3 Garage Door Facts You Should Be Aware Of

People often don’t think of their garage door specifically when thinking about their garage, but your door does a lot to keep your garage, vehicles and family same. Here are a few facts about your garage door that you might not know about your garage door.

1. It Can Help To Increase Your Home's Value 

Especially when your garage door faces the front of your property, it's not just an average door. The right garage door can add increase your curb appeal and make it more appealing to potential buyers. Even if you aren’t currently trying to sell your home, it’s still something to consider for the future in case anything changes. If you use your garage as an entry way to your home, it’s even more important that you keep it in good shape to prevent any potential safety hazards or break ins. Because this door is going to be used so much, installing a new door before you sell your home increases your home's value.

 

2. It Can Be A Design Statement

 

Because garage doors can take up as much as 1/3 of the front of the house, they can be used to make a statement. Especially when you are thinking of upgrading the exterior of your home, you shouldn't forget your garage door. There are all kinds of design options to choose from, from various materials, colors and paneling. So many options will allow you to pick a door that allows you to express your style, find one that matches the exterior of your home and provides you with the right amount of durability and other features within your price range.

 

 3. It Adds Energy Efficiency To Your Home

 

Garage doors, especially those that are insulated, can help to reduce heating and cooling costs. A strong and well insulated garage door can help to keep it warm in the winter and cool in the summer. With winter approaching, you want to make sure that your garage door will help to keep that space of your home a comfortable temperature, especially if you park your car inside your garage or use the space for other activities.

Garage doors as an important component of your garage and your home overall. Make sure that your garage door is in good working order and makes the right statement about your property. If you have any questions about your garage door options, give us a call today!

Shining a Light on Energy Efficient Garage Door Options

It isn't unusual for outdoor temperatures to dip into single or negative digits in Lansing at this time of year. As such, it pays for homeowners to speak with garage door contractors about the insulated doors. Although the doors are not yet ENERGY STAR certified, they obviously play a role in energy efficiency and much more. So today, we wanted to explore that topic in a little more detail.

Like other insulated building materials, garage doors are issued R-values based on how much protection they are able to provide. Although it is important to take that rating into consideration, homeowners shouldn't stop there. It is also vital to take into account the garage door's air infiltration rating, construction and bottom weather seal because they can impact a building's heat loss or gain too.

That said, our garage door sales staff will often recommend that Michigan residents choose models that feature multiple layers, bulb-style bottom seals, air infiltration ratings of .08 cfm or better and high R-values. There are many garage doors that have those types of air infiltration ratings and R-values. Ones that immediately come to mind are the Courtyard Thermacore®, Durafirm®, Signature Carriage and Impression® Collections. They are all designed for residential use.

Of those four residential options, the Courtyard Thermacore® has the highest R-value, ringing in at 11. It's followed by Durafirm® (11.75), Impression® (7.6) and Signature Carriage (4.75). We should also mention Thermacore® Insulated Sectional Steel and rolling service or counter doors. They have similar characteristics but are earmarked for commercial use. When it comes to those models, the first one tends to have the highest R-value, weighing in at an impressive 17.5.

Pricing options vary and may be occasionally offset by manufacturer's rebates. Unfortunately, tax credits or government-sponsored incentives do not apply at this time. To learn more, please contact us in Lansing.

Your Garage Door Can Save You Money on Your Heating Bills

Selecting a garage door that is right for your home might also be right for your heating bills! Purchasing an insulated garage door is a smart investment for your home. This purchase can save you years of aggravation and money spent on maintenance and astronomically high heating bills.

Basic garage doors run the risk of leaving your garage either extremely hot in the summer months or unbearably cold in the winter. This, unfortunately, raises your energy bills! The wall that separates your home and your garage allows the hot or cold air from outside to infiltrate your home, which, in turn, causes your HVAC system to kick into overdrive, working harder to counteract the temperature fluctuations. Insulating your garage could save you hundreds of dollars per year in energy costs.

You may be thinking that it's a lot of money to insulate your garage and it may be a major investment you're not ready for. One thing that you can do is 'weatherize' your door. Weather-stripping and/or caulking your garage doors could help! You should never make your garage air-tight (you want exhaust fumes to escape outside of your home), but you do want to make sure that you can seal the cracks and gaps between your garage and home.

Insulating your garage door could save you hundreds of dollars per year in energy costs and the investment would eventually pay for itself! If you're unsure whether or not an insulated garage door would make a large difference in your energy costs, just ask your Overhead Door professionals!