If you’re looking for a garage door that adds the warm tones of wood to accent your exterior but you’re not sure where to start, you’ve come to the right place. Because that’s exactly where we were just a few months ago. If you’ve followed the journey of The Total Transformation House, you know that we’ve connected with local businesses to transform this home. Everything started with a vision from Fawn Renae Designs to give this overgrown English Tudor the fresh vibes that Claire and her family were looking for.

The only thing we knew before we got started on this process was that the current garage door wasn’t working properly; it had been installed several decades before and the company couldn’t even order parts for it anymore. It was that old! We wanted to find one that matched Fawn’s vision with the warm wooden tones to really stand out with the fresh coat of paint on the brick. We weren’t really sure what options we had available so we started researching. We learned that we could do the classic wooden garage door (with a hefty price tag) or we could do a steel garage door that’s stamped to look like wood. As with any decision, we found some pros and cons to each type of garage door and then we were able to make a decision that fit the inspiration from the design and fit the budget!

The benefits of wood garage doors

1. Their appearance is unmatched. A wood garage door adds craftsmanship and a timeless element.
2. They can have a gorgeous, rich color if you’re looking for a deep stain of the wood tone. We looked at some of these are they’re absolutely stunning.
3. The wood grain can show through which makes dents or stains less noticeable.

The disadvantages of wood garage doors

1. It needs to be painted or refinished every few years to protect it from the elements and keep it looking fresh.
2. A wooden garage door is custom-made and is more difficult to install. The production time takes longer so if you’re on a timeline, this is something to consider. Since the wooden doors are heavy, they often need more maintenance over the life of the door.
3. The insulation provided from a wooden garage door is lower than one made of steel. This was a big factor for us with the layout of this home.
4. Because solid wood can’t be produced as quickly as steel, it makes this a much more expensive option. This influenced our decision because we were transforming the whole look of the home and this was just one piece of the transformation. We didn’t want to blow our whole budget on one item. We were also on a timeline to get this one checked off the list so the family could start enjoying their home!

The benefits of a steel garage door

1. They’re much more affordable. We found that you can get the look of a wood door without actually spending the money to get real wood.
2. They’re low-maintenance and durable. While a wooden door requires regular maintenance to keep the finish looking its best, a steel door typically doesn’t need that extra attention.
3. Steel garage doors have better insulation.
4. The timeframe for installation is generally a quicker turn-around because they’re quicker to manufacture and easier to install.

The disadvantages of a steel garage door

1. Your choices are a bit more limited than with wooden doors. If you’re trying to match an existing garage door or front door, this may really come into play in your decision. For us, we weren’t trying to match anything other than using the design for inspiration.
2. A steel garage door can rust or dent.

What we chose

We connected with Hanna at Atlantic Door and Dock Systems in Hickory who helped us look at all the options she had available, what the installation time frame looked like, and the cost for each door we were interested in. For us, the steel garage door was the right fit for a few reasons:

Cost. This was a determining item for us with each decision we made throughout the transformation. We wanted quality products at an affordable price.

Aesthetic. We found that we were able to get the color and wood grain we were looking for in a steel door.

Durability. The homeowners have two small children and said they would rather spend their weekends traveling or hosting friends — not refinishing their garage door!

Insulation. Since the layout of this home has the garage adjacent to the family room, the homeowners knew they would be spending lots of time in that room and didn’t want to feel the cold creeping in during the winter months. 

Atlantic Doors: A Family Company

We connected with Atlantic Doors for this garage door selection and installation. We loved getting to know this family — when they say they’re family-owned, they aren’t kidding! Hanna was our rep who came to show us sample options and talk through the process with us. When it came time for installation, her uncle was one of the guys who made it happen, and her dad, the owner of the company, even stopped by to check out the work.

They’re located locally in Hickory and service the whole area with residential and commercial garage doors. We got to learn a little bit about their background and how their installation trucks represent their family. They have their logo on all their trucks but they’re all a different color to represent different schools their family cheers for. If a red one comes to your home? Go Wolfpack! If you see a blue one, it’s for the Tar Heels. How cool is that?

If you’re looking to update your garage door or have your current one serviced, we’d recommend chatting with Atlantic Doors. They’ll do a free in-home estimate so you can learn about the options for your house. From the day we placed the order, we were told to expect 12 weeks for delivery and installation but the entire project was completed in about 8 weeks!

Now that’s service!