Garage Door Blog - Garage Tips - Custom Door & Gate

Ultimate Garage Door Buying Guide

Buying a new garage door? Just like any other element of your home, your garage door is one of many parts that make a greater whole. You want your purchase to make your home a better place to live without ruining your budget. Ask yourself these simple questions to get started on your garage door search.

Owning your own home means you can personalize it however you want, but it also means you must maintain it. Whether you own a historic home or a new build, chances are you will have to do repairs and other fixes at some point.

When you keep your home in good condition, it makes it more pleasant to live in and is better for the long run. At some point, for instance, you may want to sell your home. The maintenance and upgrades you do now will increase its worth, and you may end up selling it for a significantly higher price than you bought it for.

How Maintenance and Upgrades Improve ROI

Return on investment (ROI) refers to something’s worth after investment was made to improve it. For example, house flippers rely on ROI to make a profit. They buy inexpensive homes, invest money to fix them up and then resell them. Their profit would be their return on investment because it reflects how much more the home was worth after they renovated it.

When you put money into your home, you’ll get money out when you sell it.

For homeowners who are ready to sell, renovations are an important consideration. Some homes have features that seem outdated to current homebuyers. To make their home competitive among others for sale, renovations are often the key. If you have the means to renovate, these projects almost always end up paying off.

Your Return On Investment (ROI) From Installing a New Garage Door

Installing a new garage door is an easy and relatively inexpensive way to upgrade your home. Installing an upscale garage door is the #1 remodeling project to improve on the ROI of your home. This project has a better return on investment than stone veneer, adding a deck to the home and remodeling the kitchen. These other projects were much more expensive to complete as well.

This statistic shows just how important curb appeal is to homebuyers. When a homebuyer pulls up to your house, the exterior is the first thing they see. They will look at the design of the home, as well as the landscaping, and form an initial impression. If that impression is negative, the inside would have to truly wow the homebuyer to alter their opinion.

Replacing your garage door can help create the very best first impression. When the prospective homebuyer visits your home, they will see a beautiful door that blends flawlessly with the rest of the home and is a unique and attractive touch.

Choosing home improvement projects is a challenge. There’s always something that can be done, and all homeowners search for projects that will provide a significant return on investment. Good news: A replacement garage door is proven to provide a return on investment greater than many other home improvement efforts.

But when should you make the leap? Here are a few ways to know when to replace your garage door:

Slowness

Does your garage door respond slowly when you try to raise or lower it? It should take only a moment between hitting the opener button and your door leaping to action. If there’s any sort of delay, especially a lengthy one, it’s time to have your door examined by a professional who can identify any issues.

Noise

A brand new garage door is smooth and relatively quiet. As that garage door gets older, a number of factors make it run rougher and louder. Have you noticed a sudden increase in just how noisily your garage door opens and closes? If so, it may be a sign the unit is ready for a full overhaul.

Attractiveness

A garage door is often one of the most prominent parts of your home that faces the street. Perhaps when it was installed years ago, it was sleek and stylish. But no style lasts forever. You have the opportunity to greatly enhance your home’s curb appeal when you install a modern garage door that complements your home’s existing architecture.

Safety and Security

New garage doors help keep the assets you store inside your garage safe and secure, both from the elements and from anyone who might try to break in. New garage doors also include the latest in safety technology, including automatic reversal if the door comes into contact with an unexpected object. If your aging door does not provide the safety and security you want, it’s time to consider a new garage door.

Breakdowns

One of the biggest signs your garage door needs replaced is malfunctions. A garage door is just like any asset. You can invest in replacement parts over and over. But you eventually reach a point at which it’s more cost-effective to simply replace the entire unit. Is your garage door in need of regular maintenance and repairs — perhaps more regularly than you would like? Consider the option of a full replacement.

Damage

Dings and dents pile up over the years, whether from unintended collisions, balls thrown by children against the door, hail or other factors. You can manage these dings and dents for a certain amount of time, but they will eventually overwhelm your garage door and its appearance.

Bills

Are your energy bills skyrocketing? You may be losing air conditioning cooling through your non- or poorly insulated garage door. Make your home more energy efficient when you choose a new insulated unit.

How Much Does a Garage Door Cost?

Before you look for a new garage door, you should establish a firm budget. Whether it’s just you making the decisions or an entire family, you need to get everyone together to figure out what you can afford.

Factors that affect the price of your door include:

Installation: Will you install the door yourself or hire an expert?
Size: How big does your door need to be? Learn how to measure for a new garage door on our blog.
Material: Do you want low-end or high-end garage door materials?
Technology: Would you like an automatic opener? Read about the advantages of an electric garage door opener.
ROI: What kind of return on investment (ROI) will your door bring?
Decorative accents: Would you like to add elements like windows or lighting?

Determine what you want in a garage door and base your budget off those expectations. For example, if you plan on installing a garage door opener, you have to budget for the price of the opener and add it to the base garage door price.

What Kind of Garage Door Should I Get?

Now that you have a budget in mind, you can choose from the many types of garage doors available for sale.

You can choose from style options like:

Paneling: Flat panels, raised panels, and carriage house panels all give your garage door a different feel. Garage door paneling also comes in a variety of shapes and sizes.
Color: Garage doors come in a full spectrum of colors and textures.
Windows: Adding windows to your garage door lets a little light into your garage. Choose from multiple types of glass and window shapes.
Lighting: Illuminate your garage door for added security, safety, and beauty.

What Color Garage Door?

Choosing the right garage door color can be easier than you might think. Some of the most common color choices for garage doors include:

White
Gray
Black
Beige
Dark brown

If you’d like a garage door color that will blend in with the rest of your home’s exterior, any of these colors would work well. When selecting a neutral shade for your garage door, you can add pops of color in other places, like with your front door or shutters. Neutral is probably the safest choice when it comes to picking a color for your garage doors.

Would a Coordinating Color Work Better?

There is a difference between coordinating and matching your garage door’s color with the rest of your home’s color scheme — and in most cases, you don’t want your garage door to be the exact same color as the rest of your house.

You do want the color of your garage door to complement the rest of your house, however. For example, if you owned a home with a color scheme of light brown, cream and sand, a black garage door might look out of place. Look at the materials of your home and their colors. If your home is made of brick, a beige door would complement it very well. It is important to pick a color that is in the same color family as the rest of your home or that complements one of those colors. This coordination will add to the curb appeal of your home.

It’s possible that you’ve seen houses with a garage door that matches the front door or the shutters. Depending on the style and color scheme of your home, this could work well. If you are looking to make your home more unique than your neighbors’ homes, you could pick a dark red, for instance, for your front door and garage door. It may be more uncommon, but what matters is that you like it.

Would You Rather Go With a Contrasting Color?

If you decide you don’t want a coordinating color, then go with a contrasting color. If you don’t want too much contrast, simply choose a different shade. For example, if your home is a beige, choose a garage door that is a dark walnut brown. If your garage is in a mainly shaded area, pick a light color for the door to contrast the shade.

How to Measure for a New Garage Door

Before you even start looking at new garage doors, be sure of the proper size garage door you need. Fortunately, measuring your garage door can be a quick, easy process with the right approach.

Before you start, you’ll need to be prepared with some basic materials. You’ll want a tape measure to get the actual measurements, a step ladder for easy access to all areas, and a pen and paper to write it all down.

Steps for Measuring Your Garage Door

Now you’re ready to actually measure the garage door.

Start by measuring the width of the door. For this measurement, you want to make sure you record the width at its widest point. You will measure from the middle of the left side of the finished opening directly across to the right side. Measure in feet and inches. It may be difficult for you to stretch a tape measure all the way across by yourself, so get assistance or use a digital tape measure.

Once you’ve got the width, the next step is to measure the height, also in feet and inches. Again, you want the highest possible point. Make sure the floor is level and the top of the finished opening is as well. Measure from the garage door floor to the top of the finished opening.

Now you need to know how much room you have between the door opening and the ends of the garage. Measure the width from the opening on either side to the end of the garage on that side. You’ll need up to 3.75 inches on each side to install the vertical track. For a double car garage door, you need a center post at least 10 inches wide.

You’re almost done. Next, you’ll need to measure the distance from the top of the door opening to the ceiling. You’ll need a stepladder for this part. This area is known as the headroom, and it is important because the garage door will need to roll up on tracks through this area.

Finally, you’ll need to measure the distance from the garage door opening to the back of the garage. This is called the backroom, and it is also critical because this is the area where your garage door will retract when open. If you have a sectional door, you’ll need the amount of the door height plus 15 inches for manual lift doors or 18 inches for doors that retract with an electric garage door opener.

Visualize Your Future Garage Door

Thanks to our garage door visualizer, you can see how our selection of products will look on your home. Upload a picture of your house and the visualizer will preview your new door. For more information on our door selection and pricing, contact us today.

The Future of Garage Door Technology

You probably don’t lose sleep at night wondering about the future of garage doors. That’s our job! But you can certainly have fun thinking about it.

Technology now develops faster than ever, and it affects every part of our lives — garage doors included. So how will technological trends impact garage doors in the future?

The Latest Garage Door Technology

New garage door technology tends to focus on the Internet of Things. The Internet of Things consists of everyday objects that work with the Internet. Think coffee makers, thermostats and, of course, garage doors. You can control some modern garage door openers with a smartphone app. These smart garage door openers can make your garage more efficient and more secure.

The MyQ garage door opener gives homeowners a lot of utility. It works with an app that lets you control your door from anywhere. Monitoring features track whenever people get into or out of your garage. You can set a daily schedule that opens and closes the door at certain times of day, too. For a truly smart home, you can connect it with other devices like the Nest thermostat.

What Will Garage Doors Be Like in Ten Years?

The future of garage doors has numerous possibilities in store. With technology evolving at an increasing rate, ten years gives us plenty of time to innovate in ways we could never imagine today. However, we do have ideas coming to life in the present day that we could use for the garage doors of tomorrow.

In Door + Access Systems Newsmagazine, Jean-Francois Morin points out the likelihood of solar garage doors. Some homeowners already place solar panels on their roofs to generate energy. Currently, price, appearance, and mechanics get in the way of making solar garage doors a reality. But in ten years’ time, we could definitely have them. In fact, we bet it will take a lot less time than that.

We also have the beginnings of tech that could let us change our garage doors’ appearances whenever we want. Jean-Francois Moran brought up the idea of garage doors made from interactive glass. Corning currently has architectural glass in development that works like a computer screen. At the touch of a button, you could give your garage door an entirely new look.

Imagine Your Garage Door’s Future

Thanks to our garage door visualizer, you can see how different products look on your home, today. We may not have solar panels or interactive glass options — yet! — but it’s never too early to look ahead.

How To Fix A Dented Garage Door

If you have a large dent in your garage door, you probably will need to have it replaced. However, it is possible to fix smaller dents in your home’s garage door yourself.

When your garage door is damaged, the curb appeal of your home suffers. This may not seem like a big issue, but if you are planning on selling your house in the future, it could be. Homebuyers love curb appeal. If a buyer is looking at your home and sees dents in your garage, they may believe there are other things in your home that are neglected, too.

Fixing small dents in your garage door is a quick and easy repair, whether you do it yourself or call a professional.

DIY Garage Door Dents Repair

Repairing a small dent in your garage door requires materials you probably already have around the house. There are a couple of methods for fixing dents. Choose one below based on the materials you have at home:

Method 1

You’ll Need: A wooden block, rubber mallet, putty knife, fine-grit sandpaper, patching material, paint, and primer

Steps:

Wash the area with warm water and detergent and allow it to dry fully.
Place the wood block over the dent and tap it with the mallet to even the dent.
Sand the area to even it out.
Use the patching material to cover the dented area and make it even using the putty knife. Let it dry, then sand it down again.
Apply the primer and let it dry, then paint.

Method 2

You’ll Need: Compressed air, a heat source, and aluminum foil

Steps:

Wash the area with warm water and detergent and allow it to dry completely.
Put a strip of aluminum foil over the dent.
Use the heat source so it evenly heats up the foil.
After a minute, remove the foil and spray the dent with the compressed air upside down for about 30 seconds.

Both of these repair methods are fast and easy to do. If you have a stubborn dent, though, they may not be enough.

Get a Professional Fix From Custom Door & Gate

When you have dents in your garage or need other door repairs, think of Custom Door & Gate first. We’ve been in the business for more than 25 years, giving us the experience and knowledge necessary to get the job done quickly and correctly. Our skilled technicians will diagnose your problem, suggest the best solution, and give a quote for the fix.

After you have selected the best choice, our technician will efficiently complete the repair. Dents in your garage door are small issues, but they can lead to larger problems. When your garage door isn’t functioning properly, you can’t enjoy the convenience and safety that comes with it.

Let Custom Door & Gate take care of all your garage door needs. Contact us today for more information or to schedule a repair.

Matching Front Entry Doors and Garage Doors

There are many factors that go into finding the best garage door for your home, and you’ll likely end up asking yourself a lot of questions. Those questions will include what color the garage door should be and if the garage and front doors should match.

The placement of your garage plays a big part. If your garage door is front-facing, it is more common for it to match the front door and other front entries. However, as long as your garage door blends with the color scheme of your home, an exact match is not necessary. Homes usually have three main colors — the trim, the siding and the other elements like doors and shutters. Basing the garage door’s colors off of one of those colors will add to your home’s curb appeal.

Tips for Front Door and Garage Door Colors

The front entry door is one of the main focal points of the outside of a home. As such, it is important to have a front door that matches the style of your house and blends well with its color scheme. Here are some ideas for finding the right colors for your front door and garage doors:

The material matters: There are three main materials that are used for front doors — wood, steel, and fiberglass. Garage doors are made from similar materials. Which type of material you choose will have a big effect on which color options you’ll have. Wood doors provide many more color options than a steel door.

Your home’s architecture: The front door and garage door should complement the style and design of your home. If your home is more modern, a steel front door and garage door would work well. But, if your home is a Colonial or Cape Cod style, those same steel doors would look out of place.

Look at the colors in different lights: When you’re choosing a color for your garage door and front door, it’s important to see how the colors look at different times of the day. Depending on the angle of the sun, a color may look drastically different in different lights. A red may look firetruck-red at noon but a rusty color at sunset. To see how a color looks in different lights, try seeing it in both bright and lower lights.

Choosing the right color for your front entry door and garage door adds to the home’s curb appeal, but it also makes the home your own. Even if you decide on colors that aren’t as common, what matters most is if you’re happy with the finished look. At Custom Door & Gate, we want to help you find the perfect doors for your home. Contact us today to learn more about our products and services.

Choosing The Right Garage Door Color

Whether you’re building a new home from the ground up or need to replace an existing garage door, you may find yourself faced with almost unlimited color choices. You want to make sure you pick a color you can live with for a long time and that adds to the curb appeal of your home — but with so many garage door color possibilities, the decision can be overwhelming.

Choosing can be easier than you might think. To get started, here are a few things to consider when finding the perfect color for your garage door:

1. Do You Want One of the Most Common Colors?

Some of the most common color choices for garage doors include:

White
Gray
Black
Beige
Dark brown

2. Would a Coordinating Color Work Better?

3. Would You Rather Go With a Contrasting Color?

At Custom Door & Gate, we want to help you find the perfect garage door for your home. To learn more about our products or to speak with a knowledgeable professional, please contact us today!

How to Warm Up the Inside of a Cold Garage

There’s no better way to enjoy the winter season than by snuggling up indoors — unless it isn’t much warmer inside than out. When it comes to areas affected by cold weather, garages are no exception. As the temperatures outside begin to drop, you may find yourself wondering how to keep your garage nice and cozy and prevent the chilly winter air from blowing inside.

While most garages are susceptible to coldness and other wintery conditions, that doesn’t mean yours has to be, too. Add some much-needed heat to your garage this winter season with a few strategies that guarantee warmness throughout the year.

Garage Heating Tips

Unfortunately, not all rooms in your home effortlessly retain heat during the frosty winter months –– especially your garage. If you’re wondering how to heat your garage efficiently and completely, implement these garage heating tips:

Purchase quality caulk from a local hardware store to seal any openings in your garage
Acquire insulation for added winter protection in your garage’s walls
Replace any broken windows to prevent exterior air from flowing inside
Invest in superior weather-proofed garage doors for added insulation

Invest in Top Quality Garage Doors This Winter Season

There’s no better way to safeguard your garage against the frigid winter season ahead than with the superior barrier protection of a premium quality garage door. At Custom Door & Gate, we sell and install the Clopay® Classic Collection Premium Series garage doors are the ideal fit for any individual who wants to remain extra toasty inside.

The Classic Collection Premium Series provides homeowners with a high R-Value for added thermal protection. The three-layer construction complements the series’ already superior insulation qualities, guaranteeing optimum temperature control inside.

The Perks of a Climate-Controlled Garage

Having a toasty garage isn’t just necessary when getting into your car. Throughout the winter, you still need a space to keep up with your hobbies. What better place to fulfill your activities than in the garage? Most garages have the necessary space to comfortably complete any required work.

You may even find yourself forgoing cold jogs outside for a warm work-out inside! A comfortable climate is necessary when working up a sweat –– especially in your home gym. When you invest in a high R-Value insulated garage door, you give yourself a space to enjoy endless activities in a cozy environment.

Don’t Get Caught in the Cold Outdoors

Nobody likes leaving the warmth of their house only to feel the sharp pangs of freezing air against their face. When you walk into your garage, you should experience the same level of comfort you feel throughout your entire house.

Don’t let the inconveniences of wintry weather get you down this season. Heating your garage doesn’t have to be complicated or stressful, and it isn’t when you choose Custom Door & Gate. Letting us install an insulated garage door will help you and your family stay warm and cozy this winter season, even when you’re hanging out in the garage.