Most people find it hard to make decisions that have anything to do with the design of their homes. You want to find something that you like now and make sure that you’ll still like it in years to come, after all, designing a house isn’t like shopping for jeans, you will be spending a lot of big products that should last you for years to come.
When it comes to choosing the right garage door for your home the same applies, but it is even more difficult, because there are lots of things to factor in, besides how much the style of the door appeals to you.
One of the best things to do when choosing a garage door for your home is to think about what your garage is actually used for. Is it only the place where you keep your car and nothing else? Do you use it as a room for another purpose as well, or maybe only use it as a room? If so, what do you use the room for? If the answer is just for storage, then you need to think about what it is that you’re storing in the garage and whether the environment is good for it.
Do you use your garage as a workshop where you spend a lot of your time? Do you keep expensive equipment in the garage? You might need to factor the security issue of your garage door into the decision you make when choosing a garage door for your house.
So, How Do You Choose A Garage Door For Your Home?
Well, style does come into this decision. First of all, you have hundreds of garage door styles to choose from, so choose the style that suits your house best.
Once you know what style of door you want for your home you should decide what material you want your garage door to be made from. Here again, there is a choice, garage doors can be made from steel, wood (there’s no denying it, wooden doors are stunning, but they also mean that you’ll be spending lots of time and money on maintenance), aluminum, copper, glass, vinyl or composite.
You can base your choice on ease of maintenance, for example, steel is very low maintenance and steel garage doors can be painted a wide variety of colours. Or, if you prefer, composite is more environmentally friendly and can also be painted or stained in a variety of colours to fit in with your home. If you live in a more humid environment, you might want to go with aluminum because it is rust-resistant, and it also has a more modern look.
Another important consideration when choosing a garage door for your home is insulation. What are your garage door insulation needs? These needs depend on whether your garage is attached to your home or if it is stand alone.
Insulation improves energy efficiency during hot and cold weather. If your garage is attached to your house this can help you save money on your electric bills. Insulation also increases the durability of the door. And, it can reduce the noise that the door makes while it is in operation, which is very important to homeowners whose garage is attached to the house especially if the door is opened and closed at all times of the day and night.
There are two main types of insulation used for manufacturing garage doors. The first is rigid polystyrene, or Styrofoam as it is commonly known. It is the less expensive of the two, usually, it is cut into sheets and glued onto the surface of the door. The second type of insulation is called polyurethane foam. It is a much better insulator, and it is injected into panel spaces where it expands, filling up all gaps.
Once you’ve decided what style of garage door you want, what material you want it made out of and what your garage door insulation needs are you are good to go. Visit a few websites and see what they have to offer and speak to the local dealer of the company you’re interested in to discuss your choice of a garage door.
