Garage Door Trim: Comparing Popular Materials

The overhead garage door is the single largest component of a home's exterior and has a significant impact on curb appeal which, in turn, affects the market value of a home. For that reason and more it's important to think carefully about the type of door you install and - just as importantly but often overlooked - the garage door trim. In this post, the team at A Better Garage Door will take you through the process of determining which type of trim is right for your Littleton home.

What is Garage Door Trim?

Garage door trim is like a frame for your garage door. Just as a painting would look pretty strange on the wall without a frame, the garage door will look pretty strange without garage door trim. The job of the garage door trim is to:

• Hide the gaps between the door and the exterior wall of the garage
• Protect the garage from rain, snow, wind and the like
• Help prevent warm air from leaking out of the garage and raising your energy bills
• Protect your car and other property from being stolen
• Complement the aesthetics of the door

Now that we have a better idea just what garage door trim is let's take a look at the different types of trim available.

Wood

Wood trim is the original type of garage door trim and it retains a high level of popularity today because of its traditional appeal. Oak, maple, and cedar are types of hardwood that are often used for garage door trim. Even a softwood like pine is occasionally used. Here are the pros and cons of wood trim:

Pros

• You can stain it or paint it
• It provides an undeniably timeless appeal
• Can be manipulated to create custom looks

Cons

• It's susceptible to damage from pests and weather
• It's one of the more costly trim alternatives
• You'll need to paint or stain it every few years

Wood material

Vinyl

Vinyl is a modern, affordable alternative to hardwood trim. This type of trim is fashioned from polyvinyl chloride and is impervious to pests and moisture damage. It's also available in a wide variety of colors. If you have vinyl siding on your house vinyl trim will fit right in.

Pros

• Besides the occasional cleaning, it requires very little maintenance
• It won't get damaged by incessant rain or heavy snow
• Compared to hardwood it's a lot more budget-friendly

Cons

• Extreme temperature shifts can cause it to expand and contract
• A sharp eye can tell the difference between wood and vinyl
• In time it may get brittle due to prolonged UV exposure

Vinyl material

Aluminum

Aluminum is another modern alternative to wood that resists corrosion and will usually last a long time. Aluminum trim is not for every home but if you're contemplating a metal garage door you'd do well to consider surrounding the door with aluminum trim.

Pros

• It's light but strong
• It doesn't require a lot of maintenance
• It resists corrosion, even in high-humidity environments

Cons

• It can be dented in a way wood cannot be
• The aesthetic appeal of aluminum is limited
• It's sometimes surprisingly expensive

Aluminum material

Composite

A lot of things these days are being made from composites including backyard decking and garage door trim. Composite is extremely durable and does a better job of resisting moisture damage, pests and weather than wood. You can also paint composite trim if you like which makes it even more versatile.

Pros

• Provides the appearance of genuine wood
• Does a better job than hardwood at resisting rot and pests
• You can paint it any color that you wish

Cons

• It's not the cheapest garage door trim option
• Over time UV sunlight can cause it to fade
• It sometimes requires special installation techniques

Wood composite material

To be sure there are other types of trim you can install during your garage door installation, but those listed above are by far the most popular types. The following video provides some additional information about composite wood.

Choosing the Right Trim

So which one of the above garage door trim types is right for your house? Here are some things to consider from our overhead garage door company pros.

Do you like the idea of contrasting colors?

If you have contrasting colors at work on other parts of your exterior you should probably consider applying that idea to the garage door and trim as well. Contrasting trim will create an eye-catching effect that will transform even an ordinary garage door design into something special that people appreciate strictly for its aesthetics.

Would you like something more involved?

If the exterior of your home has decorative flourishes, a plain garage door frame may look out of place. To bring it in line with the rest of the house consider installing moldings. Moldings can take myriad forms and echo the type of door frames that were popular in homes built prior to about 1970. Moldings provide a sense of richness without being garish and harken back to bygone eras without being bound to the past.

Conclusion

The garage door trim often gets overlooked when people are trying to determine how they should paint their garage door or what type of garage door they want to install. But this is a mistake. The trim plays a huge role in determining how the door appears to passersby, affecting curb appeal and ultimately, the market value of a home.

The above information should help you make an informed decision regarding your garage door trim. So print it out and have it with you when you're outside weighing trim options. Or just bring this page up on your smartphone and refer to it as needed.

For Expert Garage Door Installation in Highlands Ranch Contact A Better Garage Door

For more than 25 years we've been providing expert garage door services to the people of Littleton and beyond. We handle everything including installation, repair and maintenance, and are here 24/7 if you have an emergency in the wee hours.

If you'd like some more information about garage door trim or you'd like to schedule garage door maintenance or installation give us a call on 303-920-2267.