When looking to buy a new garage door, price often features highly on the list of considerations for homeowners.
It may be tempting to opt for a cheap garage door for what may seem like a straightforward home improvement. After all, why spend more money, when a budget garage door can do the same job for less?
However, what many people don’t realise is that a low price tag can often belie significant compromises in the functionality, security and longevity of your new garage door.
There is more to a garage door than meets the eye, and it’s important to take some time to consider what features are important to you. This guide is designed to help you look beyond the upfront cost of a new garage door, and understand what you might want to consider when making this important investment. We’ll also show you how some modern garage doors are built with quality, functionality and aesthetic appeal in mind - without the expensive price tag.
The Appeal of Cheap Garage Doors
Let’s face it: garage doors aren’t viewed as being a sexy or glamorous part of your home; it’s rarely something people want to spend lots of money on. It’s much easier to part with your money when buying a new kitchen or hot tub than a new garage door!
People are often forced into purchasing a new garage door after their old one fails or becomes too expensive to repair. Therefore, more often than not, a new garage door isn’t a financial priority, and it can be tempting to choose a budget garage door rather than invest in a quality, long-term solution.
For example, a simple manual up-and-over garage door provides a budget friendly alternative to a more robust, feature-rich alternative. This might seem like a good option for a basic storage space with no security concerns. However, the initial saving is often the only ‘benefit’ you will get.
So what are some of the hidden costs of budget garage doors?
The Hidden Costs of Budget Garage Doors
More often than not, cheap garage doors are full of compromise - in both design and operation. Whilst it might seem a good idea to cut costs on the outlay of a new garage door, this decision can have serious consequences on both your home and wallet in the long run.
Compromised Security
One of the biggest risks in having a cheap garage door installed is compromised security. Budget garage doors are often manufactured using lower quality materials that are easier to bend, dent or force open. Similarly, they often have visible weak points that can be targeted by criminals - be they an exposed outer edge or handle.
Given the lower cost, locking mechanisms are normally made on the cheap too, and this may provide little more than a visual deterrent to intruders.
Seasoned criminals know what to look for, and often target cheap garage doors for easy access to your valuable possessions and home.
So you’ve got to ask yourself, is buying a cheap garage door really worth the risk?
Poor Durability & Short Lifespan
A new garage door should be an investment built to last for decades rather than just a few years. Cheaply manufactured garage doors are generally less resistant to the British weather as well as daily wear and tear, and this can lead to a much shorter lifespan.
Cheap metal garage doors may be more prone to rusting, whilst budget timber garage doors can be vulnerable to warping; this can naturally lead to security vulnerabilities as well as letting the weather in to your garage (and its contents!). It’s worth noting that components fail more quickly in budget garage doors too. And of course all of this leads to costly repair bills, and potentially having to replace your garage door much sooner than you had anticipated!
Ineffective Insulation
Manufactured using lower quality materials and techniques, it’s rare to find budget garage doors that have truly decent insulative properties.
Thin materials, poor quality seals and gaps within the door’s construction can create ‘thermal bridge’; this means heat can easily escape from the garage in winter and come in during warmer months. This leads to unstable temperatures in your garage throughout the year, which can present a problem if you are using your garage for storage or as a workshop, for example. Poor insulation can also can lead to higher heating bills; over time this may negate initial savings.
Lack of Features & Warranties
Ultimately, you get what you pay for! Inexpensive garage doors often key lack features which improve convenience, operation and safety - all hallmarks of a quality product.
Furthermore, a manufacturer's confidence in its product is often reflected in a decent warranty. Cheap garage doors often come with a short warranty (sometimes only 1-2 years, if at all!), which is a clear sign that they are not built to last.
Garolla: A Quality Investment, Not Just a Purchase
At Garolla, we believe that you shouldn't have to choose between quality and affordability when purchasing a new garage door.
Garolla electric garage doors are designed to be a long-term investment in your home, providing a superior solution without the extortionate price tag.
How do we achieve this? We keep costs down by selling directly to our customers, cutting out the middle man. This means we can offer a premium yet inexpensive garage door, providing exceptional value and quality.
At just £895 (including free fitting), our cheapest garage door provides quality, good insulation and security as standard; for those with a higher budget, you can invest in a top-of-the-range garage door with further enhanced properties.
Superior Materials & Construction
Garolla garage doors differ from many competitor brands in that they are built using robust, twin-walled aluminium slats filled with high-density polyurethane foam.
This provides an effective thermal barrier, helping to maintain a stable temperature in your garage as well as a more energy-efficient home.
Enhanced Security
As we have explored, budget garage doors are frequently targeted by criminals. However, Garolla roller doors provide a formidable deterrent. When closed, the door offers a solid, handle-free curtain with no vulnerabilities or access points.
Made with strong, interlocking aluminium slots, and featuring our patented automatic locking system, our garage doors prioritise security, offering true peace of mind.
For those seeking the ultimate in garage door security, our flagship Titan model features 77mm slats which are wider than the industry standard, providing unmatched strength and durability.
Long-Term Financial Sense
When factoring in the hidden long-term costs, a cheap garage door can actually cost much more than a quality alternative like an inexpensive Garolla garage door.
Garolla garage doors are built to last with minimal maintenance required (a wipe down with soapy water from time to time is usually all that’s required!).
You also benefit from a free five-year Garolla warranty and two years on labour, giving you further peace of mind.
All of this means choosing a new Garolla garage door is a smart, long term financial decision.
Unmatched Convenience & Safety
All Garolla garage doors come with a remote-controlled operation as standard. This is often an expensive add on for budget electric roller garage doors.
Furthermore, all Garolla doors come with our very own SafeGuard Plus intelligent safety technology; this automatically stops the door from closing if it senses an obstruction.
Our doors are also exceptionally quiet and smooth; this is in contrast to other cheap models which can be noisy and unreliable to open and close.
The Bottom Line
When the time comes to buy a new garage door, it’s important to avoid letting the short-term appeal of an inexpensive price tag cloud your judgment.
It may be tempting to buy a cheap garage door, but this invariably comes with long-term costs in terms of repairs, higher energy bills and compromised security. The bottom line? More often than not, buying a cheap garage door is a false economy.
Instead, the smart choice is to invest in a garage door that offers a perfect balance of quality, security, and affordability. Garolla garage doors offer the best of both worlds - a high-quality, solution, offering excellent security, durability and convenience without an extortionate price tag.
Ready to see how a Garolla garage door can be a smart investment for your home?
Check out our brochure to find the best option for your needs.