Living on the coast is a dream come true for many. When you own a home, it is important to consider how the climate impacts your property’s various aspects, including your garage door choice. Your garage door needs to be durable and reliable for several reasons — it is your home’s biggest entry point, so it must help secure and protect your home, insulate it for greater energy efficiency, provide privacy and add curb appeal to your property.
On the coast, there are also extra considerations to keep in mind because of the humid, salty air. This coastal garage door guide explores top considerations, including the best garage door materials for coastal homes. The guide also takes a look at coastal garage door styles and how to balance style with function.
Important Considerations for Garage Doors in Coastal Climates
Consider these tips for choosing a coastal home garage door that will last:
- Look for rust-resistant materials: The humid, salty air of a coastal climate can quickly cause materials to rust. Choose a garage door made from corrosion-resistant materials to withstand the conditions.
- Find a garage door with a high-quality finish: A high-quality finish provides an added barrier against salt, moisture and strong winds. A UV-resistant finish can also prevent paint and other coatings from fading and cracking, so your garage door retains its appearance for longer.
- Consider the correct R-value: The R-value measures how insulating garage doors are. It is important for making your home more energy-efficient, especially in coastal areas that experience a range of weather conditions throughout the seasons. A good R-value for coastal garage doors is R-12 to R-18. Doors in this range offer a fairly good amount of insulation and energy efficiency, as well as wind resistance and moisture protection.
- Look for wind-resistant features: Coastal regions generally experience high winds, so you need a garage door that can withstand the constant battering. Look for doors with a reinforced structure that includes bracing, heavy-duty hinges and rollers, a reinforced track and weatherstripping that helps seal your garage against wind.
What Garage Door Material Is Best for Coastal Homes?
A garage door for a coastal house must be weather-resistant and hold up against rust, corrosion and mold. Here are some of the best materials for coastal garage doors.
Aluminum
Aluminum is an excellent material for components around a coastal home. It has a low iron content, so it will not rust. It is also a lightweight material, which means the overall weight of the door places less strain on the garage door system’s other mechanisms. The lightweight construction can help other components last longer.
Despite the lightweight construction, aluminum has an excellent strength-to-weight ratio that can withstand strong winds. Additionally, aluminum is UV-resistant and does not fade or weaken with prolonged exposure to the sun. It is also moisture-resistant. Aluminum is a lower-maintenance material than steel and has a long lifespan, offering a good long-term value.
Steel With Protective Coatings
Steel offers superior strength and impact resistance to aluminum. It is an ideal choice for durable applications, but it has to be treated to be an effective option for coastal homes. Galvanized steel has been treated with a zinc coating to improve its corrosion resistance. Steel can also be coated with other anti-corrosive materials. The protective barrier allows you to have a durable, reinforced steel door and helps protect the steel from moisture and salt. Be sure to ask your garage door specialist for doors with a thick galvanized coating for your coastal home.
Composites and Other Materials
Composite materials like wood and urethane may suit coastal home garage doors. Wood composites use wood fibers but combine them with more durable materials to have a more weather-resistant, long-lasting door. Urethane, or faux wood, is similar to wood composite. You may also explore fiberglass and vinyl door options.
Which Garage Door Materials Are Hurricane Rated?
Exploring hurricane-rated garage doors is essential when you are in a coastal region that is prone to experiencing strong winds. Various materials provide a good level of wind and impact resistance, the best being steel, followed by aluminum, wood and urethane composite. Look for hurricane ratings on a garage door’s label, which will say whether or not it is “Impact and Cyclonic Rated.”
Style Considerations for Coastal Doors
Finding the right garage door style for your coastal home is as important as any other consideration. Your garage door is part of your property and one of the first elements you and your guests notice. With the right style, you can use your garage door to create a beautiful focal point for your property’s facade and add intrinsic value that you love and appreciate every time you pull up to your home.
Garage doors are available in a range of styles to suit your preferences. You can find garage doors in various finishes, shades and colors that complement a beach-style house. The best garage doors for beach homes are those that balance style with functionality and durability. You want good materials, coats of paint, and finishes that all last, especially in coastal conditions.
Tips you can keep in mind for aesthetically pleasing garage doors for coastal homes include:
- Choosing UV-resistant finishes to prevent rapid fading.
- Exploring lighter colors to hide salt residue and reflect heat.
- Experimenting with coastal-inspired palettes for the door’s accents, like blues, teals, sandy beiges and coral.
- Exploring garage doors with accents that are reminiscent of beach homes, like Mediterranean-inspired arches and decorative panels.
- Choosing composite garage doors with steel and a faux wood look for a natural beach style, while still enjoying durable, weather-resistant properties.
Get Quality Garage Doors and Services From Southeastern Garage Doors
A reliable garage door made with the right materials is an essential investment for coastal houses. The best types of garage doors for coastal area homes will have impact ratings and rust-resistant finishes that make your home more energy-efficient and last longer on the coast.
At Southeastern Garage Doors, we offer high-quality garage door products and outstanding garage door services. With over 100 years of combined experience in the garage door industry, you can rely on us to provide durable garage doors that can withstand coastal climates. We also offer garage door openers and professional garage door repairs for private homeowners and contractors across the Charleston Trident area.
Browse our products for coastal garage door ideas for South Carolina homes, and contact us at 843-747-6622 to discuss your garage door needs. You can also reach out online to request an estimate or request a service.
