Why Steel Garage Doors Are Always a Good Choice

Recent studies have shown that there is only one type of home improvement you can do on your own that will actually improve the value of your home above and beyond the price that you have paid for it, and those items are steel garage doors. With all other home improvement projects, you will only get a portion of the investment back when you sell your home, but when it comes to steel garage doors, you will get every penny back.

People replace their garage doors for a variety of reasons, but usually it is because they have worn out over time or through overuse, or they have become ruined by the weather or moisture. Of course, there are also those cases when someone drives through a garage door or accidentally bumps it enough to throw it off its tracks and break the structure that is holding it in place.

Whatever your reason for replacing your garage door, you should first think about steel garage doors before choosing any other type.

Why Would You Want Steel?

The main reason why people choose steel is because it is easy to care for. In fact, it takes no caring at all! Unlike wood doors that need to be painted and maintained, steel doors will last for decades without you ever having to do anything to them. They are coated with a sealant that protects them from moisture and if they ever get dirty, you simply hose them off.

The other benefit of steel garage doors is that they can be insulated. For people who live in very hot areas, this is an important benefit since an insulated door will help to keep the hot sun out of the garage, which in turn will keep the entire home’s temperature lower. In the winter time, the same is also true except that the insulation keeps in the heat from the home, essentially lowering the heating bills.

Don’t You Have to Paint It?

Steel doors are made in a variety of colors already so you can choose something that is close to your home’s color, or you could even choose a different color altogether to create something of an accent to your home’s design. However, if you don’t find a door in the exact color that you want or you want to match it to some other feature on your home, you can always paint it yourself. By simply painting your new door with a coat of primer, you will be ready to put on just one coat of paint that should last for years.

Where Should You Buy It?

Most people just leave this decision up to the contractor or installer who is putting in the door, but if you are doing it yourself or you are just looking for a better selection than your local home improvement store has, then you might want to check online. Steel garage doors come in a variety of sizes, strengths, and colors, and you will surely find one that suits your purposes.

Your Garage Door R.O.I.

For most people who remodel their home, return on investment is important.

The reality is that you usually won’t recover the cost of your investment right away; however, there are projects that recoup faster than others and play a strong role in a home’s resale value. Projects that impact curb appeal tend to impact resale value. When a buyer approaches a house, the curb appeal can affect a potential buyer’s first impression and, consequently, a home’s resale value.

Garage door replacement projects ranked high among a return in investment, recouping from 69 percent of the cost on the upscale garage door to 83 percent on the mid-range garage door. This high rate of return is due to the fact that garage door replacements are among the least expensive projects and that they improve curb appeal instantly.

Look at the overall design of your home when considering a garage-door upgrade. Having the garage on the front of the house is not ideal, architecturally speaking, so the object is usually to make the door look as nice as possible without making it the star of the show.

The design focus should be on your front entrance, rather than the garage. But, if you are planning to replace your garage door, manufacturers today give you several options from which to choose.

Garage doors are comprised of two main elements: the sections and the overlay. The sections make up the basic unit of the door. They are the large panels hinged together to create the door.

Overlays are added for decorative effect. This is where the options seem endless. You can find any design you want with an overlay.

The most commonly purchased garage door does not include an overlay.

It is a standard door with steel sections that have a design pressed or embossed into them and the attempt to mimic wood grain is not very convincing. These doors are typically not insulated, so they are most appropriate for detached, non-heated garages. Insulated garage doors make sense if your garage is attached to your home, or if you have a garage/workshop that is heated for your comfort.

Doors with overlays are more expensive, but they give a garage door more style and character. Overlays can be made of several materials. An overlay option is steel. “Boards” are created with an embossed texture and then applied to the base sections to create the carriage-house look.

The most expensive is real wood. You can choose from many types, including cedar, exotic hardwood and salvaged barn wood. Doors finished with a real wood overlay are quite heavy and require commercial grade operators. There is also some maintenance with wood overlays, such as staining, sealing or painting.

Once you decide the look and material of your garage door then you have to determine how you want it to function. Insulation, safety features, windows and the garage door opener are all elements to consider when replacing your garage door.

An updated garage door that not only looks good but functions well and saves energy will leave a great first impression for guests or prospective buyers.

Replacing Your Garage Door is a Valuable Home Repair

If you have an older home one of the first things you may consider changing are the garage doors. Garage doors are used regularly and go through a lot of wear and tear. The good news, manufacturers of garage doors are offering numerous novel features that were not available in the past. Many of the garage doors available today are insulated, providing warmth as well as barring out noise for both temperature and sound. You might find this handy if your son has started a rock group in the garage.

Today’s garage doors are also more secure than older ones and since we keep a lot more “stuff” in our garages than just cars, this is an important consideration. You can park your valuable automobile safely, without having to lose sleep over the fear of theft or vandalism. Moreover, garage spaces are sometimes used for storage, and enhanced security enables home owners to stow even costly item in this area. Technologically enhanced garage door openers send out different signals every time the doors are opened, so that even techno-savvy thieves fail to steal your codes.

Many of the new garage doors available have distinctive designs and add to the aesthetic value of your home. The erstwhile wooden doors are discarded in favor of these modern day materials like steel or fiberglass, which can be gel stained or faux-painted to suit your preferred look and color.

Rain, snow, wind and other assaults by the nature can be kept at bay with the use of the tongue and groove feature available with the modern models. Also, most of the doors will not close if they come across any object in their path while they are sliding down. This prevents accidental crushing of any article under their weight. Some may even push obstacles away while the panels of the door come together at the time of shutting down.

Garage doors even provide windows that allow the natural light to trickle in. Some doors come equipped with lighting arrangements to keep the driveway well lit while you drive away or lock your car in for the day and go inside your home. This is also an important safety measure.

However, you should not try to install these garage doors yourself. The help of a professional garage door installer should be enlisted at all costs. The doors are large and so heavy that a person can crush under the weight in case they slip and fall. The springs that are used to open the doors release such immense force that can even get a person killed instantaneously. Even servicing of such doors should be carried out by trained garage door professionals. You should restrict your maintenance actions to oiling the hinges and the tracks and wheels.

Garage Doors: A Major Design Element

Garage is the shelter for your car. That is its main function. Hence, most people then think about their garage doors as strictly functional. They protect the contents of the garage. Now, more and more people care about how they look. The garage doors have to look good and welcoming. Garage doors after all make a huge personal statement about one’s taste and style.

The garage is considered the threshold of a home. First thing that we come faced up with when we enter a house is usually the garage door. Garage doors are becoming a major design element as they say. Most homeowners use the garage as the primary entrance to the house and are subject to much wear and tear. It is only fitting that the garages must be impressive and attractive, as it is durable and secured. The style and the condition of the garage door is influential on the appearance and impression that the house projects.

Today, several manufacturers have created different styles of garage doors with various exceptional features to choose from. The appearances of garage doors have improved dramatically over the past few years adding to the aesthetic value of your home. The erstwhile wooden doors are being replaced in favor of modern day materials like steel, which can be customized to suit your preferred look and color.

Garage doors are built to be durable and long-lasting. The average life of a garage door is about 30 years if you take care of it. Thus, it is imperative to pay extra attention to its specifications and features. Rain, snow, wind and other assaults by the nature can be kept at bay with the use of the tongue and groove feature. It is also important to settle always for low-maintenance garage doors. It will save considerable amount of money and time.

 

Garage doors also have many options such as decorative windows that allow the natural light to trickle in and can often match the window package on your home. You may also want to consider adding decorative hardware, handles and hinges, to your door selection. Whatever you do decide on, make sure you enlist the expertise of a professional to install or service garage doors.