Consider This!

When you are purchasing a new garage door for your garage, you need to take careful consideration before you make your decision.

The garage door that you choose may have a great impact on the way your home looks, and can either complement it or decrease the value of your property. You’ll find nothing better than a good garage door that makes your house look more attractive. There are lots of functions for a garage, from housing your motor vehicle to being an extra workroom or even an extended living area.

This is why it is also important to look into garage doors that provide good insulation. If you are planning to be utilizing your garage for something other than housing your car, then you’ll want it to be as temperature regulated as possible. Even if you’re only likely to be keeping your motor car inside the garage, you must keep it a good temperature so that the engine does not freeze up on cold winters’ mornings!

There are a number of different styles you are able to choose for your garage door that may vary greatly. Each one of these will add its own different appearance and feel. The first style of garage door you can get is one with a flush panel. This means that the paneling of the door is slightly flat and can fit in well with the surrounding wall. You can even choose several types of panel blocks for your garage door. You may choose long raised panels that will give a good sense of depth to the garage door. It is possible to get shorter panels for your garage door, to add even more depth. Different types of raised paneling on the garage door will suit a variety of different styles of home.

Now it will come time to select the material for your garage door. The two most widely used materials are wood and steel, with wooden garage doors coming in first for popularity. There is something so lovely about a wooden garage door, and it is also a very versatile material to make use of. Firstly, you can paint or varnish wood to any stain you need, to enable you to match your home accordingly. Wood is also excellently insulated, and is much more affordable to buy than many other materials. Galvanized steel is becoming a popular choice for garage doors though, as it is less likely to weather over the years, unlike wood. Steel will show up dents and scratches more easily than wood though, whereas wood seems to have more character with a bit of damage!

There are plenty of different garage doors to select from; you simply need to examine the brochure belonging to the garage door company that you are looking at obtaining a quote from. There are also many stores that will have showrooms with examples of the garage door you can buy. Whichever style, pattern and material you choose, your home will certainly look far better with your new garage door!

Going Shopping: Advice on Factors to Consider When Selecting a New Garage Door

• Budget. Like everything, budget dictates options. Garage doors range in price from a few hundred to several thousand dollars depending on the size, materials and design you choose. Even if you have a small budget you can still get a great looking door that is going to enhance the look of the house.

• Design. Think of the garage as an extension of the home’s theme, not an afterthought. Let the home’s architectural style, the shape and size of the windows and entry doors, and exterior design details influence the design of the garage door.

It’s a good idea to visit dealer showrooms and review manufacturer Web sites to get a sense of the options available. Many companies offer doors pre-designed to match specific architectural styles, which can make the selection process easier.

• Insulation. Doors can be insulated or non-insulated. If the garage is attached to the house you’ll want an insulated door. This will help reduce utility bills – a popular selling point with prospective buyers. If you live in a mild climate or have a detached garage that will only be used to park the car, you can opt for a less expensive, non-insulated door.

• Upkeep. Maintenance is another consideration. Steel doors are very durable and virtually maintenance-free, but some people prefer the warmth and character of wood and the limitless design options. Depending on the climate and exposure, wood doors will need to be painted or stained every few years.

Size, Looks and Style Matters

Your garage door serves many purposes. It keeps your garage secure. It provides aesthetic appeal for your home. It also can be an energy efficiency product to help lower your energy bills.

You can get so much from a garage door that when it comes time to buy a replacement, you should shop smart. Make sure that the new one will be even better than the last. Do not settle for just any door. Shop around and be sure the model you get will serve all your purposes perfectly.

There are many considerations to make when choosing a new garage door. You should consider how you use the garage when making your choice. In some homes the garage is a playroom or a workshop in addition to keeping vehicles in out of the elements. How you use the garage will play into your final choice on a door.

You also need to make sure you get the right size of door. The wrong size of door will not serve any purpose. Take measurements carefully. Get help if you need it. Many retailers will offer help with taking measurements.

The appearance is also important. There are a range of styles, so you should try to figure out what you want before you go shopping. Common styles include flush panels which are flat and slightly textured. Flat panel styles blend nicely in with your home’s exterior.

There are also doors with raised panels that are long. This style is very dimensional. It provides depth to the look of the door and accents the home’s appearance.

There are short raised panels that add depth, too. They are really intricate in style and are perfect for homes of Victorian style or Tudor style homes.

Besides the style, many different colors are available. You can get almost any color or even pattern of colors you want. Along the same lines, you can also choose from different materials, like wood or steel. Some are more durable than others and some require less care and maintenance than others.

You can also choose to have windows added in the doors to really customize and change the look. You really have many choices when it comes to the look of the door you choose.

The last consideration you should make is energy efficiency. Most today come with the option of being energy efficient. If you are concerned about energy loss through the garage then you must look for energy efficiency properties in your new garage door. Try to find a door with good insulating qualities.

Make sure there are weather seals between the door sections. Additionally, look for a bottom seal. If one is not built into the door, then they are simple to add, so keep that in mind.

Buying the right garage door is not too difficult. You just have to know what your needs are and do some shopping around to find the door that is a perfect fit for you and your garage. With all the great options on the market, you can be sure you will find that perfect door.

Garage Doors Are Our Friends

Many times, garage doors are simply another part of the home that serves a simple purpose – for you to get in and out of the garage.

Yet there’s more to these moving structures than lots of people don’t even realize. These entryways serve many purposes, and at the end of the day, you should be sure to take advantage of such benefits to ensure you’re getting the most out of your property.

Convenience
It’s one thing to have a special place to park your car, but it’s another thing if getting in and out of that space is an ordeal. Garage doors can be opened manually, but it’s so frustrating to have to pull up to your home, get out of the car, let the structure up, get back in your car and drive in to the space. Some may simply think that’s no big deal, but if it’s raining or snowing, you won’t be so eager to get outside your car to let up the structure. So the great thing is that most garage doors are installed with garage door openers so you can just drive up to your home, click a button, and the structure goes up.

Business All sectional garage doors work in the same way – e.g. they have vertical tracks on each side of the garage door opening so that the door can slide up. The sections of the door are hinged together and this enables it to fit around the 90 degree angle formed by the roof and the front wall of the garage. It then sits in a horizontal position next to the ceiling. Most sectional doors go up automatically although they can be manual if you really want to get out of the car and open the door four or five times a day, every day. Those who have used the automated sectional garage doors swear, when you want to let it down, just click the button again, and you’re done.

Beauty
Although beauty may not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of your garage doors, there are a ton of options you can consider. Some people like to get really detailed when it comes to their moving structure. There are some gorgeous types of wood you can choose from, and some people take it as far as getting carriage doors to really make an impact. No matter what you’re thinking, this structure can really help give your home a punch of curb appeal.

Protection
All homes don’t come with garages. Having such a structure allows you to do so much more to the space as well as offer protection against outside elements. You won’t have to worry about getting caught in the wind and rain since the structure keeps all that out. When wind starts blowing, debris, rain, and snow can get under the covering and get to you. Then you’re wet and frustrated. Fortunately, if you have an enclosed structure with a door, you’re sure to be out of harm’s way.

Uniqueness
Many neighborhoods put in the same garage doors with each home. Nothing’s wrong with this if you don’t mind blending in. But if you want to really stand out, you could possibly put up a completely different entry to your garage. However, some areas have homeowners’ associations that have to okay such changes, so get approval first. Once approved, you can start shopping for a variety of materials from steel to wood. Different materials work for different needs, so keep this in mind. But the bottom line is that you can get something that is truly unique and may have the neighbors talking for weeks.

How to Choose the Perfect Steel Garage Door

A lot of people look into installing garage doors over other types into their houses. If you are one of those individuals, it would be good to first ponder and understand the merits of steel doors before making your buying decision.

Many people in the garage door market look at the array of door options available to them and base their decision on the quality of the material and what they perceive is the best. To a lot of people, steel comes out on top in the strength category compared to wood, fiberglass, and aluminum. With the technology available today, you can actually design a steel door to look like a beautiful classic wooden door.

Although real wooden doors inarguably have a very distinctive and striking appeal, they require regular maintenance which can put a dent in your budget. Though hardwood is known for their strength and durability the extra maintenance required can actually be a real inconvenience and may put off some people.

Steel doors normally does not crack or warp due to weathering. Today’s models and stylish and beautiful and be a good compliment to your home. The rule of thumb for steel doors is the thicker the door is, the better it can withstand normal ladies formal wear and tear. Most steel doors have foam inside them which improves insulation and provide added protection.

If you really have your sights set on getting a steel door the next step is deciding what style to match your house. There are models with additional designs, accents and innovative safety features. Do not hesitate to seek assistance from technicians and specialists to aid you in your decision making. They can also be helpful in providing you with competitive pricing. It is ideal to ask several technicians and then select the one that offers the best value for your money.

Majority of steel doors come with a warranty but nevertheless make sure that the one you’re buying is covered with one. Some even go as far as offering lifetime warranties which is not the case with wooden doors, making steel doors a far more attractive option.

It pays to weigh in the costs and benefits too. Make sure that the price is really worth it and shop around for bargains. Choose one that will last you a long time and that would enhance the aesthetics of your home and garage at the same time. Take time to go over your options since this is a long term investment on your part.

Visit manufacturer’s websites, read brochures and ask people knowledgeable in garage doors. As much as possible, do not base your buying decision on one factor alone but also take into consideration other qualities.  

Choose a technician that is credible, trustworthy, offers reasonable rates, and that you are comfortable working with.

For ease of use, a garage door opener is a perfect complement to your steel door. Today more than ever, finding the garage door opener that suits one’s needs and preference is relatively easy since there are a lot of models to choose from.

Recycling Garage Doors

A garage door is built to last a long time, but eventually it will need to be replaced.

If you plan to install a new garage door, don’t simply send your old garage door into the dumpster along with unusable trash. With a little bit of ingenuity, you can recycle your old garage door, giving it new life instead of sending it to a landfill.

Consider the garage door’s materials. Wooden doors can be broken into firewood or used for other projects where the wood’s appearance isn’t primary. Metal doors can be brought to junkyards or used as shed walls or shelters for tools and outdoor animals. Be creative and you can find lots of new uses for an old door.

Check with your contractor. Most companies will break down and recycle the parts of the garage door that can be recycled. Some may even refurbish and sell your old door as a “Used Garage Door”. But there is another option. You can re-purpose your old garage door.

Look up your local authorities on trash and recycling. Many larger items can be left at the curb with a special permit to be recycled by the same folks who pick up your regular tin cans and glass bottles.

List your door in online and newspaper classified ads. Perhaps you’re eager to get rid of your old garage door, but many sites offer recycling for people looking for used items. Just be sure to consider how you can transport the door and how long you’re willing to wait for someone else to snatch it up.

There are many ways to reuse your garage door. The possibilities are truly endless. Following are just a few of the many inventive and creative ways some people have reused their garage doors.

Frame a Compost Pile or Garden

Garage doors can provide the perfect frame for a raised garden or a compost pile. Separate the door into the individual panels to form the walls, and cut one in half to form the back. Use metal cutting shears if your door is made of aluminum or steel, or a circular saw if the door is wood. Next, dig a small trench to partially bury the panels, then place them standing up to create your frame.

Leave one side open if you are making a compost pile so you can easily roll a wheel barrow in. If you are making a raised garden close off all sides then fill with dirt.
Some garage doors are painted, so be sure to scrape down and sand to remove the paint to keep your garden or compost pile clean.

Create a Green House

If you have a garage door in Cleveland or another area that gets cold, this is a great idea. Turn your old garage door into a mini green house. There are some limitations to this idea, as a steel or vinyl garage door just is not going to help protect against the cold. But if you have a wood or wood composite garage door this really works great.

If you are somewhat handy you can easily do this with a table and jigsaw, some Plexiglas, and screws. On particularly cold nights you may want to consider adding some hay or straw around your plants for extra protection.

Garage Door Headboard

You might want to check with your significant other or roommate before doing this, and it probably won’t work if it’s a newer garage door that looks mass produced, but consider making a headboard out of your garage door.

Back in the day, before they started using vinyl and steel, garage doors were made of fine quality woods like cherry, chestnut, and mahogany. If you have one of these, sanding it down and placing it as your headboard can be a nice room accent. It just goes to show how a little creativity can go a long way when it comes to reusing our old stuff.

Going Green is not only the responsible thing to do but it’s a beautiful thing. Reuse and recycle.

You want to buy a cheap garage door?

The garage. The area that is never to be neglected and so therefore, one must ensure that the garage door is of good quality and can provide durable protection.

Today’s economic recession has brought many people to go purchase cheaper (I could say less expensive but I think “cheap” is appropriate for this post) items. There are many cheap garage doors on sale around but we all know that we need to examine closely these items because they might be made of poor quality, poor materials, re-purposed or just plain junk. We cannot risk the loss of things and important items inside our garage just because it was easy for burglars to enter our cheap garage doors. On the other hand, having one is not a negative thing. Cheap garage doors might have been on sale for inventory purposes or discontinued style. To ensure that these are of good quality, it is important that the buyer knows the qualities of a good garage door.

A good cheap garage door must be durable and of good quality. It must not easily dent or flex when pressure is placed on it. It must feel solid and must have good construction. There are some doors that are cheap that have poor construction (loose handles, loose screws, etc.) and these may lead to easy collapse or breaking. The risk of having the garage door fail is big and this can also lead to even bigger problems. It is therefore important to examine things closely.

A good one must also be made of good and durable material. It must be made from high quality steel or wood. The material used to make up the garage door must be able to withstand extreme weather, pressure and age. These external properties can easily affect the door since the garage is always situated outside the house. If a cheap one has the right qualities of a good garage door, then it is the perfect steal for every buyer. No doubt that one is assured that everything inside the door will be safe.

Don’t be scammed! In this time of our economy, not all cheap garage doors are quality and not all expensive are promising. Take time to learn all you can before purchasing. Find the best details from manufacturer’s websites.

“An ounce of prevention is worth more than pound of cure”*

Your garage door is most likely the largest moving piece of machinery in your home. Some of them weigh in at several hundred pounds. Replacement costs can be high, especially when coupled with a new opener. Take a look at the following things you can do to ensure yours lasts as long as possible. 

1. Get Professional Service. Just once year, have a professional come to perform some simple maintenance on your system. It should cost less than $100 to have a company adjust both the opener and spring system if needed. In addition to any work done on the springs and opener, this type of service will typically include a check for wear and tear, as well. Some companies provide the option of a service plan, which can help reduce the cost. The springs are the heart of the counter balance system, and can relax over time. An improperly balanced spring system can damage the opener, and pose a safety hazard. 
2. Lubricate Some aerosol type spray on the moving parts will do the trick. Not only will regular sprays reduce wear and tear, but it can make everything a little quieter, as well. Pay attention to the tracks, rollers, hinges, etc. While you’re there, give everything a quick once over to check for wear, making sure nothing is loose, no cables are frayed, etc.
3. Know Your Opener They are fairly simple mechanisms and don’t require many tools for maintenance. Some may need to have the chain or belt tightened occasionally. Check your manual for these types of maintenance procedures, as well as how often to lubricate the moving parts. Other settings a homeowner should be familiar with are the sensitivity (sometimes called a force setting) settings. This feature of the motor controls how much force will be applied to open or close the door. The owner’s manual will have instructions on how to achieve a good setting. Close attention is needed, as this will affect how safely everything operates.
4. Keep It Clean It may sound pretty basic, but keeping the area around the opening free of debris, and other items can solve major problems before they start. A rake, baseball bat, or other similar item can cause serious damage if caught in the path of the door or hardware. Spiders also love to build webs inside the lens openings of safety sensors. Make sure yours are free of any obstructions or debris.
5. Keep It Painted If you’ve got wood on the exterior of your home you already know it needs to be painted or sealed against the elements in some way, but don’t forget about the garage door. Rot or insect related damage is a common cause for repairs. The bottom section is the most commonly afflicted part. In severe cases, this can cause a safety hazard since the bottom section is under pressure from the counter balance system. Make sure to keep yours properly sealed.

That may seem like quite a bit to follow through on, but in reality it can save you time and money. This is a case where an ounce of prevention is worth more than pound of cure. Maintaining your garage door and opener costs very little compared to the hundreds of dollars it would take to replace them. 

* Ben Franklin

Energy Saved with Insulated Garage Doors

Insulated garage doors are the perfect method to lower your electrical bill.

An insulated door comes in different dimensions, types and kits so there is no issue when it comes to matching the door to your home’s architectural style.

When seeking out insulated doors, make sure to do the necessary research as well as the R-value of each door. The R-value is the measurement of the resistance of the door’s material to changes in temperatures.

To understand how R-value and heat flow are related, think of your garage not as a single entity but as a part of a system with the external environment. As with most everything in nature, heat will want to redistribute itself in an effort to reach a state of equilibrium, or equal temperatures, on the inside and the outside of your garage. To do this, heat must pass through the garage door to reach the other part of the system.

Door insulation quality impacts your utility bills because your garage door is typically the largest opening in your home. Many people also like to spend time in their garages working or even entertaining guests. For those reasons, a well insulated garage door is important even if the garage is not connected to the house.

In the summer, it is naturally hotter outside of your garage than inside most of the time and heat will try to “get in” to even out the system. If a garage door has an R-value of 3, 1/3 of the heat will get through the door and into your garage. This does not mean though that the internal temperature will be 1/3 of the external temperature. It just means that as more heat is produced externally, 1/3 of it will enter your garage. Insulating your garage door can help keep the heat out.

The opposite is true in winter. Heat is produced inside your garage in winter, either by direct heating, connection to your house, or by effects of the sun. As it is cooler on the outside of the door, heat will try to escape through the door to even out the system. If keeping your garage warm in winter is a priority, or even to just lessen the overall effects of cold temperatures, then choose a door with a higher R-value.

Every year people everywhere lose thousands of dollars because they don’t have garage door insulation. This is very important. Especially as energy prices climb higher, it is important to seal up every possible interface with the outside cold and heat.

One reason to insulate garage doors is simply because if you don’t then untold amounts of extra energy will be expended in both heating and cooling your house. Think about it: the garage is the single biggest area in most anyone’s home which is not insulated. This presents a major problem. What happens, in effect, is that during the winter this “room” will take on all the cold that swirls outside, and it will effectively act like a refrigerator or even freezer butting right up against your kitchen or your living room, etc. In the summer the same thing will happen with heat.

Meanwhile, you’ve got your heating and cooling systems, such as your air conditioning, working overtime to make up for this vulnerability. Where you could’ve just done the right thing and installed garage door insulation, now you’re noticing a greater rise in energy and electric bills than you should otherwise have to be paying. It’s not a good situation. In fact, it could’ve been prevented quite readily with just a little forethought. But don’t kick yourself too hard. Instead, it would be a better use of your time if you’d just patch up the “hole” now.

Childproofing Your Garage Door

Most new parents make the effort to create a safe environment for their children in the house, but often they don’t extend that effort into the garage.

That’s a mistake, because it’s hard to keep kids away from the garage, and what they can find there could very dangerous indeed. Here are some tips to reduce any threats posed to children in your garage.

• Check the sensitivity of the “contact reverse” feature of your electric garage door opener several times per year. Place a 2×4 (wood) flat in the doorway. Close the door with the wall control. If the door does not reverse (that is, start to open) after contacting the 2×4, decrease the “close” force on the opener and try again.
• Make sure the wall control for the garage door opener is installed high enough that it can’t be reached by young children.
• Put a lock on the door from the house to the garage to keep children from wandering into the garage without your knowledge.
• Store toxic and flammable substances (including matches), power tools and sharp hand tools well out of a child’s reach, preferably in a locked cabinet.

Childproofing your home is not that easy. You need to consider countless of things and think of unexpected scenarios that are possible to happen. Since this is your children’s safety involved, you can never be too sure. You should go through extreme lengths to keep them secure and well protected against possible harms such as those found in your garage.