Vinyl, Metal, Wood, How to choose the right Garage Door?
Vinyl: If you want it all in terms of durability, design, and function, go with a composite material garage door. But if you want to stain them or add a varnish or finish, you have to think about a few more things than you would if you were doing, say, a wooden garage door. A composite is not as naturally absorptive as real wood, and may not look as 'natural' after a stain, as they lack wooden grain, or only have artificial grain looks. Many products will offer this faux grain surfaces, and when you apply a finish correctly, it should look quite good. First, however, you must test the absorptive properties of the surface to make sure it will work. Do a practice strip in a small, out-of-the-way area. Remember that whichever foundation color you're working with will change the outcome of the color. You can add a first layer of stain sealer to maintain the integrity of the color you're varnishing with. Or, you can prime the surface with a nice, opaque exterior paint made of latex, which can let you add a flair of texture or visual grain effects just with your brushstrokes. Then you can add the stain to the surface you just primed for any kind of look you want. Don't forget to ad a UV-resistant top coat to protect the surface from the effects of the sun.
Pros: this door will take a beating and last a long time with minimal care.
Cons: The look can give off the fake plastic-ish feeling.
Metal, Will post this week
Wood: Will post this follow up next week