Composite Overlay Garage Doors

Whether it’s windows, siding, decking or garage doors, exterior products that look like real wood but require less upkeep have overtaken the field. Couple that with homeowners’ desire to use a mix of natural organic materials to add warmth and texture to their exteriors, and it’s no surprise that contemporary wood look garage doors are a leading choice when it’s time to build or replace.

Faux wood garage doors offer beauty and functionality, along with many practical benefits. The doors mimic the charm and beauty of real wood while providing superior durability and less maintenance. Unlike natural material, faux wood garage doors resist rotting, warping, and cracking, making them ideal to withstand various climates without compromising their appearance. And, they can be factory-finished to match your exterior, eliminating the worry of regular sanding and refinishing associated with wood.

Whatever your home style, modern faux wood garage doors are a stylish, customizable, high-performance garage door option.

What is a Faux Wood Garage Door?

A faux wood garage door is designed to mimic the look and feel of real wood. Clopay offers faux wood doors constructed in steel or composite. Steel doors feature a stained wood-look paint finish imprinted on the surface. Composite doors are molded from durable materials like polyurethane or resins to replicate the natural grain and surface texture of natural wood.

Both steel and composite doors are easier to maintain than wood, will perform better, and will last longer. They are available in a variety of designs and paint or stain colors, so you can easily find a door to match your home’s architecture.

This article focuses specifically on the benefits of faux wood composite garage doors. Read our benefits of steel buying guide to learn more about that type of modern wood-look garage door.

What are the Benefits of a Faux Wood Garage Door?

Faux wood composite garage doors offer several benefits compared to authentic wood doors:

Weather Resistant Materials: Modern faux wood garage doors are engineered to withstand exposure to moisture, humidity, UV rays, and termites. Unlike real wood, which is susceptible to damage from the elements, a faux wood door will maintain its appearance and functionality over time, even in harsh weather conditions.

Insulation: Faux wood doors are usually constructed with a polyurethane insulated steel core. Composite cladding and/or overlays are adhered to the steel base making the door 4- or 5-layers thick and providing the highest strength and R-values to keep your garage warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.

Less Upkeep: Unlike real wood doors that require regular painting, staining, and sealing to protect against weather damage and deterioration, contemporary wood look garage doors are relatively low maintenance. They generally only require occasional cleaning with soap and water to keep them looking their best.

Customization: Faux wood garage doors come in a wide range of designs, styles, and colors, allowing you to choose the option that best complements your home's architecture and personal aesthetic preferences. They can mimic the appearance of various wood species, from rustic Cedar to elegant Mahogany, providing versatility in design options.

Overall, faux wood garage doors offer the timeless beauty of wood with the added benefits of durability, energy efficiency, low maintenance, and design versatility, making them an attractive choice for both style and functionality.

Composite Wood vs Real Wood Garage Doors

Real wood garage doors have a one-of-a-kind character many people find appealing. They can be painted or stained to achieve a desired color and finish, and have the most design flexibility when it comes to customization options.

Composite garage doors are engineered to mimic the look of real wood and can closely resemble the appearance of various wood species and come in a range of styles.

Durability: Natural wood is inherently strong and durable. However, if the surface finish is compromised by moisture, termites or other damage, it can begin to deteriorate leading to rotting, warping and cracking. Composite garage doors are made from a combination of materials such as wood fibers, resins, or polyurethane, which makes them resistant to these issues. They also have an insulated steel core to increase strength and security.

Maintenance: Composite garage doors generally require less maintenance than real wood doors. They do not need to be stained or painted, and they are resistant to water. Real wood doors may need to be refinished every few years to maintain their appearance and protect them from the elements.

Cost: Composite doors are comparable in cost to a real wood door. Keep in mind, with faux wood, you’ll enjoy years of savings on sanding, painting and staining.

Environmental Impact: Both composite and natural wood doors have eco-friendly attributes. Composite doors are made from recycled materials, and since they require less upkeep, it can result in fewer repairs and replacements long term. Clopay sources wood from naturally fallen trees and sustainably managed forests. A properly maintained wood door is equally long-lasting.

Energy Efficiency: Wood and faux wood composite doors are available with added insulation. Steel and composite doors are constructed with a three-layer steel door insulated with polystyrene or polyurethane insulation offering R-values that range up to 20.4.

The choice between composite and real wood garage doors depends on individual preferences, budget considerations, and aesthetic preferences, durability, maintenance, and energy efficiency. Both types of doors have their own unique advantages and can enhance the curb appeal and functionality of a home.

Does a Faux Wood Garage Door Look Like Real Wood?

Low-maintenance is the mantra of most homeowners. But you want a quality product that looks realistic and high-end, especially when it’s emulating natural wood. A faux wood composite garage door can fool the most discerning eye when it comes to replicating the look and feel of real wood.

Clopay’s Canyon Ridge® line is made from a durable, moisture-resistant polyurethane composite molded from natural wood pieces to replicate the texture variations and characteristics of different wood species including Clear Cypress, Mahogany or Pecky Cypress. Like wood, it can be painted or stained.

It comes in a number of styles including traditional carriage house styles, decorative models with louver and chevron designs, and modern options with Mid-Century appeal.

The Reserve® Wood Extira line is an eco-friendly wood composite that is moisture, rot and termite resistant. Extira carves, routs and fastens just like natural wood, giving you the freedom to create custom detailed designs. The density of the substrate makes it easy to incorporate deep V-groove patterns with defined edges, as well as custom radius arches, for a look that isn’t possible with molded material.

Extira has as a completely smooth surface free of knots and voids often seen in wood. Because of this it is designated a paint grade material and cannot be stained.

How to Match Your Faux Wood Door to Your Home

Faux wood composite garage doors offer a wide range of customization options, including various colors, stains, and finishes to match your home.

Style options include faux wood modern doors that feature key elements of contemporary architecture: clean horizontal lines with mid-century appeal, sleek windows, and metallic accents.

Time-tested carriage-house doors come in 15 different styles that can be customized with windows and decorative hardware to make your home stand out.

The Canyon Ridge Louver series is a versatile option for many homes. A coastal beach house is an obvious fit. Depending on the design you choose, a Louver door works on a modern farmhouse as well as transitional, contemporary and colonial exteriors.

The Chevron motif, a longtime favorite in textiles and flooring, comes in four distinct garage door patterns to bring timeless decorative appeal to your home.

Browse these options and then use Clopay’s Door Imagination System to build your door and see it on a photo of your home.

See a color you like? Order free color samples so you can compare finishes to other exterior accents.

With their ability to closely mimic the warmth, texture, and visual appeal of real wood, faux wood composite garage doors provide an attractive alternative for homeowners who appreciate the beauty of wood but prefer the durability and low-maintenance of modern materials. Contact a Clopay dealer near you for a quote.

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