be now.
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