Purchasing a new garage door can turn into a frustrating and confusing job. The decision is easier if you consider tips in these five areas: materials and design, your budget, who will do the installation, and safety features.
Materials and Design
The style of your house and your own personal taste determine what kind of design you choose for your garage door. If you have no idea how to narrow your choices, there are professionals available at home improvement stores and garage door companies to help you. Many garage door companies have websites with special tools that can help you visualize how certain styles will look on your home.
Material choice is important as well. Depending on which part of the country you live, it may be wise to select materials that help protect your home from the elements. Some garage doors are made to withstand hurricane force winds. Other garage doors are built with winter temperatures in mind. Some garage doors are single layer, while others are built with various layers.
Budget
Considering your budget is a very important part of the garage door selection, process. Those design and material choices can add up, so make sure you balance your preferences with the cost of materials and labor. Garage door prices can vary depending on the material you choose. Aluminum, steel, composite, and wood doors all have their advantages and disadvantages in addition to recommended usage for different climates.
Installation
Installation can either be done by you or a garage door insulation professional. It’s highly recommended that you hire a professional garage door installation company however. Your time is an important consideration as well, because it might take you all day to install your new garage door. A professional installation crew might be able finish the job in just a few hours.
Safety Features
If you have small children or pets that like to run in and out of the garage, consider a garage door that comes with safety features. Sensors that are built in to the door or tracking system can help prevent horrific accidents. Weather issues in your area may also affect your garage door and cause greater damage due to the size of the opening on your home. If you get high winds or have the risk of hurricanes, you may want to consider purchasing a door that is built to withstand extreme weather. A garage door designed for weather issues may have heavier materials, additional bracing, hardware, and heavy gage tracking.
Do some research as you consider a new garage door. There are websites with helpful information that can prepare you for informed decisions once you are ready to sit down and talk with a professional about purchasing a garage door.
