Is your garage door looking a little worse for wear? Perhaps it’s time for an upgrade! A wooden garage door can make your home look amazing and provide you with years of reliable service. 

In this blog, we’ll discuss the many types of wooden garage doors to select from and a variety of wood species that may help you come up with ideas for your home.

Wooden Garage Door Styles 

No matter what style garage you have, warm up your exterior with the rich colour in any of these wooden garage door designs.

Traditional Solid Wood Paneled

Traditional wood-panelled garage doors are extremely common and easily recognizable. These doors are typically classic, symmetrically designed, and monochromatic. Window panels can be added to complete the look and add light to the garage. Wood-panelled doors can also be insulated to keep your garage warm during the chilly Canadian winter.

Carriage House Style Garage

A charming, country-classic look, carriage house garage doors are inspired by old houses from the horse-drawn carriage era. These doors offer a historic look, combined with the convenience of electrically-operated garage door openers. Available in wood and wood composite, they are insulated to enjoy four seasons of use.

Faux wood composite

Composite wood adds a similar aesthetic appeal to the exterior of your home, without some of the drawbacks of real wood. If you’re looking to enhance your home’s style without the yearly maintenance of treating and caring for the condition of your garage doors, composite is a great alternative.

Contemporary Wood Garage

Contemporary wood garage doors are clean and modern and are mainly chosen for their unique designs. Rather than the symmetrical rectangular design of traditional panel doors, contemporary-style garage doors feature asymmetrical patterns which look especially sleek in modern home designs. 

Wood Species and Materials

The type of wood you choose is a major factor in the longevity of your wooden garage doors. Selecting doors made from species of wood that are naturally resistant to moisture, helps to ensure your doors will endure a lifetime of use.

Does the wood species type for my garage door matter?

The short answer is yes, absolutely. Whenever you use wood in construction, it’s important to consider the species type and how and where it will be used. Since garage doors will be subjected to withstand years of environmental exposure — where moisture, pests, freezing and direct sunlight will be present — your choice of wood species will directly dictate the longevity of your garage door. 

Porous vs non-porous wood species

Hardwood, or porous wood, is the best choice for applications like garage doors.  A porous wood will be great at soaking up paints, primers, stains, lacquers and varnishes, but it will also be less likely to bend and warp over time than softwood. If you choose a good, porous hardwood, and have it sealed properly by experienced professionals, you’ll have a great-looking, fully functioning wooden door for years to come.

Redwood for Garage Doors

Redwood is a popular garage door wood because of its natural wood resistance to rot and pests. It’s a great option for regions with lots of moisture or for homeowners who want a door that’s easier to maintain than other wood materials. This, combined with the fantastic natural reds and whites of the wood, is also what makes it one of the most expensive garage door wood species.

Hemlock for Garage Doors

Hemlock is a good choice for garage doors because it’s both durable and inexpensive. Hemlock garage doors are also easy to maintain. You won’t have to worry about repainting or staining your garage door every year, which makes it a solid option for many homeowners. 

Cedar for Garage Doors

Cedar garage doors are a beautiful, durable, and low-maintenance option that will give your home curb appeal and last for years. They are also a popular choice because they are excellent insulators, keeping your garage cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. Cedar garage doors typically come in two colours, light and dark.

Hardboard for Garage Doors

Hardboard is a budget-friendly option for garage doors. They’re functional and economical, but they aren’t as durable as solid wood doors. They’re better indoors than outdoors, as they can be easily damaged by moisture, but can be a good choice if you’re looking for an inexpensive option.

Douglas Fir for Garage Doors

Douglas Fir is a good choice for a garage door for several reasons. It is one of the most abundant wood types in North America, so it is easy to find and usually very affordable. It is also a strong, stiff wood that can withstand a lot of wear and tear. Douglas fir is known to be highly durable while still working well with a wide variety of stains, paints, and finishes.

Okume for Garage Doors

Okume wood garage doors are beautiful and durable. Often used in shipbuilding due to its water-resistant properties, this hardwood is a great option for homeowners in moist climates or who just want a durable garage door material. If you’re looking for a garage door that will add curb appeal to your home, Okume is a great option. 

Conclusion

When choosing a new wooden garage door, it’s important to consider the different types of wood available. Each has its own benefits and drawbacks, so you’ll need to decide which is right for your home. If you need help imagining wooden garage door ideas for your home, we’re here to help. We offer a wide variety of wood species to choose from and years of experience helping homeowners imagine what’s possible for their homes. 

If you’re looking for more information on finding a new garage door for your home, check out the latest garage door trends for 2022.