Everything You Need to Know Before Garage Door Replacement
Buying or replacing garage doors is a once-in-a-lifetime event in most homeowner’s lives. No one knows a lot about the dos and don’ts of buying a new garage door. Here are some things you should keep in mind while buying a new garage door.
1. COST
Garage doors aren’t an expensive investment. Single car garage doors start at less than $500. A standard two-car garage door with an automatic opener that is installed professionally will cost somewhere between $1500-$2000.
2. SIZE
Size is an important component in deciding everything related to your new residential garage door repair- from its cost to its material and size.
3. MATERIAL
Choosing the right material for the garage doors during garage door replacement in Houston is very important. It should match your home exterior. It also affects the look, longevity, and maintenance of your garage doors. There are 4 main materials for garage doors.
● Steel
Steel is the most used material for garage doors. It has a wide range of colours, insulation, and price. It is a durable material and doesn’t crack or break. Most steel doors don’t rust or need frequent colouring due to being hot-dipped galvanized with primer baked on. The biggest con of steel is it is easily dented and that is an expensive repair.
● Aluminum
Aluminum is the most modern-looking door that creates great aesthetics. It can be paired with frames or glasses or painted according to your choice of aesthetics. The biggest con is, it is more susceptible to dents than steel.
● Wood
Wood is easily painted and stained according to your liking to give the best curb appeal. It is easily repaired and doesn’t dent. If properly cared for, wood is exceptionally durable. The biggest con? It is expensive and is high-maintenance.
● Composite Wood
Composite Wood is a great alternative to wood. It has a faux wood overlay on a steel interior. It is durable and low maintenance. This is perfect for having the look of a wooden garage door but reaping the benefits of a steel door.
4. INSULATION
Insulation is an important defence against wasted energy especially if there is a room above the garage. There are 3 insulation options:
● Single Layer Doors- No Insulation
● Double Layer Doors- Polystyrene Insulation
● Triple Layer Doors –Polystyrene or Polyurethane Insulation
5. STYLE
Even though the style changes according to the material of the door, you can always add extra features to match your taste. You can do this by adding windows, hardware, and panelling.
6. GARAGE DOOR OPENERS
There are 3 types of operators for garage door openers:
● Belt Drives
A quieter and smoother opening of your garage door with no ongoing maintenance.
● Screw Drives
This uses a steel rod to open your garage door and needs to be oiled/ lubricated regularly.
● Chain Drives
Noisier but economical option with a chain attached to a metal trolley.
The second option is of choosing the horsepower of the motor. Select the horsepower according to the weight of your new garage door. A higher horsepower motor is more durable.
A manual emergency release should be added to the overhead garage door in Houston for safety reasons. You can add extra features like vacation settings, battery backup, and wireless keypads.
After this, you can always add the smarter features of an overhead door in Houston like the “smart home” capabilities in which you can connect it to the wifi and open or close it with a mobile application.