
Embarking on a new build or remodel presents an exciting opportunity to tailor every aspect of your home to your personal tastes and lifestyle. One element that often becomes a focal point of such projects is the garage door. In my journey, the allure of real wood garage doors was undeniable. They exude a unique charm and sophistication that can transform the exterior of any home.
The Dream of Real Wood Garage Doors
Like many homeowners, I was captivated by the idea of installing real wood garage doors. The natural beauty and elegance of wood have a timeless appeal that is difficult to replicate. Envisioning these doors as part of our modern cottage-style home, which blends old-world charm with clean, contemporary lines, seemed like the perfect choice.
However, every design decision should be weighed carefully, and in hindsight, more thorough planning might have been prudent. While the dream of wood garage doors is enchanting, practical considerations cannot be ignored.

Choosing an Alternative: The Clopay Canyon Ridge Collection
Despite the initial inclination towards real wood, we ultimately opted for a high-quality alternative from Clopay’s Canyon Ridge Collection. These doors beautifully mimic the carriage house design, offering an authentic, warm aesthetic that complements our home’s modern cottage vibe.
The decision to go for faux wood was driven by several factors, primarily maintenance and cost. Real wood, while stunning, requires significant upkeep and can be expensive. The faux wood doors, on the other hand, provide a similar visual appeal with less maintenance and a more affordable price point.
Understanding the Pros and Cons of Wood Garage Doors
Before settling on a garage door material, it’s crucial to understand the pros and cons of each option. Wood garage doors, while visually striking, come with challenges:
- Maintenance: Wood is susceptible to weathering and requires regular maintenance to retain its appearance.
- Cost: Real wood doors are generally more expensive than their synthetic counterparts.
- Weight: Wood doors are heavy and may require a more powerful garage door opener.
In contrast, alternatives like faux wood or painted steel offer durability and ease of maintenance, often at a lower cost.

Energy Efficiency: A Key Consideration
A garage door’s aesthetic appeal is important, but so is its functionality, particularly regarding energy efficiency. The R-value of a door indicates its insulating properties – the higher the R-value, the better its insulation. This is a vital factor to consider, especially in regions with extreme temperatures.
Our Clopay doors, for instance, feature 2″ polyurethane insulation, resulting in a significant R-value of 20.4, keeping our garage comfortably warm in colder weather.
The Importance of Research: Warranty and Reviews
Thorough research is essential when choosing a garage door. Read reviews to gauge the product’s performance and ensure it comes with a warranty. A standard five-year warranty is common, but specifics can vary.

Utilizing Tools for Visualization
Clopay’s Door Imagination System was a valuable tool in our decision-making process. This online resource allows homeowners to upload a photo of their house and see how various door styles look, aiding in making an informed choice.
Conclusion: A Cohesive Exterior Design
In conclusion, while the allure of wood garage doors is undeniable, it’s important to consider maintenance, cost, energy efficiency, and how they’ll complement your home’s overall aesthetic. Our experience taught us the importance of balancing these factors to achieve a cohesive exterior design that aligns with both our vision and practical needs.
17 Comments
Great read!
April 14, 2020 at 1:36 amGlad you enjoyed it!
April 14, 2020 at 1:51 amThanks for all your help. We are currently building and about to choose garage doors. You just answered a boat load of my questions. I’m definitely going with Iron ore painted doors, but I will be checking out that website to load pic of our house. Thank You!
April 14, 2020 at 8:48 pmThat’s great. So glad we could help you with your decisions!
April 18, 2020 at 4:09 pmI love the walnut garage doors. I don’t feel like they clash and go great with the light fixtures. Maybe the clashing doesn’t translate in the photo. I think it’s perfect.
April 16, 2020 at 3:33 amHi Brandy. Thanks for the feedback. I think we’re going to leave them as is for a while, and then see if we still want to paint them.
April 18, 2020 at 4:10 pmI don’t think they look bad enough to paint. I wouldn’t paint them. They actually go well with the color of the mulch in the garden. 😀
April 16, 2020 at 3:45 pmThat’s true. They do match the mulch dont they. 🙂
April 18, 2020 at 4:12 pmIs that the mahogany finish or cypress?
August 6, 2020 at 8:49 pmWhat is your exterior white paint?
September 14, 2020 at 1:19 amHow beautiful! I’m about to order two for our new home and would love to have this very exact door! Is this the 4 layer or 5 layer door?
September 22, 2020 at 5:06 pmI am thinking of the slate color? Not sure if the wood colors will look real enough, but yours look amazing!
October 6, 2020 at 1:50 amWhat finish was yours?
Hi there! These doors are gorgeous. May I ask what finish option you chose?
October 12, 2020 at 5:51 pmHi there!
We just bought a white house with brown garage doors. They’re definitely not wood, but does have some sort of coating in them. Do you know if they would be paintable?
November 22, 2020 at 10:52 amThis looks like an older post but very helpful. I currently have real wood doors that require far too much maintenance so I am planning to change to a non-wood door but I am concerned about the look. These doors look great. Please let me know the finish of the doors that you used in this photo. Also, what is the paint color used on this house? I think all of these finishes work really well together.
April 14, 2022 at 1:03 pmLove the look of these garage doors, your home is beautiful! can you tell me what material blend you went with? Clear or pecky, cypress, mahogany etc??
April 21, 2022 at 2:41 pmThank you!
These doors are beautiful. We are also building a home that looks similar to that one and are very inspired by the choice of garage door. Thanks for sharing!
June 1, 2022 at 7:43 pm