wood garage doors? (Austin, Willis, Fate: new house, contractor, upkeep)

[2austin]

Thought I can use some advice from you folks.

We are building a house and the builder is asking $4600 to upgrade our 3 (2+1) garage doors to wood.

Is this a fair price? Can we get it done cheaper hiring an outside contractor? What other issues have you seen with wood garage doors in Austin weather?

Thanks!

[texasdreamin]

Mine warped. I had it replaced with a double door steel, at the cost of $2k.

[Trainwreck20]

Wood garage doors are

• More expensive
• Heavier (so you need a heavier assist mechanism)
• Will eventually rot out somewhere (usually the bottom)
• Need painting

I replaced mine with a metal door and would not go back. You can get insulated steel doors, as well, that help keep the garage cooler (about the only good thing about wood doors is their insulation)

[DarleneMontgomery]

You can always get it done cheaper outside the builder. Their mark-up is ridiculous!

[Sandy Willis]

Yes, real wood garage door is a pain to maintain. You have to constantly upkeep to prevent the elements from destroying it. To begin with, real wood doors are pricey. Because of exposure to the sun, rain and big changes in outdoor temperatures, real wood doors will be problematic in a short time. The key is making sure the doors are properly sealed (caulked) and varnished with a good UV coating/sealant. But this is a big chore. I have to recoat my wood door every 9 months. For my new house, I chose Fatezzi wood garage doors (Faux Wood Custom Carriage House Garage Doors). I think this is the best option for folks wanting the look of real wood garage door but not the price and maintenance headaches of real wood doors. They are made of synthetic material which will not shrink, crack or rot.

[springbean]

Originally Posted by Sandy Willis

Yes, real wood garage door is a pain to maintain. You have to constantly upkeep to prevent the elements from destroying it. To begin with, real wood doors are pricey. Because of exposure to the sun, rain and big changes in outdoor temperatures, real wood doors will be problematic in a short time. The key is making sure the doors are properly sealed (caulked) and varnished with a good UV coating/sealant. But this is a big chore. I have to recoat my wood door every 9 months. For my new house, I chose Fatezzi wood garage doors (Faux Wood Custom Carriage House Garage Doors). I think this is the best option for folks wanting the look of real wood garage door but not the price and maintenance headaches of real wood doors. They are made of synthetic material which will not shrink, crack or rot.

Where do they sell these locally? I need a double and a single door and love the Fatezzi doors. Do you mind me asking what you paid for yours?