If your wooden garage door has started showing signs of wear, it's time for a replacement. However, you have an important decision to make regarding your new garage door. Should you follow the trends and replace the wooden door with one made from a more modern material, like fiberglass or vinyl, or should you replace it with another wooden door? The answer really depends on your budget, your style preferences, and the time you have for maintenance. Here's a look at three pros and three cons of sticking with wood for your new garage door.

Pro: You can maintain the same look.

If you love the way your home looks right now, you can keep that same look if you just opt for another wooden door. Some home styles, like Craftsman, call for the use of natural materials like wood and would not look right with a vinyl or fiberglass door. So wood might be your only option if style is paramount.

Pro: Wooden garage doors are "all natural."

These days, there is a huge trend towards greener building materials. However, "green" does not always have to mean new and innovative. It's hard to imagine a more natural material than wood. As long as its sustainably sourced from a company that replaces the trees they harvest, wood is very eco-friendly. It will break down naturally, releasing carbon and nitrogen back into the soil, when you're done with it.

Pro: Wooden doors are good insulators.

If you heat your garage, then you need to pay close attention to how well it is insulated. Materials like aluminum and vinyl let a lot of heat to pass through them. If you have a door made from one of these materials, you will definitely need to have separate insulation installed to reduce heat loss. On the other hand, wood is a good insulator all on its own, so you can get away with installing a plain wooden door without extra insulation.

Con: Wooden doors require maintenance.

Has a lack of maintenance contributed to the demise of your current wooden door? You do have to seal, stain, or paint a wooden garage door periodically to keep it in shape. This will be especially important with your new door since you'll want to get your money's worth out of it. If you are crunched for time and can't imagine yourself properly maintaining a wood door, you may want to go with a lower-maintenance material like vinyl this time around.

Con: Wood is expensive.

Wooden garage doors are one of the most expensive types of garage doors available. You can expect to pay an average of between $1300 and $2900 for a new wooden garage door. You can find an aluminum garage door for as little as about $840, and steel garage doors may be even cheaper. If you're on a tight budget, wood is not the most frugal choice for your new garage door.

Con: Wood is heavy.

Wooden garage doors are heavier than those made from fiberglass, aluminum, and vinyl. This can be taxing on your opener and may lead to the need for premature replacement and repair of your garage door opener. There are lighter-weight wood options like pine and particle board, but these are of lower quality and are not as durable as woods like maple and walnut.

Some homeowners love their wood garage doors and can't imagine having anything else. However, if you are worried about the maintenance requirements, cost, or weight of your door, you might be better off switching to a different material when you have your garage door replaced.