Your vehicles—ranging from the family car all the way up to an RV—get their own special doors leading into the garage, but then there’s one (at least one) for the humans. These doors are often the same ones you would use for a side entry for your house. It’s the garage, the thought goes, so no need to get as fancy as you have for the front door.
But, there’s no reason to stop you from adding some extra flair to your garage’s entryway for the humans. The level of décor is up to you. Most entry doors are made of wood, steel, or fiberglass. Here’s what you need to know about each.
Energy Efficiency
Wood doors have their appeal, but their steel and fiberglass counterparts tend to have more insulating value. That’s important if you keep your garage environmentally controlled.
Look for Energy Star-rated frames. These feature tighter-fitting frames, along with more energy-efficient cores. Even the glass panes will be insulated to reduce heat transfer.
Installation
Most entry doors—no matter whether they’re wood, steel, or fiberglass—are referred to as “door systems.” This is because they come pre-hung in a frame. Most are even pre-drilled for a doorknob and deadbolt lock.
This is good news, especially if you’re building a new garage or replacing an old one—and you opt to go with a Miracle Truss® design. Edge mounted purlins and girts create standard 24-inch on center stud pockets, which means any entry door system manufactured for standard wood frame home construction will work perfectly for your Miracle Truss® steel garage kit.
Fiberglass Entry Doors
This can be a practical choice for a garage entry door. It’s easier to find fiberglass entry doors with a smooth surface, which might go better with your smooth steel exterior siding. Many fiberglass entry doors also are embossed with a realistic good-grain texture.
Fiberglass doors resist wear and tear better than wood, or even steel doors. You can paint or stain them to match or contrast your exterior garage walls. They’re resistant to dents and usually need little maintenance. Fiberglass will crack if exposed to a severe impact.
Steel Entry Doors
These types of doors make up about half the market, and it’s mainly because steel entry doors offer weather resistance and security for less than the cost of wood or fiberglass. They tend to be energy efficient and need little maintenance.
The biggest downside to steel entry doors is that they can be dented. It’ll be difficult to fix. Any scratches will rust if not painted quickly. Steel overall doesn’t do as good a job of resisting weather.
Wood Entry Doors
While fiberglass and steel try to mimic the look, wood entry doors give you the real deal. Most entry systems are solid wood making them best at resisting wear and tear. Wood doors will likely be the most expensive of the three choices. They’ll also need regular varnishing or painting to keep them looking good.
Between the three types, you’ve got plenty of choices to make. If you elect to go with a Miracle Truss® design, you won’t have to worry about retrofitting or re-studding. Pick your entry door, and you’re good to go. Visit our gallery of metal and steel garage designs for some inspiration. Then use this form to request free information.
