Whether you’re planning on replacing your old garage door or installing a new one for the first time, you’re in for quite a challenging task. It’s a crucial piece of equipment for your home that can help you keep it secure and energy-efficient. With so many brands and models, it’s not easy to make the right choice. After all, it’s an important and quite expensive investment.
When it comes to installing a garage door, there are many factors that contribute to the final price, and in a moment, we’ll go over each one of them. Hopefully, you’ll learn what contributes to the garage door installation cost, and this information will help you make a decision. Without any further ado, let’s jump right into it!
One-Car Door or a Two-Car Door
Starting from the size, it’s no surprise that you’ll have to pay more for larger doors. The two most popular sizes are 8 x 7 (a one-car or a single-car door) or 16 x 7 (a two-car or a double-car door). In the case of a standard one-car door, you’ll pay from $500 to $800. As for the latter, prices vary from around $800 to $1,500. Experts from A1 Garage also point out that you can end up paying a couple of thousand dollars for high-end, customized garage doors.
Garage Door Material
Garage doors are available in many different materials, which is going to influence their cost. Here are some of the most popular options:
- Wood garage doors. Beautiful, yet expensive and high-maintenance, their pricing ranges from $500 to $1,230.
- Faux wood doors. Made of steel covered with polymer material, they’re more resistant to adverse weather conditions such as rain or snow than wooden garage doors. They cost from $800 to $2,000.
- Aluminum doors. Lightweight, modern, and rust-proof, but not entirely energy-efficient, their prices range from $510 to $1,400.
- Fiberglass doors. They usually come attached to a steel frame and are filled with insulation, which makes them lightweight and quiet. However, they can break when hit or brittle when exposed to low temperatures. Their pricing ranges from $870 to $1,500.
- Steel doors. Heavy but durable, low-maintenance, and resistant to cold weather, steel garage doors run at a price range of $260 – $3,170.
- Vinyl doors. Lightweight and damage-resistant but often uninsulated, they cost from $850 to $2,000.
Additional Features
Besides the factors that will generate the vast majority of all the costs, you can invest more money if you want to make your garage door more secure, energy-efficient, and convenient to use. Consider looking into these additional features:
- Garage door openers. Let’s face it: nobody wants to open their garage doors manually anymore. Garage door openers make the job ever so convenient, and if you buy a smart model, you can take full control over the whole process via an app. Depending on the brand, type, and features, as well as labor fees for installation, prices may vary from $150 up to $800.
- Insulation. If you want your garage to be energy-efficient and avoid high electricity bills due to heat loss, you need to make sure your garage doors are insulated, for which you’ll pay between $200 and $300.
- Garage door screen. For increased security, better airflow, and an additional barrier against pests and dirt, you could consider installing a garage door screen. The price is affected by the type and the size of the screen, and it will vary from a little over $120 up to $1,200.
DIY vs. Hiring a Professional
You may be tempted to save money and try to install your new garage door on your own. If you like DIY projects and are on a more crafty side, go for it! Keep in mind, though, that it will take at least a couple of hours, and you’ll need to have all the parts and tools at hand.
If you think you have no time and want to get things done quickly and professionally, consider hiring an expert. You’ll have to pay them for their labor, but you can be sure your new door will work properly and safely. What’s more, the service price often includes cleaning up the area and disposing of your old garage door.
The Bottom Line
Installing a new garage door or replacing your old one is no easy task. It requires lots of planning and research. After all, there are so many factors that determine the standard and functionality of your garage door that you shouldn’t rush with your decision.
As you can see, it’s also an investment that can be quite expensive. When it comes to garage doors, the price you pay translates to the overall quality of your product. As such, if you want additional features and the best materials, you need to be prepared to pay more.
Don’t worry if your budget is limited, though. The garage door market is highly competitive, so you can expect to find good quality products at reasonable prices. With just a bit of effort and smart planning, you can make an informed decision and be completely satisfied with your choice.