When people research a purchase they are planning to make, they will compare brands to make sure they are getting the best deal.  This is especially true if the purchase is for a large dollar amount.  Garage doors would fall into that category and it is important to know what you are buying before you spend the money.

Cost

The first thing that almost everyone looks at is the price of what they are buying.  Garage doors can run into hundreds or even thousands of dollars, depending on what you buy.  Make sure you compare prices on the same product.  Single panels will be cheaper than two layers, and three layers will be the most expensive.  

You will find that Clopay is comparable to Wayne Dalton garage doors in pricing.  Raynor Relente is higher in price for a similar door.  Chi products are similar in price but have a lower R-rating for insulation.  Wayne Dalton is right in the middle of garage door companies when it comes to price.  They aren’t the most expensive, but they aren’t your cheapest choice either.

Warranty

Another important consideration is the warranty that comes with the product because it is an indicator of how long it is expected to last.  Wayne Dalton has ten year warranties on many of their products and the premium doors have a lifetime guarantee.

Raynore has different warranties on their products.  Some are guaranteed for three or five years and others are for as long as you own your home.  Clopay has several different warranty times, depending on the part of the door.  The paint is guaranteed for ten years, but hardware and springs are for three or five years.

Styles and Materials

You will want to have a variety of options if you are not sure what you want to purchase.  Wayne Dalton has several models in their premium, select and basic collections.  The basic collection is the most economical and has wood and steel as the door materials.  The select collection also uses steel, vinyl, and wood.  The premium models contain wood doors and fiberglass.  

Other brands have similar choices.  Clopay has cheaper options as well as the more expensive choices.  You can choose from wood, steel, and aluminum materials.  Raynor has numerous style choices in wood, steel, or aluminum.

You can choose the kinds of windows and hardware you want.  You will also want to consider the garage door opener.  Wayne Dalton works with Genie door openers, while Raynor has their own brand with several different options.

Another consideration is installation.  If you want your doors professionally installed, which is recommended by most manufacturers, you will want to find a company to buy your doors from.  If you buy the doors online, you may end up installing them yourself or finding your own installers.  You can look for a dealer or learn more about Wayne Dalton Garage doors by visiting the Wayne Dalton website.

It is important to compare companies to know what kind of product you are getting, especially when you are spending hundreds of dollars.  After all, you will have to live with your choice for several years.

Ever seen a screen for a garage door?  My neighbor loves this!  He spends a lot of time in his garage on warm summer nights and he likes to keep the bugs out.  See the image below on the right for more details. 

The other image below (left) is just a really nice example of a classy-looking design for a rather inexpensive price.