Today's garage doors are stronger, more secure, better insulated and require less maintenance than older models. You will also find them in a greater choice of materials, styles, colors and window treatments. The first thing you need to do is to select a material--steel, wood or plastic. They each have their pros and cons. The next step is to choose the type of insulation you want and the style, color and type of windows. Again, you have a variety from which to pick. The next items in line to help you select the garage door that is right for you are the actual costs and safety features, some of which include a  "finger-saving" feature. The next items to consider when making your garage door selection are hardware and installation. The right hardware must be used and you should not mix and match parts because you can run the risk of incompatibility, safety issues and void the warranty. If you hire a professional, they can do it in about 3 hours and haul the old door away. If you do it yourself, you're going to need at least one helper and it is going to take you from about 8 to 12 hours. Since your garage door can make up to about 30 percent of the front exterior of your home, choosing the right garage door is very important to the type of curb appeal you wish to project.

Blog inspired by article written by Leslie Plummer Clagett and featured on thisoldhouse.com and can be seen here:  http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/article/0,,219448,00.html