Replacing your garage door is one of the best value investments you can make for your home, great garage doors will last for decades, so it makes sense to spend a little extra time and effort making the best choice, and avoiding cheap garage doors.
Buying a new garage door is a once or twice-in-a-lifetime project for most home owners. If it’s time to replace yours, either as part of a refurbishment or because old garage door one has passed its useful life, you are most likely in unfamiliar territory. In this article, we will help you understand the many aspects of buying a garage door so that you can confidently choose the perfect one for your home.
Here are the most important factors to consider before buying new garage door.
Should you purchase insulated garage doors?
Most garages are not heated, but your garage door still affects the energy efficiency of your home. Construction materials and insulation technology for garage doors have improved significantly over the past five to 10 years. Today’s doors provide a tighter seal on the facade to hold the elements together.
If your garage is attached to the house, your best bet is to buy an insulated door, especially if there is space occupied above the garage. This will help reduce noise and electricity bills.
Also, consider the direction your door is facing. If you’re baking in the sun all day or blowing in the wind, an insulated door will better regulate the temperature inside.
Beware of Buying Wooden Garage Doors
Real wood doors look fantastic when they’re new, but you have to be willing to devote time and money to maintenance, they won’t look great for very long.
The natural finish lasts several years before it needs to be redone and if you wait too long you will have to sand all the finishes and start over to make your door look brand new again, the good news is, you can get the wood look for a fraction of the cost, and avoid the maintenance nightmare.
The least expensive option is embossed steel with a faux wood grain finish (less than $ 1,000). From a distance, this door looks very much like real wood. If you’re willing to spend a little more ($ 2,500 and up), consider a garage door in wood composite or fiberglass leather.
Composites offer the look of real wood with plastic longevity and stability when you shop at Garage Door Repair.
Buy New Garage Door Opener at the Same Time
The same person who installed your new door can also install a new garage door opener. Your garage door opener will eventually fail, so if it’s showing its age or you just want a quieter or more featured garage door opener, it’s time to replace it.
Replacing them with doors might save you money on labor, and you might even be able to negotiate a package deal on new doors and openers.
What is the safety factor of the garage door?
If you live in a high wind or storm prone area, make sure your garage door is weatherproof, because of its size; garage doors are more susceptible to wind damage than other exterior openings.
A broken garage door will be inconvenient to use even very dangerous, so it makes sense to take a little time to make the best choice, and avoid being disappointed with a service that doesn’t match your expectations. Of course the best option is to contact Garage Door Repair Norfolk VA who can call a professional in your area.
For your safety garage doors should have additional support, heavier gauge tracking, and other hardware needed to help keep it in place under extreme winds.
If you’re buying a new door, look for a “storm ready” model with a built-in passive reinforcement system, which doesn’t require pre-setup before the storm.
With a passive system, the reinforcement is contained within the door structure and is activated simply by locking the door.
Use the Manufacturer’s Web Site to Select the Door Design
When you shop for garage doors, you don’t have to guess how a particular door style and color will look like in your home,
You just have to check the garage doors that are sold online. Most manufacturers have software on their website that will allow you to upload a photo of your garage and add their garage door style to it. This lets you choose a suitable door style, and enter the design features you like, choose windows and colors, and even add hardware.
You can play around with different styles until you find one you like. Then print out the specs for an accurate quote from your dealer to help you find cheap garage doors.