When potential home buyers look for a new home, many desire garages more than finished basements or attics. Generally, if you have a garage in your home, it will be worth more than other comparable homes. You can further improve the value, energy efficiency and safety of your home by updating your garage door.
While your garage door should last you several decades, you may want to update your garage door to:
Increase your home’s resale value
Reduce maintenance
Save energy
Make your home more safe and secure
How Do I Know If I Need a New Garage Door?
A garage door should last several decades before you need to replace it. Inspect your garage door at least once a year to make sure it’s functioning properly. When you conduct your inspection, you should check the following factors to determine if you need to replace or repair your garage door:
Opening and closing speed: You know your garage door is outdated if you have to wait a long time for the door to open or close. If you have a manual door, you should upgrade to an automatic garage door opener to increase its opening and closing speed.
Noise level: An outdated garage door will make creaky, scratchy noises as it moves along its rollers. Updated garage doors are supposed to run smoothly and quietly. If your garage door is making noticeably loud noises, you should replace your garage door and its hardware.
Safety and security: A new garage door can protect your valuable possessions. If you are worried your luxury car or tools are prone to theft, you should upgrade your garage door to provide more security for your home. You also need a door with safety features to protect your children, pets and neighbors from potential harm. A new garage door would include an automated reverse system that will stop the door if an object, animal or person is in the way.
Appearance: Inspect your garage for sagging, peeling or dents. Your garage door is one of the most eye-catching parts of your home, so you should make sure it’s in the best shape and you’re not losing potential curb appeal. If you notice your door has irreparable rot or stains, you should replace your door.
Technology: Modern garage doors have the technology to make your home safe, secure and insulated. If you need to open your garage door manually, or if your garage door is missing some safety features, you should buy a new one.
Functionality: Your old garage door will lose its functionality as a result of poor maintenance, overuse and weather damages. Replace your garage door if it doesn’t open and close properly.
Energy efficiency: Your garage door is supposed to insulate your garage, providing a comfortable temperature for your home. If you notice your energy bills start to increase over time, your garage door may be to blame. Modern garage doors have energy-efficient material and insulation built into them to help lower your monthly energy bills.
Improve Home’s Resale Value
Return on Investment
Replacing your garage door can boost the resale value of your home. Studies show that investing in a garage door will have the highest return on investment than any other renovation or home improvement project you could do in your home, including adding a master suite. In particular, in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States, you will typically have a 90.2 percent return on investment for your new garage door.
Potential home buyers will be attracted to your new garage door. They will appreciate the unified look of your home and the safety and storage your garage provides for them. By spending a few thousand dollars to update your garage door, you will receive thousands more back during the selling of your home.
Curb Appeal
Your garage door will also improve your home’s curb appeal. If you design a garage door that complements the rest of your home, you will create a cohesive look and an overall theme to your house. You can choose any color, material or design for your garage door.
You can update your garage to enhance your home’s curb appeal by following these tips:
Use visual elements: When you replace your garage door, you can add unique features — including barn door cross beams, horizontal beams, vertical lines or windowpanes — to give your garage door a new look.
Pick an appealing color: The color of your garage door will also attract potential buyers. You can stick with an organic palette — such as natural wood or vinyl white — or you can paint your garage door a vibrant color that will stand out on your block. Try to use bold colors that will blend in with your neighbors’ homes.
Be creative with your accessories: To create a more visually pleasing garage, you can add accessories like trim, shrubbery or lighting to accent your garage door.
Complement your exterior door: To improve your home’s resale value, make your exterior door look the same as your garage door. Having a similar garage door to your exterior door will make your home’s appearance more cohesive.
Whether you want to increase your home’s resale value to put it on the market or update your garage door for your family to enjoy, replacing or updating your garage door is a wise investment.
Modern garage doors are made with eco-friendly, sustainable material that requires less maintenance but still have a classic look
Reduce Maintenance
An older garage door will cost time and money to repair. Your old wood garage door will need proper maintenance to avoid mold buildup. Aluminum or steel garage doors could have dents and rust stains from weather damage. Any wear and tear on your garage door can affect its functionality.
If you replace your garage door, you will have less work to do to maintain and repair it. Modern garage doors are made with eco-friendly, sustainable material that requires less maintenance but still has a classic look. You can easily clean and paint your garage door to keep it fresh.
Old garage doors were often prone to paint chipping that required constant care. Modern garage doors have long-lasting finishes and stains on them to keep up your door’s sophisticated appearance.
A new garage door should last you several decades before you need to make any repairs. You should still follow routine maintenance checks, but you’ll have fewer emergencies if you replace your garage door now. You’ll also have new technology for your garage door, such as a new garage door opener and an automatic remote garage door opener.
To prolong the life of your garage door, you can take the following preventative maintenance steps each year:
Inspect the hardware: Tighten any loose bolts and check the rollers and lift cables for wear and tear.
Clean chains, springs and seals: Lubricate the spring, chain and screws. If necessary, replace the weather seal if the material has been compromised.
Test your door: Once a year, check the balance of your garage door by disengaging the automatic garage door setting and manually opening and closing your door. You should also check the functionality of your auto-reverse feature.
Replace or repair the weatherstripping: In the winter, a draft could leak into your home without secure weatherstripping. If you notice your garage door is colder than the rest of the home, consider resealing your weatherstripping.
Clean your garage door: Depending on your door’s material, you may need to check your garage door for any dents, stains or chips in the paint. You should also clean your garage door regularly with an appropriate cleaner.
If you need help maintaining your garage door, you can contact your local garage door professional for information. A professional can inspect, install and repair your garage door.
Energy Savings
The average family opens and closes their garage door three to five times a day. Over time, the wear and tear on your garage door can weaken its performance. A brand new garage door — complete with a brand-new garage door opener — will be able to withstand use. With the new technology available today, you can trust that your garage door will open and close properly.
An energy-efficient garage door can properly control the temperature of your home. Your energy bill will also be lower since your home will use less energy to maintain a comfortable temperature. To make your garage door more energy-efficient:
Make sure your garage door has insulation: Modern garage doors typically contain a layer of insulation in between the garage’s material. If you need insulation in your garage door, replacing it with a newer model would help you better insulate your home.
Add or replace the weatherstripping in your garage doors and windows: If you feel air leaks and drafts coming from your garage door, you can add weatherstripping to increase the energy efficiency of your home.
Weatherstripping and insulation can protect your home from drafts and extreme temperature changes. If your home needs insulation, your HVAC system will have to work harder to maintain a comfortable temperature. You can drastically reduce the cost of your energy bill by replacing your garage door.
Besides saving money, replacing your garage door to increase its energy efficiency can reduce the noise throughout your home. If your HVAC system has to work less to control the temperature, your heating will make less noise. You can provide a steady, comfortable temperature for your family year-round by improving your garage door.
Garage door companies make doors with more energy-efficient material. In addition to insulation that protects your home and lowers your energy bill, garage doors are also made with eco-friendly materials that use fewer fossil fuels to manufacture.
Safety and Security
A garage door leads right into your home. Thieves have learned new ways to break into your garage by using a wire hanger to disengage your garage’s automatic setting. If they can break into your garage door, they can enter the rest of your house through the garage.
Installing a brand-new garage door will ensure your garage’s safety and security. With a sturdy new door, your family and your possessions will be secure throughout the day and night. A new garage door will also protect your family from accidental harm.
In addition to replacing your garage door, you can provide your garage with more safety and security by:
Securing your garage doors and windows: Thieves like to peek into your garage window to try to figure out how to break into your home. You can put up privacy blinds to block their view.
Protecting your automatic release cord: Your garage door is equipped with a red automatic release cord that disengages the automatic setting. Thieves can slip a wire hanger through the top of your garage door and look through your window to pull the emergency cord, allowing them to open your garage door manually. You can install a piece of wood in front of the cord to block an intruder’s view and make the cord harder to reach.
Closing your garage door: Leaving your garage door open gives your entire neighborhood a window to your valued possessions. Even if you are home, you should keep your garage door closed to prevent an intruder from easily entering your home.
Using modern technology: With new mobile-friendly technology, you can program your garage door to connect to your phone. You will receive an alert on your smartphone every time your garage door opens.
Taking your remote opener out of the car: For convenience, you may have your remote automatic garage door opener on your car’s dashboard or somewhere visible in the car. Thieves are aware that most people put their remote garage openers in their cars, so they’ll try to break into your car to gain access to your garage. Keep your remote opener in a safe, hidden spot.
When you invest in a brand-new garage door, your garage will obtain new safety features to keep your family and valuables safe. One of these features is an automatic reverse system that retracts the garage if the photo eye senses an object, animal or person in its path. Your new garage door’s technology will be even safer when you properly inspect and maintain it.
New garage technology also provides extra security for your family. In the past, thieves could figure out your garage door’s code and easily open your door. New garage door openers now come with revolving codes that generate new codes that intruders cannot retrieve.
Cornwell Door Service Can Repair or Replace Your Garage Door
Cornwell Door Service provides garage door installation and repair service for residents and employers in the Camp Hill area of Pennsylvania. We provide a wide selection of Clopay contemporary garage doors for both residential and commercial buildings. Our entry doors also complement our selection of garage doors to enhance your home’s resale value and curb appeal.
With more than 40 years of servicing residents in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, we offer a 21-point maintenance program that includes lubricating your garage door parts and taking preventative measures to improve your garage’s performance. As garage door installation and repair professionals, we seek to provide the best quality and care to you as our customer.
