Garage Doors
In addition to enhancing your home's curb appeal, your garage door protects it from the elements and provides security. Many garage doors are prominently featured on the front of the home and serve as its primary entryway. Whatever the style of your home, upgrading your garage door is a quick and effective way to give your property an update.
What are some tips for choosing a garage door?Homeowners have many choices when it comes time to select a new garage door. A reliable tape measure and a few basic facts can help simplify the selection process.
- Take some measurements: To start, you will need to know what size door will best fit your garage. Measure the thickness, width, and height of your existing door. If your garage does not have an existing door, measure its opening at its widest and highest points. Check to see that the wood framing on the inside of the opening is square, and correct any irregularities so that installation of your new door will go well. Whether you are replacing your garage's old door or installing its first one, measuring everything twice is a good rule of thumb.
- Choose your preferred material: Garage doors are made of a variety of materials. When making your selection, choose a material that complements your home's style, your budget and your lifestyle:
- Wood: Wood and wood-composite doors generally wear well and look great. These garage doors can serve homeowners for many years with regular maintenance. You may want to give this door a new refinishing or paint job at regular intervals.
- Vinyl: A popular choice for families with kids, vinyl doors are durable. You can easily clean this type of garage door by spraying it with a garden hose.
- Aluminum: Extremely lightweight, aluminum doors are often the choice of homeowners with two- or three-bay garages. The laminated panels found on some aluminum garage doors are often dent-resistant.
- Fiberglass: Because fiberglass doors are customizable, you may be able to acquire a one-of-a-kind creation when you select a garage door of this type. Particularly popular in coastal areas, they weather well in warm, humid climates.
- Steel: Requiring less maintenance than wooden models, steel doors are rugged and strong. Some steel garage doors have a fiberglass overlay for cosmetic purposes and protection against rust.
- Select a style: Depending on your personal aesthetic, you may want your new garage door to blend into the facade of your home, or you may want it to stand out. Garages doors are available in just about every conceivable architectural style and with a wide variety of embellishments. Some of these include arch-top windows, decorative hardware, raised paneling, and strapping. With so many options to choose from, you’re bound to find a garage door that you and your family will love.