When looking for a new garage door, you have several combinations of styles, types, and materials to choose from, each with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. This article will go review what you should consider when installing a new garage, the shortcomings of cutting corners in the wrong areas, and three ways to guarantee that you make the best decision for your home.

Defining the Term “Cheap Garage Door”

A garage door is a long-term investment. When customers ask for the “cheapest garage door” we always seek to educate the true costs of ownership for making a shortsighted decision — as in reality, a cheap upfront cost may mean higher costs over a lifetime of higher heating bills and recurring repairs. As with any product, “cheap” has mixed meanings. While garage door prices can vary depending on many different factors, in reality, you often get what you pay for. At Canadoor Garage Doors, we don’t offer “cheap” products to our customers, but we do offer great value – even if you’re on a tight budget.

Long-term, Canadoor Garage Door installations will be more reliable, durable, and headache-free than other doors. 

How to Reduce the Cost of a New Garage Door

The best way to keep costs low on a new garage door is to hire a professional with a strong reputation and use common designs and materials.

Saving on materials is often a better idea than saving on labour costs. If your door isn’t installed properly by experienced professionals, you may be in line for a larger overall cost, with replacements and repairs down the road. No matter what type of door you choose – they’re made up of components like extension springs, wheel bearings, and torsion springs which all need to be properly installed to make sure your door opens and closes as planned — even after thousands of cycles.

If cost is a major consideration for you when deciding to replace your garage door, we’ve got three savings tips to help keep your up-front costs low, while providing you with a premium-quality product. 

Saving Tip #1: Go With a Traditional Garage Door

The type of garage door you choose matters. Traditional garage doors are extremely common, which means the industry produces more of them than just about any other door. This means that you can save on a garage door by choosing a common style with classic, monochromatic rectangular panels. Rather than choosing a more elaborate and expensive door design such as one with windows or custom hardware.

Saving Tip #2: Steel Garage Doors Are The Best Choice

You can save money by choosing steel rather than a new wood garage door. While not drawing the same curb appeal as wooden doors, they’re more durable and long-lasting. 

Saving Tip #3: Consider In-Direct Saving On Heating

In some garages, insulation is a must-have. Insulated garage doors help to keep heat inside the garage, which is crucial if you’re using your garage to store liquids, battery-operated tools or equipment, or other items which should not be exposed to the freezing Canadian winter temperatures. It depends on how you use your garage and whether you have another space to store these items during the winter – for example, if you’re using your garage as a workshop or home gym, you may want to buy an insulated door of at least an R-16 insulation value. 

Another factor which may impact your decision is whether your garage is attached to your house. If your garage is attached to one of your home’s walls and not insulated, you’ll likely be losing a lot of heat through that wall. In that case, it makes more sense to purchase an insulated steel garage door with an R-value of R-12 or R-16 and keep that heat inside your home (not to mention keeping your heating costs lower). If your garage is detached and unheated, a lightly insulated or non-insulated door should be enough.

Save on Heat: Understanding is R-value?

R-value is a commonly used phrase within the building and construction industry. It refers to the imperial measurement of thermal resistance to the flow of heat. In plain English, this means it’s a measure of the effectiveness of insulation. By using an insulating material, the transfer of heat or cold can be reduced through surfaces, allowing for a more comfortable, climate-controlled environment. R-value is therefore used to describe the energy efficiency of a product such as insulated garage doors. 

The measurement of the R-value is impacted by factors such as insulator thickness and properties. As a rule of thumb, it’s important to remember that the larger the number, the higher the thermal insulation of the product. For instance, R-16 is better than R-12.

Conclusion

As you can see, if you are looking for the cheapest style of garage door, there are a few things to keep in mind. From choosing the right material to ensuring it’s properly insulated, following these tips can help you get the best door for your budget, and help reduce long-term costs. 

If you are interested in garage door prices for some of the different models we have mentioned, contact a garage door specialist at Canadoor Garage Doors today. We have a wide range of products to choose from, and our team would be happy to help you find the perfect one for your home. 

About Canadoor Garage Doors

Canadoor Garage Doors specializes in residential garage door installations in Barrie. Since 2009, our reputation has been built on superior quality garage door system installation and reliable service repairs. No project is too big or too small for our technicians. We provide complete residential overhead door solutions, including garage doors, openers, springs, cables, and additional hardware.