Your home is one of your most precious assets, so it makes sense to design every aspect with care. That includes your garage door. After all, it takes up a lot of space in a prominent position. You are likely to use it most days. That means that your garage door will have a huge visual and practical impact on your home.
The good news is that you have a lot of options available. Garage doors come in a wide variety of styles and materials. You can definitely find something that you like if you take the time to sort through the options. On the other hand, the sheer variety can be a little intimidating. That is why we came up with five tips that can make your search for the perfect garage door easier.
1. Choose Your Material Carefully
We can make garage doors out of several different materials. They all have their own benefits and drawbacks, so it is important to pick the right one. Your choice of material will determine the door’s structural properties and influence its appearance, so it should be your first choice.
Wooden doors are the most traditional option. They offer a classic look with great curb appeal. Wooden doors are also easy to customize, so they can look great in any home. On the other hand, they need a little more maintenance than the alternatives.
If you would rather have a metal door, you can choose between steel and aluminum. Steel doors are extremely tough and contribute to your home’s security. They are a great choice if you want to stay safe. Aluminum is lighter and easier to install. It holds up well over time and is great for the environment. It is an efficient, balanced choice and one of the most popular materials for garage doors in San Diego.
Glass doors are a rarer choice, but they offer a unique appearance that many people love. They are a great choice if you spend a lot of time in your garage because they offer natural lighting. If you are worried about privacy, you can tint them to stop people from seeing inside your garage.
2. Decide Between Manual and Electric Doors
Modern technology can make your life easier, even when it comes to your new garage door. Many modern garage doors are electric and come with automated openers. These doors save you the trouble of opening or closing the door on your own. The motors are fairly quiet, so they can also keep you from disturbing other people by manually opening the door.
One of the biggest reasons to opt for an electric door is security. It is easy to forget to close the garage door when you are in a hurry. That is a huge security risk. Automating the door may mean that you will never have to worry about keeping it closed because some smart openers close it if the sensor detects no activity within a specified timeframe. Other Wi-Fi garage door openers include integrated door cameras that allow you to keep an eye on the door from a distance for greater security.
3. Match the Style With Your Home
Your garage door will draw a lot of attention when people look at your home. Some of the attention comes from its size, but even smaller garage doors draw the eye. That is why it is important to make your home’s entrances look good.
The good news is that it is easy to find a garage door that will look great. The trick to making the right choice is matching the door with the home. A sleek, modern home might benefit from an understated, metallic door. If your home is more traditional, you may want to consider a wooden door. Material, color, and style are all relevant when you make this choice, so take the time to choose carefully.
You do not need to know exactly what you want when you start to shop. At ADS Automatic Door Specialists, we offer a wide variety of doors. If you have a general idea of what you want, we can use it to narrow down your options. You can then look through that smaller selection of options to choose the most suitable door for your garage. If you are struggling to decide, we will be happy to offer our opinion.
4. Think About Insulation
Most of us want our homes to be as efficient as possible. Reducing our energy usage can save an incredible amount of money over time. It is also good for the environment. Many people overlook their garage doors when they try to conserve energy. That is a mistake. Your garage door can have a huge impact on your home’s energy efficiency. You should keep that in mind when you design the door.
Heat naturally passes through your home’s exterior walls over time. That warms your house on hot days and cools it on cold days. Your HVAC system has to work hard to fight against that process, which takes energy. In many ways, your garage door is an exterior wall. Heat will pass through it over time.
You can inhibit that process by installing an insulated garage door. You cannot stop all of the heat transfer, but you can diminish it. That will save a lot of energy, especially if you heat or cool your garage. Insulating a garage door is fairly easy, so investing in insulation can produce a significant return over time.
5. Prioritize Safety
Your home should be the safest place in your life. A strong garage door can contribute to that security by keeping intruders out. Modern doors can include integrated security cameras for extra safety. In general, you should treat your garage door like any other entrance to your home and secure it accordingly.
You should also make sure that your new garage door is safe to use. They can be dangerous when they hit people, especially children. You can minimize the risk by designing your garage door system to be safe. Be sure to keep all of the controls out of the reach of children. Automatic openers can also make your garage door safer. Many of them include emergency features to freeze the door if they detect objects in the way.
Design Your Dream Garage Door Today
Your garage door is a gateway to your home, so you should make sure that you are satisfied with it. The wide array of materials, styles, and safety features make that easy. At ADS Automatic Door Specialists, we take pride in our ability to help people build the door of their dreams. We can explain your options, help you work out the details, and even set up a maintenance plan. We have been serving San Diego, CA since 1979, so you can trust us to deliver your dream door installation. Get in touch with ADS Automatic Door Specialists today to start designing your new garage door.
