The Beauty of Wood in a Aluminum Door

Sometimes technology really scores!

Check out these pictures from a recent garage door install in the Seattle area.

It's really hard to believe that these "wood" doors are really aluminum.

Yep, all the looks of wood with all the low maintenance and advantages of metal. Technology is getting better and better... BTW - these are from Northwest Door's new series.

 

Saving Energy with Garage Door Insulation

Garage Door Insulation


In today’s economy people are looking at ways to save money and cut costs. One of the biggest costs homeowners face during the winter months is heating. It’s a delicate balance between keeping the thermostat high enough to be comfortable but low enough so you can still afford to pay the bills. Properly insulating your home goes a long way in reducing your energy bill and keeping your house warmer, but often the biggest cause of a cold home, the garage, is overlooked.

An improperly insulated garage will become cold in the winter as temperatures drop. The cold garage siphons heat away from the adjacent rooms, causing those rooms to become colder and forcing your heating system to work harder and expend more energy. Don’t worry, you don’t need to rip apart your garage to fix this.

Weather Stripping and Bottom Seal

The first thing you want to do is check the weather stripping and bottom seal around the perimeter of the garage door. From the inside of your garage, run your hand along the perimeter of the garage door and feel for drafts. Is the weather stripping and bottom seal cracked, or aging? Is there even any weather stripping or stop molding in place?

Replacing or adding good weather stripping and bottom seal is one of the biggest improvements you can make to your garage door to keep the cold out. Just like an insulated window, it doesn’t matter how good it is if you leave it open.

You can pick up weather strip and bottom seal at your local hardware store. Or you can call Precision and our certified technicians will winterize your garage door for you.

Insulating Your Garage Door

Having taken care of the weather stripping and bottom seal around the garage door, you can take the next step of adding insulation onto the garage door itself. You can purchase a garage door insulation kit from your local hardware store. They sell for $50 – $150 depending upon the size and type of the door.

We don’t recommend insulating the garage door itself as it adds weight to the door. Garage doors are designed to be lifted with a counter balance spring system. The springs render the door weight neutral which allows the garage door opener to lift the door. If you add extra weight to the door we recommend changing the springs to maintain balance. The change in insulation is minimal for all this extra work though. If you really need to add extra insulation you should consider buying a new insulated garage door.

Buy A New Insulated Garage Door

These suggestions will only go so far, especially if you have an older door. If you want to make the biggest impact on stopping the cold consider buying a new insulated garage door. With the government still offering a 30% Energy Tax Credit on new energy efficient garage doors it’s never been a better time. A new insulated garage door can make a huge difference in your heating bill. To find our what the best insulated garage door is call your local Precision Door.

One Last Tip

Now that your garage door is sealed and insulated, it might be a good idea to look at the door that leads into the house from the garage. Check to make sure that door is also properly sealed and insulated.

In the end, anything you do to reduce the inflow of cold air to your garage will help reduce your heating bill each month. It’s hard to tell just how much money you’ll save, but as time goes on those savings will add up. You’ll appreciate the difference, in both your wallet and being in a warmer, more comfortable house.

The Internet, Garage Doors and Curb Appeal

Want to add long-term value and attract buyers? Could consider a facelift for your garage.

Statistics show that more than 90 percent of home buyers turn to the Internet first in their home searches, often basing their decisions to learn more about a property from the photos they see of a home's exterior. With large portions of a home's facade often comprised of a street-facing garage door, it's no surprise that garage door replacement is, for the second year in a row, rated among the best home renovation projects for returning value at resale.


The 2011-2012 Cost vs. Value survey determined that garage door replacement was a top-five value-returning project after evaluating a typical $1,500 cost to replace a basic garage door with a mid-range garage model. The survey determined the value of that replacement at home sale to be nearly $1,100. This equates to a 71.9 percent ROI and is the fourth-highest rated project a homeowner can undertake, according to the study. Meanwhile, the roughly $3,000 cost to replace a mid-range model with an upscale one had an estimated value at sale of about $2,130, equating to a 71.1 percent return.


The Cost vs. Value Report is conducted in partnership with the National Association of Realtors and Hanley Wood, publisher of Remodeling magazine.

Should I change both garage door springs, or just the one spring that is broken?

Most double car garage doors have two springs across the top of the door and often only one will be broken.  It's a question we get all the time.. "Should I change both springs, or just the one spring that is broken?"


We highly recommend that you change both springs at the same time. since both springs have been under the same amount of stress each time the door has been opened and closed. Torsion springs have definate lifespans and if one has broken there's a good chance the other is just ast fatigued. Yes, it's makes your garage door repair more expensive today... but in many cases it will cost less to have both springs changed at the same time than changing one spring today and the other next week or next month.  In addition, if you have extension springs on your door, the door may not balance properly with one new spring and one fatigued spring.

If you have, or suspect, a broken spring - contact a garage door professional today to have both springs replaced and get your door back in proper working order!

Beautiful New Carriage Style Garage Doors

Georgeous New Carriage Doors really make this garage special!