Steel vs timber garage doors

Steel spans almost the entire UK garage door market — a basic manual up-and-over starts at £995–£1,900, an insulated sectional runs £1,650–£3,500, and even a side-hinged steel pair is £1,350–£4,000. Bespoke hardwood timber sits well above all of these at £4,800–£10,000 installed, reflecting the material cost, the joinery involved, and typically a fully bespoke size and finish rather than an off-the-shelf range.

Steel doors need very little upkeep beyond an occasional wipe-down and checking the finish for scratches that could allow corrosion to start — a factory powder-coated or galvanised steel door can go years with no attention. Timber needs a genuine maintenance routine: periodic re-staining or repainting, checking joints and seals, and prompt attention to any damaged section before moisture gets in, typically every few years depending on exposure and finish quality.

Steel doors used in insulated ranges (sectional, some side-hinged) match the same 40–42mm foam-core construction regardless of the steel skin, so insulation performance is not a material disadvantage for steel. Timber has naturally better inherent thermal mass than a bare steel skin, but a well-specified insulated steel door will generally out-perform an equivalent-thickness solid timber door on U-value. Timber is also considerably heavier, which affects the operator size needed if automated.

Steel doors now come in a very wide range of factory finishes, including woodgrain-effect foils that mimic timber at a fraction of the price and maintenance. Genuine timber remains the choice most often specified for listed or conservation-area properties, period cottages, or anywhere a planning condition or personal preference calls for a natural material rather than a foil finish.