If you're looking to replace your garage door this season, you've likely noticed that there are a myriad of products from which to choose, everything from wood to steel to aluminum to vinyl. If you haven't considered a vinyl door, it's time to take a second look. This type of garage door is attractive, affordable and easy to maintain.

Advantages of choosing a vinyl garage door

1. Pricing. A vinyl door is much less expensive than a comparable wood door and can be made to resemble the grain of natural wood if desired. The average price of a vinyl door is around $1,115. That compares to up to $4,000 for a wood door. Installation is also less expensive for a vinyl door than for a wood garage door.   

2. Aesthetics. A vinyl door adds a sleek, uniform appearance to your property, boosting your home's curb appeal and making it welcoming to visitors and potential home buyers when you go to market your home. Vinyl doors come in a variety of styles and colors, from white to brown to dark green. There are models with decorative mouldings and window inserts.

3. Low maintenance. A vinyl garage door requires little of the maintenance that other types of doors require. You don't have to paint or stain a vinyl door every few years. The finish stays new looking with just a light power washing a couple of times a year.

4. Water and insect resistant. An additional benefit of a vinyl garage door is that such doors are not subject to warping, rotting and splitting from water damage as wooden doors can be. They also won't rust if scratched like a steel door can. And, destructive insects that find wood attractive, like termites and ants, have no interest in a vinyl door.

5. Energy efficient. Vinyl garage doors are constructed with a layer of insulation between two panels of vinyl. This helps to insulate your garage, saving energy and money on your monthly utility bills, particularly if you have an attached garage.

6. Durability. Vinyl doors are made to stand up to all types of weather and extreme temperatures. They also won't be dented by hail stones, a tap by your child's bicycle or an errant basketball shot.

While a vinyl garage door may not be the right choice for every homeowner, this type of door is attractive, affordable, easy to maintain and resistant to water damage.