Garage doors aren’t boring anymore: They’re part of an integrated home design

Garage door designs have become much more than the plain, cookie cutter styles.

Garage doors take inspiration from a variety of sources – from the American farmhouse to a European design. As garages play a bigger role in home design — with three-car garages practically standard in some neighborhoods — the doors are changing, too.

Gone are the days of the architecturally bland, cookie-cutter garage doors. Such doors have been replaced with ones that look like entrances to old carriage houses, barns, even castles. The doors boast leaded-glass windows, raised panels and an assortment of decorative hardware. And though they may look like doors that swing open, they roll up with an automatic opener.

A lot more attention is being given to the design and appearance of the interior of a garage, and that draws attention to the garage door. An attached garage represents a minimum of 30 percent of the visual portion of a home, depending on where the garage is facing. In the majority of homes, it faces the street. Yet, traditionally, doors were plain, cookie-cutter garage doors. They were functional and safe but not necessarily aesthetically pleasing to the overall home.

That’s changing. Now you can find doors that better complement a home’s design, whether it offers Old World charm or contemporary styling. There is new stuff all the time as the industry realizes how much curb appeal a garage door adds. Carriage-house doors were some of the most popular on the market. People want the garage door to match the entry door or to pick up on the home’s windows or gables on the house. Now you can make them more distinct and more personalized.

Most people use their garage doors to enter their homes every day — while rarely using the front entry. Steel is the biggest seller, popular because of its low maintenance and its warranties.

Photos: Garage Door Art

For murals and alley art, San Francisco’s Mission District really is the central hub of activity. One could put together a very interesting art walk centralized around the massive amount of color, expression and creativity found on garage doors. Here’s a gallery of garage doors photographed by Joseph Schell

Enjoy!

Garage Door Wins!

Now here’s a kid that must be heavily influenced by the likes of the Jackass crew that do really crazy stunts and pranks. Watch as Drew-o runs full speed into a garage door. While it’s incredibly FUNNY, especially in the end of the video when you hear his delayed reaction, we don’t recommend the you try it!

 

Garage Door Off Track?

It’s the nightmare all homeowners dread. The garage door has jumped off track. What now?

When a garage door doesn’t open or close the way it is supposed to, the problem could be in the tracks. You have to first check if the tracks are well anchored to the wall. Usually, the reason why a garage door goes off track is that the tracks themselves are loosened. Check if the brackets that anchor the track to the walls. If they are a bit loose, the bolts should be tightened. You also need to check the tracks for any sign of damage or denting. A bad dent can usually cause the garage door to “jump” off track, much like a train being derailed. Badly damaged tracks should be replaced immediately, before they cause hazard. You need to make sure that when you get that door back on track, it will stay on track.

So use a certified garage door dealer to do the job!

I need a garage door… so where do I start?

In search for a new garage door?

Have no idea where to start?

Consider this before your purchase.

The Material of the Door

Garage doors are usually made out of a variety of materials: wood, steel, fiber glass, aluminum, composite and vinyl (the best being an all steel door). Each material has different patterns or styles that can be applied to it. Make sure when choosing the material that you are aware of their perks and disadvantages.

The Style of the Door

The Carriage style: The carriage style is a sort of old meets new design. It is a fusion of the old style look from the late 80’s with the latest innovations on garage door construction.

The Modern Style: This style is for those who like to mix and match things, a testament to their contemporary style.

One-of-a- Kind or Custom Style: Choose your own. Be creative, be artistic, but most of all, be realistic. This style is for those who want to have that unique look to match their exceptional taste. It will allow you to create the best garage door to
your liking.

The Maintenance

Some garage doors require more maintenance as compared to others. Make sure that have this in mind when choosing your materials, style and design.

The best garage door does exist. It is just a matter of thinking of what works for you.

Steel Doors: Safe, Secure, Durable Garage Doors for Your Home

As a homeowner, you make every effort in ensuring that your home is unique, comfortable, and structurally sound. But sometimes homeowners fail to take into account the safety and security of the family and loved ones, and not pay enough attention to the various entry points of a home, including the garage door. A door is not only to allow you to enter and leave the house, but also to ensure the safety and security of the home. Steel garage doors provide just the safety and security required to ensure the family’s safety.

Steel garage doors are not only sturdy, they are also durable and can withstand any and all types of weather conditions, including the wet weather of Spokane, or the heat of Phoenix.

 

Another reason for selecting steel garage doors is the aesthetic beauty of these doors. A friend, relative, or visitor to your home sees the garage door first when pulling up to your house. The garage door should not only look good, but also look appealing and inviting to visitors, and represents the owners own sense of aesthetics. Steel garage doors do not require much maintenance. The doors can also be custom ordered from hundreds of designs to select from.

Death by Garage Door

Yesterday I almost killed myself by painting my garage door.

Now, normally, painting your garage door isn’t considered a life threatening activity, unless, for example, your garage door is in Fallujah. Or, as in my case, your in Arizona and you’re painting a white garage door (using a nice latex semi-gloss) in 105 degree weather with the sun beating down directly on the door in front of you. In that case, you might as well be sunning yourself on the surface of Mercury during the warmer months using coconut oil and a liberal amount of aluminum foil.

 

After I was about one quarter done, I was starting to wonder if this was such a great idea. Half way through I was naked from the waste down in a desperate attempt to cool my head with my sweat soaked underwear and shorts. By the end, barely alive, I was almost wishing I were at work instead of home.

 

Almost.

 

This project now joins the long list of seemingly innocuous home improvement projects that I’ve undertaken through the years that have darned near killed, maimed or otherwise permanently incapacitated me. These include closing my garage door (I’m starting to think that door hates me) and assembling a swing set (big thanks again to my local fire department for saving my chestnuts on that one).

 

Home ownership. You gotta love it!