A new door is a bigger job than a repair and a bigger decision. It changes the look of the house more than most exterior work, it is the one curb-appeal upgrade buyers actually notice, and on an attached garage an insulated door makes a real difference to the rooms around it. The install itself is one day of work; the door usually has to be ordered first.
What the options actually are
Steel doors, the default for good reason: durable, low maintenance, and the widest range of styles
Carriage-style, the swing-look that suits older King County housing stock; same hardware, different face
Wood and wood-look, real character at real maintenance cost, and composite looks that get close without the upkeep
Glass and aluminum, the modern option, common on newer Eastside builds and anywhere natural light into the garage matters
Insulation options, single-layer doors up to triple-layer insulated; on an attached garage under a bedroom, the insulated door is the right call
What the quote should itemize
The door itself with style and insulation rating, new tracks and hardware if the old ones are going (they usually should), the weather seal, removal and disposal of the old door, and labor. If the opening needs framing work or the header has issues, that shows up on a real quote before work starts, not after the door is off.
Why the install matters as much as the door
A poorly installed good door is a bad door. Tracks that are not plumb and level bind and wear rollers fast. Springs that are not matched to the door's actual weight make the opener work too hard and die early. The install is where the door's whole lifespan gets set, which is the argument for having a pro do it rather than a friend who watched a video.
Lead time
Stock sizes and common styles can be on a truck in days. Custom sizes, unusual colors, and specific window layouts run longer, sometimes weeks. The pro who calls should tell you what is actually available now versus what has to be ordered.
