The Biggest Pros and Cons of Wooden Garage Doors

There are many small ways to make your house fit your personal style, including changing the material of your garage door. Sure, a metal or fiberglass door has its benefits, but many cannot resist the chic and unique look of a wooden garage door. And if you’re considering adding one to your home, you may fall in love with all of its benefits.

But for every silver lining, there’s always a cloud. And despite all the upsides of a wood garage door, there are also some drawbacks. We’ll show you the pros and cons of wood garage doors so that you can decide if one is right for your home.

Pros of Wooden Garage Doors

Wooden garage doors have a lot of advantages, so knock on wood that you’ll love these traits about them.

They Have Curb Appeal

When it comes to aesthetic appeal, for many, you can’t get much better than a wood garage door, especially if it fits in with the rest of your home style. While you can certainly fit a wooden garage door into a variety of aesthetics, you’ll typically see them looking right at home in rustic-style homes or those by the beach.

There Are Endless Customization Options

One of the best features of wood garage doors is how customizable they are. Many garages require doors in non-standard sizes, and wood doors are easy to cut to virtually any specifications.

But it’s not just about size: With a wood door, you can also special-order the features you want. You can, for instance, install custom windows, specify wood types, and custom-design patterns for the layout of your wood planks.

And with the endless variety of customization options, your garage door can transform your home into almost any style you want, from the rustic appeal of a traditional carriage house to the luxury of an Italian villa.

You Have Insulation Options

Many wooden doors are manufactured with a layered design allowing you to install insulation between the layers. This attribute can be beneficial for the winter season, especially if you live in a frigid climate where your garage doors tend to freeze shut.

If you’re interested in this aspect of a wooden garage door, a local garage door installer can talk to you more about your options.

Composite Wood Options Can Bring Down the Cost

Solid wood doors, not surprisingly, can be pretty costly. But you don’t have to break the bank to get the look you want. You can opt for a composite wood door that will give you the distinctive look you want without the hefty price tag. In fact, most composite wood doors will cost less than $2,200, roughly half the price of high-end, solid wood doors.

Cons of Wooden Garage Doors

However, you’ll want to consider these drawbacks before installing a wooden garage door.

They’re Costly

Not surprisingly, style and customization don’t come cheap. If you’re considering replacing your garage door, you can expect to pay between $1,200 and $4,000 for wood. On the other hand, steel doors can cost as little as $750 at the low end.

They Require a Lot of Maintenance

One of the biggest drawbacks of wooden garage doors is that they’re pretty high maintenance, especially when compared to other materials, such as steel or aluminum. You may find yourself resealing, repainting, or repairing your door often, especially if you live in a harsh climate with extreme weather conditions.

Your Door May Show Its Age

Wood garage doors are manufactured from durable woods, such as cedar, and they’re treated to be moisture-resistant. But your door will still show its age, especially when repeatedly exposed to storms, winds, high heat, and extreme cold.

Wet weather or climates that frequently go from puffer coat weather to shorts weather in a day can cause even more of a maintenance issue. Because wood expands and shrinks more than other materials in extreme temperatures, your door might stick or become misaligned, and it may be more prone to warping and decay than other materials.