Avondale Garage Doors add curb appeal, protect cars and other valuables, and enhance a home’s architectural style. They come in various styles and materials, with customizable details that allow homeowners to create unique designs.
Almost all garage doors have a wall-mounted manual release handle that allows someone to halt them quickly in an emergency. InterNACHI inspectors test this mechanism to ensure it works as intended.
The garage door is a large structure that will likely be part of your home for years, so it’s important to choose a design that suits your house’s architectural style and your personal taste. Since it can also be a selling point for your property, you should choose a design that appeals to potential buyers, as well.
Choosing the right design will depend on your climate, maintenance preferences, and energy efficiency needs. For example, if you live in a coastal region, you should opt for a durable material like fiberglass or vinyl to resist corrosion and rust. If energy efficiency is a priority, you should look for insulated doors with high R-values. For a more rustic aesthetic, you can opt for a solid-core wooden door made from high-quality timber such as meranti.
To add a pop of color to your home’s exterior, you can opt for a brightly colored door or go with a neutral hue to match your home’s paint. If you prefer a more understated design, you can choose a door with subtle detailing or a simple glass panel. Other design options include a sleek metal frame, recessed door handles, and anodized finishes.
In addition to the overall appearance, you should consider the size of your door and how it fits into your garage opening. If you’re working with a tight space, you can opt for a sectional door that allows for increased headroom and can be installed in a shorter timeframe. You can even use a vertical lift system to save even more space.
A traditional-style home with decorative half-timbering and stucco exteriors can be complemented by a rustic wood garage door. For an added touch of elegance, you can choose a door with wrought iron strap hinges and decorative handles. For a more relaxed and casual aesthetic, you can opt for a double bay Craftsman-style door with simple molding and leaded glass panels.
If you want to maximize your storage space, you can opt for a bifold door. These doors fold to one side, which frees up more wall space. They’re also easy to operate and automate, and they can be fitted with a safety release handle that lets you manually open the door in case of power outages or opener malfunctions.
Materials
The type of material used in your garage door has an impact on its durability, maintenance requirements and appearance. Your local climate should also guide your decision-making process as certain materials may not be suited for extreme weather conditions. For example, homeowners in Markham, Ontario, may want to choose insulated doors for energy efficiency and comfort.
Wood composite is a great option for those who want the aesthetic of wood without its vulnerability to harsh weather and insect damage. This material is available in a wide variety of patterns, colors and finishes, giving you the ability to create a door that perfectly matches your home’s exterior design. This material is durable and does not warp or split like wood, and it’s resistant to rust and corrosion. It’s a popular choice for homeowners who want to update their outdated steel or aluminum garage doors.
Metal doors made of steel or aluminum are a cost-effective and low-maintenance option. They’re resistant to dents, corrosion and can be fitted with a variety of glass window options that allow natural light into the garage space. They are available in uninsulated, insulated and 3-layer (also known as sandwich) designs that feature steel outer skins with polystyrene or foam insulation. This is a good option for those who want to upgrade their existing insulated garage doors to improve their insulating properties and curb appeal.
A steel or aluminum garage door “sandwich” features a thick-gauge steel outer skin, a core of polystyrene or foam insulation and a lighter-gauge backer to keep the entire structure rigid and sturdy. This type of insulated garage door can be fitted with glass windows to enhance the aesthetic and add natural light to your garage space. The insulated garage door has an R-value of between 5 and 10, making it a great option for homeowners who are looking to increase their home’s energy efficiency.
A fiberglass garage door is another durable and low-maintenance option that’s resistant to dents, corrosion and salt damage. This material is more visually appealing than steel and offers a wide range of color options that can be used to complement your home’s exterior design. It’s a great choice for those who want a more modern look and are interested in increasing their home’s resale value.
Installation
Most garage doors use either a torsion or extension spring system. The type used depends on the door’s size and weight, as well as your home’s structure. A torsion system is safer and more efficient than an extension system. Its cables are braided steel wires that work alongside the springs to open and close the door. To prevent cable damage, it’s important to check your garage door regularly for fraying, sagging and other problems.
If you choose to install a sectional door, take accurate measurements of the opening. Then, purchase panels that are slightly smaller to ensure the garage door fits perfectly in the doorway. Purchasing the correct-sized door is essential to prevent costly repairs later on.
When installing a single-panel garage door, begin by placing weather stripping along the bottom edge of the panel. Then, lay the panel flat on a workbench. Purchase shims at a home improvement store and slide them under the panel, so they are level with its edges. Fasten them in place using lag screws.
Next, attach the vertical track sections to the door frame and doorway wall framing. Attach the roller track to the curved corner tracks and screw it into place. Set the first door panel in place, then mount its hinges to the bottom of the panel and the roller track brackets.
Continue stacking and mounting the other door panels, securing them with their hinges. When you’re ready to install the top panel, place it partway down the door and line it up so its wheels rest on the curved track sections. Attach the hinges to the panel and the track brackets, then screw them in place.
Check the door to make sure the tracks and rollers are secure and level. Also, make sure the safety system is properly installed. This includes sensors that detect objects in the door’s path and a cable that keeps the door from falling down when the power unit is activated. Finally, feed a steel cable over each pulley at the end of the track and secure it with an S-hook attached to the door-track bracket.
Maintenance
Garage doors are one of the largest moving objects in your home. Because of this, it is important to check and perform routine maintenance twice a year to keep your garage door functioning properly. These simple steps include visual inspection, lubrication and cleaning.
Visually inspect the cables that help lift and lower the door. Look for any frayed strands and breakages that may be causing strain on your garage door and posing a safety risk to people or cars in the driveway. It is recommended to leave this step to a professional because working with the high tension cables can be dangerous.
Lubricate all metal parts of your garage door using Garaga metal lubricant. This helps to extend the life of your garage door springs and bearing plates. You can purchase this at most hardware and home improvement stores.
Check for any loose or broken nuts and bolts on the track mounts, hinges, rollers and other hardware on your garage door. Tighten any that are loose and replace any that are worn or damaged.
If your garage door has the photo eye and mechanical auto-reverse features, test these by placing a small object in the path of the closing garage door. If the door hits the object, it should automatically reverse direction and stop.
Lastly, visually inspect the weather stripping at the bottom of your garage door to ensure that it is still in good condition and that it is sealing well. If it is no longer in good shape, replace it right away to protect your home from cold air, dirt and water.
In addition to these general tips, it is also a good idea to have a qualified professional inspect your garage door at least once a year. A professional can identify any potential issues and repair them as necessary to help your garage door stay in good condition for years to come.