Curb appeal is an important consideration for your home - regardless of whether you're selling or simply upgrading.
First, most people’s homes face the street. That often means their garage door is also facing the street and that the garage doors can claim as much as a third of what people see from the street.
Secondly, first impressions are as important for homes as they are for people. What does your garage door say about your home when someone gives it the once-over from the street or comes up the driveway?
So, if you’re trying to increase the value or saleability of your home or simply impress your neighbors and your garage doors don’t look the part, it will be an uphill battle to turn around a negative first impression.
Finally, according to recent studies - garage doors have one of the highest return-on-investments of any home improvement project.
So, think first impressions and curb appeal - then upgrade both with an updated garage door!
Garage Doors for Every Taste
Showing posts with label garage door design. Show all posts
Showing posts with label garage door design. Show all posts
April 28, 2011
April 21, 2011
Victorian house's facade converted to a folding garage-door
This is so cool - I had to share it!!
By Cory Doctorow
Here's a clever architectural solution to a San Francisco homeowner's desire to add a garage to an old Victorian home without falling afoul of rules requiring the maintenance of the original facade. The homeowner, architects and engineers figured out how to turn the original bay window into a set of fold-away garage-doors.
Toronto's original city plan called for coach-houses and alleys behind dwellings, rather than garages in the front of the house. In the older parts of the city, these are an institution. Nevertheless, it can be very difficult to get planning approval to replace one of these back-alley garages today. Canny residents and contractors have found a way around this obstacle: it's much easier to get a permit to maintain a coach-house than to tear down a falling-down house and build a new one, so some contractors specialize in building a new coach-house without tearing down the old one, keeping various pieces of the old one intact throughout the building process so that they can credibly claim to be repairing, rather than replacing it.
Corey, a mechanical engineer by education and a problem solver by nature, conceived the idea of converting the walls of the bay window into door panels that would fold into the garage space to allow cars to enter, and then fold back into place, keeping the historic appearance intact. The planning department agreed that this concept was provisionally acceptable. To help him realize this concept, Corey hired fellow problem solver Robert Boles of Beausoleil Architects to devise the details and keep the project in-line with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards. One of the goals of the standards is to keep not only the historical appearance, but to keep the 'historic fabric' - the original wood and glass building materials - intact wherever possible.
VIDEO OF THIS UNIQUE DOOR HERE
By Cory Doctorow
Here's a clever architectural solution to a San Francisco homeowner's desire to add a garage to an old Victorian home without falling afoul of rules requiring the maintenance of the original facade. The homeowner, architects and engineers figured out how to turn the original bay window into a set of fold-away garage-doors.
Toronto's original city plan called for coach-houses and alleys behind dwellings, rather than garages in the front of the house. In the older parts of the city, these are an institution. Nevertheless, it can be very difficult to get planning approval to replace one of these back-alley garages today. Canny residents and contractors have found a way around this obstacle: it's much easier to get a permit to maintain a coach-house than to tear down a falling-down house and build a new one, so some contractors specialize in building a new coach-house without tearing down the old one, keeping various pieces of the old one intact throughout the building process so that they can credibly claim to be repairing, rather than replacing it.
Corey, a mechanical engineer by education and a problem solver by nature, conceived the idea of converting the walls of the bay window into door panels that would fold into the garage space to allow cars to enter, and then fold back into place, keeping the historic appearance intact. The planning department agreed that this concept was provisionally acceptable. To help him realize this concept, Corey hired fellow problem solver Robert Boles of Beausoleil Architects to devise the details and keep the project in-line with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards. One of the goals of the standards is to keep not only the historical appearance, but to keep the 'historic fabric' - the original wood and glass building materials - intact wherever possible.
VIDEO OF THIS UNIQUE DOOR HERE
March 18, 2011
What Are Eco-Friendly Garage Doors?
Chris Keenan is a writer for Precision Garage Door.
Most people are becoming more conscious of the effects human activity is having on the environment. So, many of us are attempting to live a ‘greener’ life and the truth of the matter is, small changes really can make a big difference. One such change is to choose an eco-friendly garage door, but what are eco-friendly garage doors?
What is an Eco-Friendly Garage Door?
Eco-friendly garage doors are often made from recycled or recyclable materials, which are resistant to weather damage and aging. In addition, the goal of a ‘green’ garage door is to help insulate your home. As you may already know, the garage door is likely to be the largest opening to your house and, if not properly insulated, can lead to increased energy use.
The doors are made from a variety of materials, so homeowners do not have to compromise the style of their home. For example, some eco-friendly garage doors are made from recycled wood fibres. On the other hand, there are many doors made from steel, which is considered ‘green’, because it has longevity and is recyclable.
Why Choose an Eco-Friendly Garage Door?
The most obvious reason to choose an environmentally friendly garage door is to do your bit to save the planet. However, if you need more of an incentive, there are many other reasons. For example, as mentioned above, the improved insulation of a ‘green’ garage door will dramatically improve the energy efficiency of your home, thereby reducing fuel costs.
Moreover, if you select a garage door that is made from composite materials, which will not warp or rot, it will not require the annual garage door repair or maintenance, such as painting or staining, that some older ones do.
In addition, it is worth mentioning the curb appeal of an attractive garage door. In these uncertain financial times, the housing market is a tough nut to crack, so if you want to ensure that your home stands out from the crowd, it is wise to consider the external appeal of your home.
How to Find an Eco-Friendly Garage Door
As with any purchase, it is essential to do some research and shop around for your new garage door. The internet is a great resource for this, as most all manufacturers list the details of their eco-friendly garage door and instructions on how to purchase. Which manufacturer to choose really depends on your location and your own personal preference.
Disposal of Your Old Door
One last thing to keep in mind when making your eco-friendly garage door purchase is what will happen to your old door. While many installers will take your old garage door away for recycling, some will just end up in a landfill, so be sure to ask them what they will do with it. Or, if you are feeling creative, there are a number of clever ways you can recycle and reuse your old garage door.
Most people are becoming more conscious of the effects human activity is having on the environment. So, many of us are attempting to live a ‘greener’ life and the truth of the matter is, small changes really can make a big difference. One such change is to choose an eco-friendly garage door, but what are eco-friendly garage doors?
What is an Eco-Friendly Garage Door?
Eco-friendly garage doors are often made from recycled or recyclable materials, which are resistant to weather damage and aging. In addition, the goal of a ‘green’ garage door is to help insulate your home. As you may already know, the garage door is likely to be the largest opening to your house and, if not properly insulated, can lead to increased energy use.
The doors are made from a variety of materials, so homeowners do not have to compromise the style of their home. For example, some eco-friendly garage doors are made from recycled wood fibres. On the other hand, there are many doors made from steel, which is considered ‘green’, because it has longevity and is recyclable.
Why Choose an Eco-Friendly Garage Door?
The most obvious reason to choose an environmentally friendly garage door is to do your bit to save the planet. However, if you need more of an incentive, there are many other reasons. For example, as mentioned above, the improved insulation of a ‘green’ garage door will dramatically improve the energy efficiency of your home, thereby reducing fuel costs.
Moreover, if you select a garage door that is made from composite materials, which will not warp or rot, it will not require the annual garage door repair or maintenance, such as painting or staining, that some older ones do.
In addition, it is worth mentioning the curb appeal of an attractive garage door. In these uncertain financial times, the housing market is a tough nut to crack, so if you want to ensure that your home stands out from the crowd, it is wise to consider the external appeal of your home.
How to Find an Eco-Friendly Garage Door
As with any purchase, it is essential to do some research and shop around for your new garage door. The internet is a great resource for this, as most all manufacturers list the details of their eco-friendly garage door and instructions on how to purchase. Which manufacturer to choose really depends on your location and your own personal preference.
Disposal of Your Old Door
One last thing to keep in mind when making your eco-friendly garage door purchase is what will happen to your old door. While many installers will take your old garage door away for recycling, some will just end up in a landfill, so be sure to ask them what they will do with it. Or, if you are feeling creative, there are a number of clever ways you can recycle and reuse your old garage door.
February 8, 2011
Why an Insulated Garage Door?
How you use your garage impacts the garage door you need. If you have a workshop or do projects in the garage, consider an insulated garage door that protects against both heat and cold, and insulates against sound too.
January 17, 2011
Want Wood Looks at a Steel Price?
Many homeowners favor the high-end look of wood carriage-house style doors, but they don't want the upkeep or the price tag that comes with them. Manufacturers now have less-expensive, low-maintenance versions in steel with layered, wood-grain composite overlays or embossed patterns. Unlike wood, a steel carriage house door is easier to maintain and resists both fading and rot due to exposure.
October 13, 2010
Slide Show of Over 40 Different Garage Doors
This great Slide Show of Over 40 Different Garage Doors provides you a chance to see many different garage door styles and designs quickly and easily. Slides can be forwarded manually or as a slide show. Enjoy!
Amarr Launches Garage Door Design Contest
Repost from Professioanl Door Dealer - Winston-Salem, N.C.
Whether you are a seasoned designer or just like to doodle on the back of napkin, Amarr Garage Doors has a contest for you. Amarr, one of the world’s leading designers, manufacturers and distributors of garage doors, is seeking ideas for the next generation of garage doors in its Great Garage Door Design Competition.
Amarr welcomes exterior garage door designs from architects, draftsmen, graphic artists and other professionals, but you don’t have to be a pro to enter the contest. Entries can be detailed sketches or simple drawings but must be submitted in a pdf format via e-mail to DoorDesign@Amarr.com in order to be considered in the competition. Students 18 and over also are encouraged to enter the contest.
“This is an opportunity for both professionals and budding designers to let their minds run free as they come up with garage door designs,” Amarr Chief Executive Officer Richard Brenner says. “Those who enter the contest should feel free to include details about materials or construction along with their design but it is not a requirement of the contest.”
Brenner added that entries do not have to be designed to reflect a particular type of architecture or home style. “The doors also do not necessarily have to be for a garage,” he adds. “There are lots of other uses for garage doors besides garages. Think out of the box and outside the garage!”
Amarr will accept contest entries until December 31, 2010. Each contestant may submit up to three door designs. A panel of judges from Amarr will evaluate the entries and announce the winner(s) on February 28, 2011. Amarr may select multiple winners. The winner(s) will receive a $500 cash prize, a certificate of achievement and will earn royalties based on sales if Amarr decides to manufacture and sell the winning design. Amarr is under no obligation to manufacture any winning design. More information and contest rules for the Great Garage Door Design Competition are available at http://www.amarr.com/content/doordesign.html.
Whether you are a seasoned designer or just like to doodle on the back of napkin, Amarr Garage Doors has a contest for you. Amarr, one of the world’s leading designers, manufacturers and distributors of garage doors, is seeking ideas for the next generation of garage doors in its Great Garage Door Design Competition.
Amarr welcomes exterior garage door designs from architects, draftsmen, graphic artists and other professionals, but you don’t have to be a pro to enter the contest. Entries can be detailed sketches or simple drawings but must be submitted in a pdf format via e-mail to DoorDesign@Amarr.com in order to be considered in the competition. Students 18 and over also are encouraged to enter the contest.
“This is an opportunity for both professionals and budding designers to let their minds run free as they come up with garage door designs,” Amarr Chief Executive Officer Richard Brenner says. “Those who enter the contest should feel free to include details about materials or construction along with their design but it is not a requirement of the contest.”
Brenner added that entries do not have to be designed to reflect a particular type of architecture or home style. “The doors also do not necessarily have to be for a garage,” he adds. “There are lots of other uses for garage doors besides garages. Think out of the box and outside the garage!”
Amarr will accept contest entries until December 31, 2010. Each contestant may submit up to three door designs. A panel of judges from Amarr will evaluate the entries and announce the winner(s) on February 28, 2011. Amarr may select multiple winners. The winner(s) will receive a $500 cash prize, a certificate of achievement and will earn royalties based on sales if Amarr decides to manufacture and sell the winning design. Amarr is under no obligation to manufacture any winning design. More information and contest rules for the Great Garage Door Design Competition are available at http://www.amarr.com/content/doordesign.html.
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