Why Upgrade Your Garage Door?
Upgrading Garage Doors Newcastle is one of the most cost-effective home improvement projects. It can also improve security and lower energy bills.
The most common type of garage doors have horizontal hinged sections that roll up and back along the ceiling, assisted by a spring-balanced motor. They’re available in a variety of styles and materials.
When it comes to garage doors, durability is an important factor. The door should be able to withstand the daily wear and tear of opening and closing, and also resist harsh environmental conditions such as rain and salt air. Enhanced features like insulation and weather stripping can increase the longevity of your door, while intelligent design elements such as automatic openers help to reduce the stress on components. Taking care of your garage doors regularly and using them properly can also help to ensure long life spans.
Steel garage doors are the most common option and offer a balance between strength, price and aesthetics. They are relatively affordable and are durable enough to last for many years with minimal maintenance. Steel is less likely to rust than other materials, and can stand up to extreme weather conditions without damage. Steel can be susceptible to dents, though, and opting for thicker gauge steel or an insulated model can improve dent resistance.
Wood and wood composite doors are a beautiful choice for homeowners seeking a warm, natural look with a cozy feel. The materials are durable, and with options for staining and paint finishes, homeowners can customize their appearances to match any architectural style. Wood and wood composite doors are heavier than steel, which can make them a challenge to lift manually, but they are also more resistant to damage.
For homeowners seeking a sleeker look, aluminum garage doors are an option. They are lightweight and require little maintenance, but they are not as durable as steel or wood. Aluminum is also more susceptible to corrosion and rust than other metals, making it unsuitable for coastal areas with high salt levels in the air.
For garage doors in locations with extreme climates, fiberglass is an ideal material. Its durability is boosted by the fact that it is not as moisture sensitive as other types of doors. Fiberglass can withstand harsh environments and is less likely to corrode than steel or aluminum. It is available in a range of styles and colors, and can be customized with glass windows for a modern or rustic look.
Insulation
Insulated garage doors help reduce energy costs. They prevent cold air from getting into the home in the winter, which means it will take less energy to keep the house warm. They also prevent hot air from entering in the summer, which can lower cooling bills. Additionally, insulated garage doors offer greater design flexibility, quieter operation and better resistance to moisture and pests than non-insulated models.
If you are considering a new insulated garage door, there are several material options to choose from. You should consider their R-value ratings, cost and durability. For example, polystyrene foam provides good insulation and is resistant to moisture. However, it is not very durable and may need replacing over time. Polyisocyanurate foam is more durable and offers a higher R-value rating than polystyrene foam, but it is slightly more expensive.
Another option is fiberglass insulation, which comes in a variety of sized panels and can be faced or unfaced. It is affordable, easy to install and resists moisture and mold growth. Its downside is that it does not offer as high an R-value as some other options.
Finally, you can opt for an insulated garage door with reflective materials, which reflect sunlight and reduce the amount of heat that enters the garage. It is not as effective as the other two types of insulation, but it is an excellent alternative for those who want to cut down on their energy costs.
Regardless of the type of insulation you choose, it is important to ensure that it does not obstruct any moving parts of the garage door or interfere with its operation. Also, make sure that it is properly installed so that it can offer maximum protection and performance.
An insulated garage door can increase the value of your home and help you save on energy costs. In addition, insulated garage doors are made of sturdy materials that won’t sag or dent over time. In addition, they can protect against weather conditions like strong winds and hail. It is therefore a wise investment for any homeowner who wants to improve the look of their garage and the overall appearance of their home.
Safety
In addition to offering a durable, reliable structure, modern garage doors provide enhanced security for your home. These sturdy and robust doors make it difficult if not impossible for burglars to gain entry without the garage door opener or override code. Coupled with our security tips, this provides an excellent deterrent to criminals.
If you have a side-hinged garage door, choose one that is made of strong and sturdy materials and has multiple locking mechanisms to provide even more protection against brute force attacks. If you have a sectional garage door, look for a model that offers superior strength and a solid steel frame. This ensures that the door doesn’t have any leverage points and is difficult to wedge anything under or between the sections.
A garage door safety feature that every homeowner should have is a motion detection system. This turns on the lights in the garage when someone or something crosses the sensor’s path, making it harder for criminals to sneak into your home. This is especially important if you have young children who may be playing near the garage.
Another great garage door safety feature is an auto-reverse mechanism. This is a standard safety feature that is included with most new garage doors. It allows the garage door to reverse immediately if it comes in contact with anything or anyone. This protects your family from serious injury or even death.
While garage doors offer many benefits to homeowners, commercial properties should also consider them for their security features. Unlike residential garage doors, these doors are often larger and more heavily used. This means that they can put a lot of strain on their components, increasing the risk of failure and requiring regular maintenance to keep them in peak operating condition. This is why it is critical for a commercial garage door to comply with the UL325 standards, which are a set of safety guidelines developed by Underwriters Laboratories that address the operation of automatic garage door openers.
It’s important to regularly test your garage door and its operator to see if it meets the UL325 standards. You can do this by pushing a 2×4 flat against the floor and seeing if the garage door reverses upon contact. If it doesn’t, you should have a qualified service technician perform a maintenance inspection.
Style
The type of garage door you choose can have a significant impact on your home’s appearance and curb appeal. Whether you want to add a row of windows or a dramatic color, there are options available that are sure to fit your style.
Sectional garage doors are the most common type of garage door. They consist of panel sections that roll inside a vertical track on each side of the door opening and then bend up to rest parallel to the ceiling when fully open. Wheels on the edges of these panels guide them along this track, and a pair of high-tension springs above the door opening hold the panels in line with each other when the garage is closed.
These garage doors are available in wood or steel, with options for insulation, window placement and design details. Insulated steel garage doors are a good option for many homes because they provide a strong and durable construction that offers a decent R-value of between R-6 to R-9 for moderate climates. These garage doors can be pre-painted in a range of colors and come with or without windows.
A more expensive, but still very durable option, are all-wood garage doors made of moisture-resistant cedar, redwood or cypress. These offer a more rustic and attractive look, but they may need regular refinishing to keep them looking their best. They also typically have a lower R-value of between R-6 to R-9 and can be difficult to maintain in extreme weather conditions.
For homeowners seeking a more modern look, aluminum is an excellent choice. It’s a lightweight material that resists corrosion, rust and dents, and it’s available in a wide range of contemporary styles. It can also be fitted with clear, frosted or obscure windows for natural light and privacy.
Many manufacturers make steel and composite overlay doors that combine the durability of a steel base with the aesthetics of traditional wood or insulated garage doors. They’re often clad with a moisture-resistant composite to prevent warping and rotting, and they’re available in a range of designs including carriage house and single and raised panel.