Keeping Your Garage Safe

Garages have become more than just a place to park your vehicles. They often do multiple duty as storage units, playrooms, workshops, and pet kennels while also serving many other purposes. Regardless of how you use your garage, you want to ensure it’s a safe area for everyone in your home. From garage door safety to stacking boxes, every homeowner should inspect their garages to make sure there are no hazards lurking in this area of their house. Take time out this week and give your garage a thorough safety inspection. 

  • Organization. It’s easy for a garage to become over-cluttered with old furniture, boxes of clothes and other household items. Check to make sure that all items stored in your garage are properly stacked and braced to reduce the likelihood of boxes collapsing, potentially injuring someone in your household.
     
  • Chemicals. Many garages contain old paint, gasoline cans and other chemicals which can be hazardous under the wrong conditions. Ensure that all potentially dangerous chemicals are stored according to the manufacturer’s directions, and sealed in appropriate containers where small children and pets cannot reach them.
     
  • Lighting. In addition to your garage door light, ensure that there is adequate lighting throughout the garage to reduce the chance of tripping or falling after dark.
     
  • Garage door safety. Garage doors can be hazardous if not properly maintained. Check your garage doorfor proper balance, ensure that safety features are working correctly and that the door moves smoothly on its tracks. Have your garage door opener tuned once a year, with a full inspection of springs, pulleys and other components. If it has been over a year, call your local garage door company today to schedule a tune-up.

Posted on behalf of Legacy Garage Doors

 

Why Choose an Insulated Garage Door

A new garage door is a big investment either to your new home or for replacing an old door on your current home. Garage doors can add to the comfort, curb appeal, and security of your home. There are many factors to consider when choosing new garage doors: cost, material, design, insulation, and building code requirements. Taking into consideration how your garage will be used and where it is located in your home can help make your decision easier. 

Most people want a garage door that adds curb appeal to their home if they have a front facing garage door. That decision is probably the easiest. Now, let’s consider where the garage door is located in terms of the rest of the house. If the garage door is located below a bedroom or kitchen or living space in the home, insulation matters. Garages are typically very cool environments because of the fact that they are constructed of cement and are open spaces. Having a cold garage underneath a bedroom can cause issues in the home, especially during cooler months. Heat also radiates upward during the summer months, keeping the garage cooler but rooms above feeling like an oven. 

Bedrooms above the garage typically fluctuate in temperature much more drastically than the rest of the house. If the garage is attached to your house and located below a living space, you will greatly benefit from an insulated garage door. Insulated garage doors help to keep out cold, heat, and humidity as the outdoor temperatures fluctuate throughout the year. By being able to maintain a more balanced temperature within the garage, any rooms above also benefit. An insulated garage door may cost a bit more at the time of purchase, but it will prove cost effective when you compare the heating and cooling costs of the home. Talk to your trusted local garage door company about your options for choosing an insulated garage door.

Posted on behalf of Legacy Garage Doors

Garage Door Replacement

While garage doors have a relatively long life span, they will eventually need to be replaced due as a result of damage, wearing out or appearance.  Twenty years ago, garage door styles were fairly limited, as was the materials that that were used to manufacture the door.  Often the only way to get a garage door that was architecturally compatible with the style of the home was to purchase an expensive custom door, as mass produced, cost effective and architecturally correct garage doors were not available in the marketplace. In addition, in the past, many doors were made of inferior materials that did not weather well. 

Today, the major manufacturers of garage doors offer dozens of different door styles from classic doors with or without glass panels to carriage style doors.   New garage doors are now available with flush, recessed or raised panels, depending upon the style of the home that the door is going to be used on. 

In addition, doors are now available that are either non-insulated or insulated for colder climates.  The materials available include steel, faux wood, real wood, as well as other composite materials.  The door panels can be either smooth or have a simulated wood grain molded into the door panel.  The doors can be either painted or stained, adding more possibilities to the overall appearance of the home. 

Most doors are now available in a variety of widths and heights as well.  In short, never before have so many options been available.  A qualified garage door contractor can assist in determining the perfect replacement garage door for your home at a very reasonable price!

Posted on behalf of Legacy Garage Doors

Benefits of Insulated Garage Doors

If you are in the market for replacing your garage door, now may be a good time to consider purchasing an insulated garage door for your home. Insulated garage doors are actually more affordable than you may think, while providing many advantages over other doors. 

Insulated by several layers of environmentally safe insulation, these doors are typically strong and durable. Insulated doors are actually quieter than standard garage doors and can serve as an extra barrier to keep out moisture and insects. Of course, the main reason to purchase an insulated garage door is to help regulate the temperature in your garage, as well as your home (if they are attached). An insulated door moderates the temperature to a comfortable level, whether it is hot or cold. Regulating the temperature in your garage will also protect tools, equipment and supplies from the effects of drastic temperature changes. 

Most importantly, perhaps, is the benefit of lowered energy costs, especially if your garage is attached to your home. A lot of air conditioning and heat are wasted, from the house then out the garage door. Furthermore, rooms in the house that are directly adjacent to an uninsulated garage, will require the use of more air conditioning or heat in order to counteract the temperature in the garage, for them to feel more comfortable. 

Contact your local garage door service company to discuss the possibility of replacing your old garage door with one that is insulated. They can help you assess your energy concerns to ascertain what is your best option. Insulated garages can be a great investment and, best of all, it will save you money in the long run.