Consider These Tips for Buying Garage Doors

Before you commit to a new garage door, read our tips for buying garage doors – garnered from our 20+ years of experience in the business.

Residential garage doors not only house and protect your vehicles and other possessions, they are also a large part of your home’s façade.

Be Sensitive to the Style of Your Home

While you are free to choose any garage door you like, an option that complements rather than clashes with your home’s architectural style will be your best investment.

That is not to say that you can only have a carriage house style garage door if your home is Victorian. Or that a modern look aluminum and glass garage door can only be installed in an avant-garde dwelling. Far from it. But a new garage door installation must unite with most of the building.

Good design principles dictate that architectural features should be in harmony, with consistent and repeated lines and elements. Avoid inconsistent forms that will distract the eye.

Consider Your Home’s Exterior Elements

Following on from the tip above, look closely at other exterior elements of your home - landscaping, roof, doors and windows, sidings and shutters, porches and railings. Then ensure that the custom garage door you buy is compatible with them.

For example, if you have real wood components, make sure that the finish of the new garage door tones in with them, or at the very least, is not jarring next to them. Similarly, other garage door materials can be formed and painted to integrate with the exterior design features of your home.

Investigate the Pros and Cons of Different Garage Door Materials

Custom garage door design requires your input on every element – from top to bottom. The creative side of your personality may immediately start picking out decorative hardware and other finishing touches, but the truth is that you need to decide the basic elements first.

Wood garage doors are often the first image that comes to mind. While they offer a classically sophisticated look, they are high maintenance. Therefore, if you would rather have a lower maintenance garage door, you should consider the alternatives. Aluminum and vinyl garage doors are budget-friendly and low maintenance.

Steel tops the list as the most prevalent material for garage doors. It is easy to see why, as steel garage doors are durable against Colorado’s elements and strong for security. They are an affordable option that is low on upkeep. Best of all is their versatility as they can be fashioned to your custom design.

Check the Insulation Properties of Garage Doors

Even though appearance is a significant factor in choosing a garage door, an insulated garage door is a must. Because your garage door is one of the largest openings in your home, and it is frequently opened and closed. Your new garage door should be as energy efficient as possible.

The R-value is a measurement of a product's energy efficiency. The larger the R-value, the better the door's insulating properties. One of the most important tips for buying garage doors is to ask about the R-value of various garage doors.

Compare Warranties and Reviews

Now that all the physical decisions have been made, put your mind at ease and make sure that your garage door will last for a lifetime.

Check with your garage door supplier and installer about what guarantees they offer. Do not just take their word for it though, read online reviews about their quality and service. Confirm that their doors come with some sort of warranty – typically five years.

Because Tri-Lakes Garage Doors specializes in residential and commercial garage doors and openers and can repair any problem, we trust that these tips for buying garage doors have been helpful. Give us a call today and we will come to you!