Comparing Real Wood Garage Doors VS. Faux Wood Garage Doors

In this blog entry, the professional Charleston garage door installation team here at A1 Garage Door Charleston will detail the various pros and cons of real wood garage doors versus faux wood garage doors.

Real Wood Garage Door Pros

  • Aesthetic Appeal – Looks timeless and elegant, creating a rich, warm, and inviting environment. Has unique wood grain patterns and textures that make each wood garage door different
  • Customization Options – Allows for ar ange of style and design options. Wide variety of stains and finishes. Each wood / tree type makes wooden garage doors totally different, and can be found to complement the exterior of your home even without finishes or staining
  • Insulation – Provides natural insulation, making them an ideal choice for garages that need to keep cooled air or warmed air inside

Wood Garage Door Cons

  • Requires Maintenance – Wood garage doors require staining, refinishing, or painting to maintain quality appearance and stay protected against the weather. Without maintenance and care, wood can fade, warp, or rot
  • Weather Vulnerability – Intense weather, humidity, or rain can damage real wood, especially when wood garage doors don’t receive staining, sealing, and maintenance. If you’re installing a wooden garage door in an area with harsh weather, it’s good to have a budget set aside for garage door maintenance
  • Heaviness – Wooden garage doors are heavier than faux wood garage doors, that can strain garage door openers. It’s important to make sure that all garage door components are durable enough to support a wooden garage door
  • Price– Wooden garage doors are usually more expensive than faux wood garage doors, and will generally require more funds spent on maintenance

Faux Wood Garage Door Pros

  • Versatility– Available in a nearly infinite range of wood grain patterns, colors, and finishes. You can be sure to find the perfect faux wood garage door to complement the style and aesthetic of your property
  • Durability– Faux wood garage doors are less susceptible to humidity, moisture, and extreme weather than real wood garage doors
  • Less Required Maintenance– Faux wood garage doors won’t have to be regularly refinished, painted, or stained. Since faux wood garage door materials are highly resistant to warping or fading, they are an ideal option for garage owners who want to perform minimal maintenance over the years

Faux Garage Door Cons

  • Synthetic Appearance– If you’re a stickler for authenticity, faux wood garage doors look less authentic than real wood especially when inspected up close
  • Less Unique Character– Faux wood garage doors don’t have the unique and variable character that real wood has.. If you’re prioritizing aesthetics, real wood garage doors will be a better option, even if faux wood is more durable and requires less maintenance