Wood Garage Doors

Enhance timeless elegance with handcrafted wood garage doors, combining natural beauty with custom designs and robust materials for unique character, lasting durability, and distinct curb appeal.

By: Jared Macarin | Published: May 8, 2025

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Strong. Durable. Good looking. Not sure what you’re thinking when you read those three descriptions, but we’re talking wood garage doors here, folks, and they are the standard for the majority of homeowners.

Real wood garage doors come in many styles and be customized to fit your wishes, but they come at a cost you must be willing to invest in to get the most out of. In this guide, we’ll look at the various advantages and drawbacks of wood garage doors so you can make the best decision for your home.

If you’re considering a new garage door, Garage.com can connect you with top-rated companies willing to get into the details about what you want and need to make the most-informed choice.

The Timeless Appeal of Real Wood Garage Doors

In terms of aesthetics for a home, a wood garage door is up there among the most desired. They are classic, timeless and unique – with the ability to be customized in so many fashions to fit many homes. 

Architectural Compatibility and Design Impact

Wood garage doors are very popular because of the ability to customize them in various ways. They look great as panels, with windows or in a carriage-style garage door. They can be finished and painted in numerous colors and have a natural insulation that can be enhanced if you live in a more extreme climate.

The Natural Beauty of Wood Grain and Texture

The natural grains of a real wood garage door cannot be duplicated, but technology is doing its best to try. Faux wood garage doors that closely resemble the look of a traditional wood garage door are becoming more fashionable. 

Both real wood garage doors and their imitators have their own benefits and drawbacks, but in terms of look, nothing beats real natural wood grains.

Types of Wood Used for Premium Garage Doors

When we say wood garage doors, that is a very general term. In reality, choosing a ‘real wood garage door’ is just step one in the decision-making process. The next step is deciding what type of wood to use for your garage door, and this choice will help determine the next steps in addition to how much your door could cost.

Cedar is one of the go-to choices for a wood garage door, and it’s mainly for three very good reasons: It’s strong and resistant to both moisture and insects. When you have an exterior wall that accounts for as big a space as a garage door does, those are compelling enough to push cedar to the top of the list.

One of the top-end choices of wood is mahogany, and it can be considered worth the price because of its strength, durability and resistance to sagging, warping or splitting. Cypress, knotty alder, walnut and redwood are some other options that homeowners lean toward because of their properties and look.

Wood Garage Door Construction and Design Options

Real wood garage doors are highly sought-after, but they aren’t always in everyone’s budget. If that is the case, there are options to get that wood-like look for less. 

Solid Wood vs. Wood-Faced Construction

Both real wood garage doors, and their faux wood counterparts, have benefits and drawbacks to consider when choosing your next garage door.

Real woodFaux wood
Pro: Made of different pieces of wood depending on the homeowner’s preferencePro: Made of different material (steel, aluminum, vinyl) with a finish to mimic wood grain
Pro: Naturally insulated to a degree, but might need upgrade depending on your climatePro: Usually more affordable than real wood
Pro: Curb appeal with natural wood lookPro: Less maintenance
Con: Tend to run higher in costCon: Not much insulation, so less energy efficient unless you upgrade your materials
Con: More maintenance and upkeepCon:  Look great, but it is synthetic so not the same as real wood

Custom Wood Garage Door Features and Embellishments

Wood garage doors allow homeowners to dream big when it comes to the final look of them. Do you want to add some embellishments, or maybe some windows? Both can be done as wood doors are very easy to customize.

Decorative Hardware and Accent Options

Add decorative hardware or trim overlays to your wood garage door. These are especially popular with a carriage house-style wood garage door and the options are numerous.

Window Inserts and Glass Options

If nice trim isn’t your thing, and you’d like to add some flair and some natural light to the interior, then insert some windows. They can be done in a horizontal or vertical stripe and in various sizes.

Maintaining the Beauty of Wood Garage Doors

Real wood garage doors are beautiful and can last many years. However, they do require more maintenance and up-keep than other materials such as steel or faux wood. 

Seasonal Care and Regular Maintenance Schedule

Like any other garage door, it is recommended to schedule a tune-up at least once a year to make sure all of the components are functioning properly. 

Because a wood garage door is more susceptible to warp, rot and mildew, visual inspections are essential to make sure your door is also looking its best.

Addressing Common Wood Door Challenges

Most wood garage doors are stained or finished to help ease the impact of the weather. Wood can become warped with extreme temperatures. It’s also crucial to perform regular visual checks for chipped sections that would allow moisture into the untreated wood.

Investment Value: Cost and ROI of Wood Garage Doors

Every homeowner wants to know financial investments into their home are going to pay off. A wood garage door brings a lot of value to a home with its natural curb appeal. With regular service, it can also last many years and repairs cost about the same as other types of doors.

Understanding Premium Wood Door Pricing

Like any other garage door, how much a wood garage door costs is a result of numerous factors (type of wood, insulation, customizations). A wood garage door, for a single car, can cost anywhere from about $1,000 up to approximately $6,000.

Impact on Home Value and Market Appeal

According to Zonda Media’s 2023 Cost vs. Value report, homeowners who replace their garage doors see a nearly 103% return on investment. A new garage door enhances a home’s curb appeal, and therefore its market interest.

Frequently Asked Questions About Wood Garage Doors

A quality wood garage door can last anywhere from 15 to 30 years. This, of course, can be affected by the climate in which you live and the regular maintenance and upkeep you do on your door. Wooden doors, unlike other materials like steel or aluminum, are prone to warping or rotting over time.

Wood garage doors are inherently energy efficient because of wood’s natural insulating properties. You can also add insulation if you live in a colder climate.

This depends on the elements your garage door has been exposed to, but it is recommended to repaint or refinish your door every few years. Wood can show its age, and also be on the lookout for exposed wood that could introduce more moisture to the interior of the wood.

Yes, you can reface an existing garage door with wood. It is a unique way to get that natural look without as much cost as replacing the garage door in total. How much it costs depends on the wood you choose and other customizations like finish.

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