Pros and Cons of Steel and Vinyl Garage Doors

Steel

The Good:

• Steel has a sleek look that is easy to maintain as steel garage doors are very easy to clean and keep up.
• There are numerous options available when it comes to the style of steel garage doors. Many sizes and aesthetic styles reside in the realm of steel garage doors.
• Maintenance is a breeze with steel doors. Extreme temperatures don’t damage them and they don’t peel, split or splinter like organic materials can do.

The Bad:

• Denting is possible with still garage doors and it can happen pretty easily.
• Steel doors offer poor insulation from the outside elements. They are thin and need to have dedicated insulation installed in order to offset this trait.

Vinyl

The Good:

• Vinyl is very cost effective, especially for how durable and long lasting the material is.
• Vinyl is also very convenient when it comes to maintain your garage door. Vinyl is made from a composite of different materials and the composite is all the same color which means color touch ups will not be necessary. Vinyl also cannot rust.
• Vinyl is a very durable material that is resistant to splitting and splintering. When it comes to weather resistance Vinyl is very durable and can withstand extreme temperatures on both the hot and cold ends of the temperature spectrum. Coats can be applied to prevent the color from fading over time.

The Bad:

• Vinyl garage doors lack insulation and are not going to do a good job of keeping your garage insulated without a dedicated insulation installation.
• Once you have chosen a color for your vinyl, you are stuck with that color for the lifetime of the garage door. Painting the doors can be tough as the old color can show through or alter the finished look of the new coat so much that the door won’t match the color of the rest of your house.