Replacing your garage door can boost both the curbside appeal and market value of your Glendale, AZ home. A garage door replacement can also enhance building security, eliminate existing safety hazards, and reduce your monthly energy bills. As you flesh out your budget for this project, it’s important to know which factors will have the greatest impact on your spending. The following are five of them.
1. Garage Door Materials
On average, homeowners throughout the nation pay $1,200 for garage door replacement. While some consumers pay just over half of this, others spend more than four times this amount. Among the biggest factors driving these price differences is the type of materials used.
When selecting your next garage door, you can choose from options made from:
- Wood
- Composite wood
- Fiberglass
- Aluminum
- Steel
There are even garage doors made from vinyl or glass.
Wood doors give homes a sophisticated and classic look at a relatively modest price, but wood is far less resistant to the natural elements than its alternatives. Doors constructed from wood also require more maintenance than aluminum, fiberglass, composite, and steel.
Steel and aluminum doors are currently the most popular choices throughout the nation. These materials are tough, durable, and easy to care for. They’re also flexible and adaptable enough for meeting a diverse range of aesthetic goals. If you’re working with a modest budget, you’ll find a variety of eye-catching steel and aluminum garage doors at multiple price points.
Easily the most expensive of all garage door materials, faux wood or composite wood provides the same classic look of real wood doors without all the extra maintenance. However, high-end wood composites can cost several thousand dollars more than basic, real wood door designs.
2. The Size of Your Garage Door
Size also matters when it comes to budgeting for your garage door replacement. Due to increased labor and the need for additional materials, replacing a large door will invariably cost more than replacing a small one. For instance, if you have a single 8′ x 8′ garage door, you’ll probably pay several hundreds of dollars less to replace it than you would if replacing a door measuring 8′ x 16′.
3. The Type and Number of Doors Installed
Not every home has a single roll-up or tilt-up entrance at its garage. Many properties have two, equally sized garage doors, and some larger homes have three. Fortunately, replacing more than one door at once could qualify you for discounts on either labor or materials. Even when it does not, it will give you the benefit of giving the exterior of your home a seamless and perfectly polished look.
There are many garage door styles available. In addition to roll-up and tilt-up options, there are side-rolling doors, bi-folding and tri-folding doors, and swinging garage doors with side-hinges. The most popular options throughout the United States are sectional garage doors, and like steel and aluminum products, you can find head-turning sectionals at multiple price points.
Not only are your project costs impacted by the size and type of door you choose, but they’re also affected by the type of door you already have in place. For instance, if you currently have a basic roll-up door but want a rolling, side-to-side barn-style door instead, you must account for the costs of any necessary building and hardware modifications.
4. The Amount of Labor Required
Well-made garage doors can last between 15 and 30 years. If they’re regularly and properly maintained, some may even last for up to four decades. If you’re replacing a garage door that is only now nearing the end of its lifespan, you can look forward to modest, manageable replacement costs. However, if this structure has already finished its service life and has severe structural or functional damage that’s impacting other building features, get ready to spend much more. This is also true for garage door replacements involving doors and building materials that have been damaged by carelessly parked cars or other impact events.
5. Your Preferred Door Opener
Be sure to factor the costs of installing a new garage door opener into your budget, too. Keep in mind that having an extremely noisy opener is guaranteed to cause frustration. Not surprisingly, noise levels play a major hand in determining how much garage door openers cost. The quieter that your next door opener is, the more you can expect to pay.
Garage door openers with chain drives are metal-on-metal systems that produce loud grinding and clanking sounds when opening and closing. Pricier options are belt-driven instead. Although they don’t offer whisper-quiet operation, they’re far less disruptive. However, if you choose a chain-driven opener due to budget constraints, you can get a fair amount of soundproofing by selecting an option with insulated housing.
With over 13 years of industry experience, we proudly serve Glendale, AZ and the surrounding communities. We offer an expansive selection of residential and commercial garage doors and door openers. We also provide gate repair services and cutting-edge EV charging stations. To get answers to your questions about garage door replacement or to schedule an appointment, contact AAA Garage Door and Gates today!
