DIY Home Improvement Guide

Shopping For A Garage Door

Are you in the market for a new garage door for your home? If so, then you will probably be surprised to find out just how many options are available from which to choose. In the past, the standard garage door was made of wood and came complete with clunky and over-sized hardware. This is simply not the case today! A garage door should work into the design of your home and add beauty to functionality in its list of features.

On most homes with a front garage, the garage door represents one third of your home’s visible surface! Why would you consider anything less than the best looking garage door?

There are some important pieces of information that you will need before shopping for a garage door. You will need to know the size. Measure your current garage door, or ask a professional to measure the opening to ensure proper sizing. You will also need to know the materials you prefer for your new garage door. If you simply park your car in the garage, you could get away with very little insulation. But if your garage serves as a work room or play area, you will want to find a garage door that keeps the cold air out all winter.

The third thing to decide after size and insulation/material is how you want your garage door to look. There are three general designs for garage doors that are not custom made. Flat multi-panel doors are the most popular. You can also get long or short raised panels to add some style to your home’s appearance.

Once you have decided on the type of door you would like to purchase, get out and look at garage doors and speak to the professionals about what it will take to install your new door.

Roll Up Screen Doors

When roll up screen doors hit the scene many viewed them as a joke.  Now they have greatly improved and are becoming the perfect summer accessory.  If you don’t have a need for a screen door year round, the roll up screen door is perfect to have on hand.  They are easy to install, leave no permanent installation behind, work well as sun shades, and can be taken with you when you move.

The place that I find these most useful is in the garage.  This is especially true when you work in the garage in the summer time and want to stay cool and keep the bugs out.  Garages get hot and disgusting in the summer, and that feeling is compounded when you live in a humid locale.  Roll up screen doors will allow the breeze to pass through the garage or porch awnings, keep bugs out, and allow the garage door to function properly.

Installing roll up screen doors is very easy.  With most installations, no drilling is necessary, and it only takes a few minutes to get the job done.  Also, with most installations it’s not permanent so you can take it down in the winter, take it with you when you move, or put it up whenever you feel like it.

Garage Door Weather Stripping

Garage door weather stripping is dual function tool that helps protect your home and save you money.  The main purpose of this type of weather stripping is to keep the elements out of your garage.  Rain and snow can seep under an unprotected wooden garage doors and get all of your good stuff in the garage wet.  This is especially problematic if the door into your house is the same level as your garage floor.  Water can easily make its way into your home!

The secondary benefit of this minor garage door repair is that it helps to keep hot and cold air out of your garage.  You might not think that your garage will affect the temperature of the inside of your home, but when left unprotected it’s one more exposed entry way that leaks air in and out all the time.

Garage door weather stripping usually comes in ten and thirty foot measurements, and you can use the ten foot size to cover any odd measurements you may have.  When it’s time to install garage door weather stripping it’s as easy as laying out your materials and nailing it in to the bottom of the garage door.  Most kits will come with everything you need, but if they don’t be sure to have a hammer and some roofing nails on hand.

Be sure that you don’t cut the stripping that’s hanging off until you’re finished.  You may want to adjust it before you’re done and that can be difficult if you’re missing a few inches off of one side!!