One of the most important things you have to decide when buying new garage doors is which material is right for you. There are many different types of materials that can be used in constructing a garage door, from wood to aluminum. The type of garage door material you select should be based on your budget, the amount of maintenance you are willing to do and how much wear and tear you expect your garage doors to receive.

Here are a few of the most common garage door materials to choose from:

Wood: Doors made from wood have typically been considered a “luxury” item, although composite woods and new manufacturing processes mean that it’s more affordable than ever to purchase a wood garage door. These doors are made from layers of cedar, redwood or fir. They can be pre-stained or finished after installation. Because they are wood, they are resistant to minor damage (like being hit with an errant basketball) but can require frequent refinishing.

Steel: Steel doors offer an affordable and lower maintenance option to wood doors. A garage door made with a dual layer of galvanized steel can be painted to match the look of your home. Since steel can rust and is susceptible to minor dings and scratches, you can add a fiberglass overlay to provide additional protection.

Aluminum: Because aluminum doors don’t rust, many people prefer them to steel, especially considering their initial low price of purchase. However, aluminum is more likely to receive dents and dings than thicker steel. If this is a concern, you can opt for more expensive aluminum doors that are made from thicker and more durable aluminum.

This guest post was written by Eto Doors, a leading retailer of residential and commercial doors. Eto Doors has a large selection of garage and home doors to choose from. See the collection and read Eto Doors reviews at www.etodoors.com.