Upgrade garage door to next-gen durability and curb appeal, House vehicle space tips, Durable security protection for home parking

Eyesore Garage Door? Upgrade to Next-Gen Durability and Curb Appeal

19 February 2024

So your garage door is looking a little…tired? Faded? Dented perhaps? Maybe it’s simply outdated and doesn’t match the style of your home anymore. Well, many homeowners overlook their garage doors, letting them become an eyesore rather than an opportunity to upgrade their home’s curb appeal.

But take heart! Garage doors have come a long way from the simple slab doors of yesteryear. Replacement garage doors now come in a wide range of materials, colors, and designs guaranteed to suit any home’s unique character. Check the hottest trends that will have you eager to revamp your home’s entrance in serious style:

Goodbye Maintenance, Hello Durability

Tired of the yearly ritual of sanding and resealing your wooden garage door? Those days are over! Now, thanks to innovative new materials, you can get the visual appeal of wood without all the upkeep. Here are some of the most popular options:

Steel: Steel doors provide the look of traditional wood but with more durability and less maintenance required. Plus, they come available with a baked-on enamel coating for further protection against the elements.
Fiberglass: For incredible strength, flexibility, and resistance against dings and dents, fiberglass is where it’s at. These doors contain durable glass fibers suspended in a binding resin for a door that maintains its structural integrity and visual appeal over time.
Vinyl: Affordable and low-maintenance describe vinyl garage doors perfectly. Their plastic-y composition makes them impervious to moisture, resistant to dents, and able to withstand extreme temperature fluctuations.

Aluminum: Sleek and contemporary-looking, aluminum is lighter than steel for easy lifting but just as sturdy. It resists corrosion naturally and requires hardly any maintenance aside from occasional cleaning.
Composite: Doors made from composite wood blend polymers with wood fibers to create durable, stable doors that withstand swelling, shrinking, rotting, and splitting. Talk about bulletproof!

Clearly, when it comes to materials that provide long-lasting performance with attractive visual appeal, garage doors have come a long way from plain old wood.

Carriage House, Modern, or Custom

Along with alternative materials, garage door styles have also had quite a makeover. Today’s options let you tailor the look to match your home flawlessly. Popular choices include:

Carriage House Style: This style mimics the double doors found on horse-drawn carriages, giving off a rustic, old-world vibe even using modern materials. Decorative handles, hinges, and window inserts enhance the aesthetic.
Modern, Horizontal Panels: For contemporary home styles, nothing beats the streamlined look of sharp, horizontal panels on garage doors. This style, available in materials like aluminum and composite wood, makes a striking statement.

Custom Wood: Custom wood doors constructed from durable composite or reclaimed barn wood let homeowners match existing trims and finishes. Stains, creative designs, and architectural details help them seamlessly blend with the home’s overall style.

Whatever your personal preferences or home style, there is a garage door design that will complement it beautifully while still being highly functional and weather-resistant.

Beyond the Basics

Basic functionality isn’t enough anymore when it comes to garages and their doors. Homeowners expect conveniences and features that improve security, efficiency, and functionality. Numerous specialty upgrades available now include:

Insulation: For energy efficiency, noise reduction, and added weatherproofing, insulated garage doors are where it’s at. The foam insulation sandwiched between an interior and exterior metal or composite skin keeps garages comfortable and draft-free.
Windows: Once just decorative, windows now come double-paned or tinted for UV ray protection. Well-placed windows enhance natural lighting inside the garage.
WiFi-Enabled: The latest and greatest feature, WiFi-enabled garage doors work with home automation systems, allowing homeowners to control, monitor, and receive alerts about their garage door from anywhere. Pretty cool!

Wind load packages: High wind resistance is achievable through advanced engineering that withstands gusts up to 150 mph. For hurricane-prone areas, this added fortification brings peace of mind.

Specialty features like these let homeowners tailor their new garage doors for optimal function and performance that fits their lifestyle and priorities.

The Design Doesn’t Stop There

With style and functionality covered by material choice and specialty features, there are still numerous ways to make your new garage door uniquely yours through design customizations:

Mix and Match Materials: Combining materials, textures, and panel styles makes it easy to accentuate different sections, like garage door windows. Mix in some decorative hardware on custom wood barn doors for some extra pop.
Custom Painting/Staining: Factory finishes are fine, but for true customization, opt for professional staining, painting, or clear coats to match existing color schemes. Even steel doors can mimic wood tones beautifully.
Decorative Hardware: Swapping out standard galvanized steel hinges for black powder-coated iron hinges and handles makes a serious style statement. The hardware options for dressing up doors are nearly endless.

Decals/Inlays: For a one-of-a-kind look, custom laser-cut door inlays and decals add decorative flair and personality to any garage door material or style. The visual interest they create catches the eye instantly.

With literally hundreds of ways to customize and combine materials, specialty features, hardware, and decorative elements, your garage door possibilities are nearly endless.

Wrap-up

With this winning combination of corrosion resistance, strength, insulation, curb appeal, and personalization potential, your new garage door is guaranteed to stop neighbors in their tracks and have them asking, “Who designed that garage door? It’s gorgeous!”

In other words, it’s finally time to show that tired, old focal point of your home’s exterior some love. Bring your garage door into the 21st century with a modern, maintenance-free makeover it won’t soon forget. Its amazing curb appeal and functionality will remind you every day just why it was so worth it!

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