A good garage door is a one time investment and can stay intact for a lot of years, or even a lifetime if you care for it properly. So it is a good idea to take some time out and know a few things before buying a new garage door!

Here are 5 things you should know before going to the store and getting a new garage door.

1. Talk person-to-person before buying.

Ordering a garage door over the phone or online can prove to be troublesome. Every garage is a bit different, so also you will need to check details like its opening size and shape, headroom and side clearance, and also the design.

If you order a door on the phone or online, then you do not have anyone to hold accountable in case it's not a good fit. So, make sure that you get a reliable garage doors expert to come down to your house and give you an honest advice about whether you need a new door or not.

2. Explore the alternatives to wooden doors.

Real and genuine wooden doors are amazing, but only when they are brand new. When they get old, they start losing their charm and need to be recoated often. But don't worry, the good news is that, you can now get the look & feel of wood at a much affordable cost and can also avoid the hassle of the maintenance as well.

The most affordable alternative to wooden doors is embossed steel with a faux wood-grain finish. These doors look similar to wooden doors but are much lighter and easier to maintain. You can also consider a garage door with a wood composite overlay or a fiberglass skin. Composites offer the look of real wood with the longevity and stability of plastic when you shop for the garage doors.

3. Update the door insulation.

If you are looking to buy an insulated door to save energy or keep your garage warm, then it is worth spending up to15 to 20 percent more to upgrade from extruded polystyrene to a more durable polyurethane insulation. The effectiveness of insulating a garage door is its total R-value. The larger the number, the better insulation your door will have. According to Clopay, upgrading from 2-in. polystyrene increases the insulating value from R-9 to R-18.

4. Spend a bit more on good quality springs.

Springs help your garage door to go up and come down easily. Today, most garage doors utilize torsion springs. But if you spend some more bucks, then you can better quality springs that will save a good amount of maintenance later.

5. Buy a new opener right away.

The same service person who will install your new garage door can also install a new garage door opener. So fixing or replacing it together along with the door will help you save money.

You can also negotiate with the vendor to give you a reasonable quote for both the services.

United Garage Door Repair is a trusted service provider based in St Louis specializing in all types of garage door repair. So whether you are looking for garage door repair, broken spring repair or garage door installation, all you have to do is give a call and we'll be there soon!