For many people, their home is their largest single investment. However, a home is an investment that requires routine maintenance and periodic attention to things that are subject to daily wear and tear. When it comes to the garage, the thing that will require replacement is the door.
A garage door often plays a significant role in the overall looks, the curb appeal. Deciding to replace the garage door system can have a dramatic impact on the appearance of the garage, as well as your home.
There are ten valid reasons why you should consider replacing the door on your home.
Value
A garage door not only improves the appearance of your home but also has a significant bearing on its market value. A new and modern garage door is one thing about a house that will impress potential buyers. Although the appearance is of paramount importance, so are quality and ease of maintenance.
Anyone in the real estate business will be the first to tell you that homes sell quicker when the attached garage is in good condition.
Appearance
Several things go a long way to improve the appearance of a home. A new garage door is one of them. Garage doors today are available in a wide variety of styles, colors, and finishes. Having so many options available makes it easy to transform the way your home looks to neighbors and potential buyers.
This is particularly the case if the current garage door is out of date and worn out.
Heating and Cooling Costs
In many cases, home design is such that there is living space directly above an attached garage. If this is the case with your home or uses the garage as a work area, installing a new garage door with an R-16 insulation rating is ideal.
An insulated garage door does double duty. It keeps cool air in during the summer months and the cold air out during bitter winter weather. An insulated garage door quickly pays for itself in savings.
Time and Maintenance
A tired, worn-out garage door is a maintenance headache. When you decide to replace the door, you should see an immediate reduction in maintenance time, trouble, and expense. There is no comparison between older garage doors and low maintenance, prefinished metal doors.
The periodic ritual of sanding and scraping off flaking paint will become a thing of the past. A prefinished metal door requires little more than an occasional washing with mild soap and water.
Storage Safety
Most homeowners use available space in their garages to store seasonal items or items they don’t have room for in the house. What is important is to protect the contents of the garage from inclement weather. A garage door that does not fit the frame correctly or lacks insulation provides little protection from extreme weather and potential security issues.
Installing a new garage door, one which is well insulated and has a moisture barrier protects valuables. To increase safety and weather protection even more, consider adding rubber weather stripping.
Increased Utility
A new garage door system allows you to make better use of the space. A new door means no more struggling opening and closing a door that is warped and misaligned. Not only will a new door work smoothly and effortlessly, but your garage will also be well sealed and insulated, making space a more comfortable and enjoyable workspace,
A comfortable garage is ideal for children’s play space, a studio, workshop, or an air-conditioned storage area.
Insurance Benefits
A garage door that fails to close properly provides no security for the contents. A new garage door ensures the security of everything stored in the garage. Older garage doors, especially those made from wood, have no insulation and are far easier for thieves to enter.
Although a new garage door is no guarantee of absolute security, it is a well-known fact that a space that is difficult to penetrate is a deterrent. Rather than take time, and make noise, a potential thief will move on to an easier target.
A new, fully insulated garage door provides far better security for the garage itself. The same garage door system can also improve home security. Those involved in home security systems will be the first to tell you that the primary access point for a potential thief is via the garage door.
Many garage doors available today are fitted with sophisticated coded locking systems, making it extremely difficult, if not impossible, for a thief to gain entry to your home through the attached garage.
Insurance Benefits
A new garage door can help minimize personal injury for you or a family member. Many modern garage doors come equipped with a photoelectric detection system. These sophisticated systems sense when someone or something is entering or leaving the garage while the door is in motion.
The moment the sensor beam is broken, the door instantly reverses. The door will return to its fully open position, preventing potential injury or damage. The electrics can be configured to act as a switch, turning the garage light on and off when the door is activated.
Insurance Benefits
Once you have completed the installation of your new garage door, you have, by default, improved the safety and security of your home. Often, installing a more secure garage door results in a reduction in your home insurance premium.
Once the new garage door has been installed, inform your insurer. You may be pleasantly surprised that your premiums will be reduced.
