Colorado's climate is tough on garage doors. Here's what actually matters when you're shopping for a new one — materials, insulation, wind rating, and style.
Between the hail, the UV, the wind, and the cold — Colorado is hard on garage doors. Here's how to pick one that'll hold up.
Buying a new garage door isn't something most people do very often, so it can feel overwhelming. There are a lot of options. Here's what we tell customers after installing doors in this climate for years.
Material is the big first decision. Steel is the most popular and for good reason — durable, low maintenance, tons of style options. Wood looks gorgeous but needs more upkeep in our dry, sunny climate (the UV is relentless up here). Aluminum is lightweight and modern-looking but doesn't insulate as well. Fiberglass resists dents but can crack when it gets really cold.
Insulation matters way more than most people think, especially if your garage is attached to the house. An uninsulated door is basically a giant hole in your home's thermal envelope. Polystyrene insulation gets you an R-6 to R-9. Polyurethane (the good stuff) gets you R-12 to R-18. If your garage is attached, we almost always recommend polyurethane — you'll feel the difference in your energy bills.