Side hinged doors

Side hinged garage doors remain very popular and they are available in a range of different materials that include

• Timber
• GRP
• UPVC
• Steel

All of these materials offer differing levels of durability, impact resistance, weather resistance, ease of cleaning and appearance.

Most people consider the traditional timber door to have the best aesthetics, however it also requires the highest levels of maintenance - although it will last for many years if regularly painted or treated with preservative. Alternative materials require no regular maintenance.

Materials like UPVC and GRP can be purchased with a timber look to them and they normally benefit from being lighter in weight, even so nothing quite equals the organic appearance of a real timber garage door.

GRP, UPVC and steel all offer good durability and their designs normally incorporate a panelled appearance making it difficult to discern what they are made from without a close inspection. These doors have the advantage of size stability, i.e. they do not expand and contract in the same way that a timber door will.

Cost and fitting

Prices vary dramatically based on design, finish, size and build quality, however steel doors tend to be the cheapest option, with timber typically slightly more and UPVC and GRP costing the most.

Generally UPVC, GRP and steel doors come with fixings or drilling points in place and this makes them slightly easier to hang than a timber door.