How to Choose a New Garage Door: Materials, Styles & Insulation
A new garage door is one of the highest-return upgrades you can make to a home — and it is the largest moving object in the house. Choosing well comes down to four decisions: material, insulation, style, and who installs it. Here is how to get each one right.
To choose a new garage door, decide on four things: material (steel is the best all-round value for London), insulation (look for an R-value of 12–18 if the garage is attached or heated), style (so it suits your home), and a professional installer. Most quality insulated steel doors, installed, run $1,400–$3,500 in London depending on size and options.
Step 1: Choose the right material
Material sets the price, the look, the maintenance, and how the door handles a London winter. Four are common:
Steel — the all-round winner
Steel is the most popular choice in Ontario for good reason: it is durable, low-maintenance, available insulated, and affordable. Modern steel doors come with factory finishes and even faux-woodgrain textures. For most London homes, an insulated steel door is the sweet spot.
Aluminum & glass — modern and light
Full-view aluminum-and-glass doors look stunning on contemporary homes and resist rust. They cost more and insulate less, so they suit detached or unheated garages better.
Wood — beautiful, demanding
Real wood is gorgeous and fully custom, but it needs refinishing every couple of years to survive freeze-thaw cycles. Budget accordingly.
Composite & faux-wood — the look without the upkeep
Composite doors give you a wood appearance with far less maintenance and good durability — a great middle ground.
| Material | Cost | Maintenance | Insulation | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steel (insulated) | $ | Low | Good | Most homes, attached garages |
| Aluminum & glass | $$$ | Low | Lower | Modern look, detached garages |
| Wood | $$$$ | High | Moderate | Heritage / custom homes |
| Composite / faux-wood | $$$ | Low | Good | Wood look, low upkeep |
A quick reality check on cost symbols above: a single “$” is the most affordable category and “$$$$” the most premium. For most London homeowners weighing value, durability, and a real Canadian winter, insulated steel sits right in the value sweet spot — which brings us to the decision that matters most here.
Step 2: Get the insulation right
In London, insulation is not a luxury — it is the decision that affects your comfort and energy bill the most. Insulation is measured in R-value: the higher the number, the better it resists heat transfer.
- Attached or heated garage: choose R-12 to R-18. This keeps the room above or beside the garage warmer and cuts energy loss.
- Detached, unheated garage: R-6 to R-10 is usually enough, mostly to keep the door rigid and quiet.
- Living space above the garage: go as high as you reasonably can — it directly affects that room's comfort.
Insulated doors are also quieter and stronger — a polyurethane-injected door resists dents far better than a single-layer steel pan. Given London's winters, we rarely recommend a non-insulated door for an attached garage. There is more detail in our winter maintenance guide.
Even a great door leaks heat if the bottom seal and perimeter weatherstripping are worn. On a new install we fit fresh seals; on an existing door, replacing the seal is a cheap comfort upgrade.
How insulation is built also matters. A polyurethane-injected door (foam bonded between two steel skins) insulates better and is far more rigid than a polystyrene panel slotted into a single steel pan. If two doors quote the same R-value, the polyurethane construction is usually the better long-term buy.
Step 3: Pick a style that fits your home
The garage door is often 30% of what you see from the street, so style matters for curb appeal and resale. Three broad looks dominate:
- Traditional raised-panel — timeless, suits most London homes, the safest resale choice.
- Carriage-house — the look of swing-out barn doors with the convenience of a modern sectional. Great on century and craftsman homes.
- Modern flush / full-view — clean lines or glass panels for contemporary builds.
Then layer in details: window inserts for light, decorative hardware, and a colour that complements (or tastefully contrasts) your siding and trim. A new door consistently ranks among the top home improvements for return on investment, so it is worth getting the look right.
Step 4: Budget and choose your installer
Here is what a quality, installed garage door costs in London in 2026:
| Door type | Single (installed) | Double (installed) |
|---|---|---|
| Non-insulated steel | $900 – $1,500 | $1,300 – $2,000 |
| Insulated steel | $1,400 – $2,400 | $1,900 – $3,200 |
| Composite / faux-wood | $2,200 – $3,500 | $3,200 – $5,500 |
| Aluminum & glass | $2,800 – $4,500 | $4,000 – $7,500+ |
Installation quality matters as much as the door. A door that is even slightly out of level or improperly spring-balanced will wear out openers and hardware early. Always use an installer who sizes the springs to your specific door, hauls away the old one, and stands behind the work. Our new installation service does exactly that, and you can compare numbers in our new garage door cost guide.
Buying a new opener at the same time? It is the ideal moment — see belt-drive vs chain-drive openers and our opener cost guide. And if you are still deciding whether you even need a full replacement, repair or replace? is the place to start.
A closing tip: always ask for the warranty in writing. A reputable installer backs both the door's manufacturer warranty (panels, springs, hardware) and their own workmanship — that combination is what protects your investment for the fifteen-plus years a good door should last.
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Frequently asked questions
Insulated steel is the best all-round choice for most London homes. It is durable, low-maintenance, affordable, and handles freeze-thaw winters well. Composite or faux-wood is a great option if you want a wood look without the upkeep.
For an attached or heated garage, choose R-12 to R-18. For a detached, unheated garage, R-6 to R-10 is usually enough. If there is living space above the garage, go as high as your budget allows for comfort.
A quality insulated steel door, installed, typically runs $1,400 to $2,400 for a single and $1,900 to $3,200 for a double in 2026. Composite, wood, and glass doors cost more. Size, insulation, and windows drive the final price.
In London's climate, yes — especially for attached or heated garages and homes with a room above the garage. Insulated doors are warmer, quieter, stronger, and more dent-resistant, and the energy savings add up over the door's life.
Consistently, yes. A new garage door is one of the highest-return home improvements because it is such a large part of the home's street view. A style that suits your home helps both curb appeal and resale.
What London homeowners say
“They didn't just sell us the priciest door — they asked about our garage, recommended an insulated steel one, and it transformed how warm the bonus room above stays.”
“Beautiful carriage-style door, installed perfectly, old one hauled away. The whole front of the house looks new.”
“Clear pricing, great advice on R-value, and the install was spotless. Couldn't be happier.”
