As automobiles became popular in the late 1800s, owners wanted a way to shelter them without storing them in carriage houses alongside smelly horses. The garage door was born.

Steel doors come in uninsulated, insulated or 3-layer styles that include the interior and exterior of steel with polystyrene insulation sandwiched between. Regular inspection and lubrication keep them moving smoothly. Visit https://patriotgaragedoorok.com/ to learn more.

The garage door is an essential home feature that’s used frequently and can be exposed to harsh environmental conditions. To maximize longevity, it should be properly maintained. This includes regular inspections and maintenance to prevent damage from the elements and heavy usage. Newer garage doors also have improved safety features.

The durability of your garage door depends on the material and construction quality, as well as design elements. Steel garage doors, for example, are durable and low-maintenance. They come in different finishes and styles, so they can complement a variety of homes. These doors are often reinforced for wind resistance and have a high R-value, which helps regulate temperatures in the garage.

Aluminum is another affordable and durable option for residential garage doors. This material is resistant to corrosion and won’t warp or rot in humid climates. Its main drawback is that it doesn’t hold up to strong winds or hail. In addition, the material is vulnerable to dents, which can be costly to repair.

Glass garage doors are more expensive than steel or aluminum, but offer a sleek and modern look that many homeowners want to add to their home. These doors are highly visible from the outside, so they’re not ideal for privacy. They also aren’t as durable as steel or aluminum, so they will likely show dents over time.

The garage door’s spring system is a major factor in its durability. Older garage doors typically use extension springs, which are stretched across horizontal tracks. Newer garage doors may have torsion springs that are attached to a tube and run vertically along the inside of the garage ceiling. These systems are generally considered safer and more reliable than older extension springs, which could break under the weight of a fully opened garage door. These systems are usually accompanied by containment cables, which help to prevent the release of broken spring parts that could hurt someone or cause injury to vehicle or equipment.

A garage door’s longevity also depends on the frequency of usage. If it’s used four or more times a day, it may require more maintenance and replacement parts than a less-used door. Other factors that affect longevity include the frequency of maintenance, environmental conditions and advanced opening mechanisms.

Security

Most people think about securing their front door, but the garage doors are just as important to protect. It may seem like a no-brainer, but an open garage door invites burglars to enter your home and take what they want. Fortunately, there are several ways to beef up your garage’s security.

A good first step is to replace the old latch with a high-security one, which will not only be more difficult for thieves to manipulate, but also provide more protection against blunt force attacks. The type of lock you choose is important, too. Look for a garage door with a locking mechanism that is tamper-proof, such as a cylinder lock, which can only be opened with the key, or a slam lock, which locks automatically when you close the door.

Newer garage door openers come with a variety of features to make them more secure, such as rolling code technology. This alters the signal your remote sends to the opener each time you use it, making it more difficult for a hacker to capture and copy it.

Many older garage doors can be easily broken into because they rely on a simple latch system that is easy for criminals to manipulate. Replacing the garage door with a modern model that has a strong locking mechanism, such as a paneled door or an insulated sectional, can be much more effective.

Adding more security measures, such as motion-sensing floodlights or security cameras, can also be an excellent deterrent to criminals. These can trigger an alarm and cause them to flee. They can also help you to identify a would-be thief, so that you have incriminating evidence to hand over to the police.

Never leave a garage door remote in your car. If a thief gets it, they can open your garage door and then break into the rest of the house. A better solution is to install a garage door shield that blocks the emergency release button, which can prevent them from opening your door. You can also add a t-handle lock, which has an internal lock on the inside and an external keyhole on the outside or a double-sided deadbolt for more security.

Aesthetics

While garage doors serve a crucial functional purpose and are vital to the safety of your home, they also add significant aesthetic value. From design to color, there are numerous ways your new door can elevate the appearance of your home’s exterior, making a positive first impression and potentially increasing its value.

With an abundance of design options and materials to choose from, homeowners have the freedom to express their individual style preferences. Classic wood doors provide a natural, rustic aesthetic while steel doors are durable and low-maintenance. Modern fiberglass options allow manufacturers to produce textured finishes that mimic various textures and can be manufactured to match traditional or rustic homes. With the ability to be insulated, these options offer energy-saving benefits as well.

For a sleek, minimalist look, contemporary garage doors feature straight lines and minimal panels to complement the clean architectural styles of many newer homes. These doors can also be made of unique materials like glass panels or aluminum frames, allowing homeowners to incorporate natural light into their home’s décor and elevate their door’s appearance.

Aside from color, the finish of a garage door is incredibly important. High-quality finishes are formulated to resist damage and fading, so your new garage door will maintain its beauty for years to come. Aside from preventing rust, these finishes also provide additional benefits such as water resistance and UV protection, which are essential to protecting your car and home interiors.

For a dramatic statement, bold and vibrant colors can make a statement and stand out from the surrounding neighborhood. When choosing a color, it’s important to consider your home’s exterior color scheme and existing colors of the landscape, so you don’t clash. Additionally, choosing a shade that coordinates with your home’s trim color can help to create a cohesive appearance.

Maintenance

Garage doors see more use than most household items, and as such, can suffer from greater wear and tear. A little preventive maintenance goes a long way in increasing a garage door’s lifespan. Some of the best hints include lubricating moving parts regularly, cleaning the tracks and door hardware and regularly checking for signs of wear and tear.

Lubricating your garage door’s springs and hinges reduces friction, reducing the strain on those components. Silicone-based lubricants are ideal for this, as they last a long time and can withstand heat and cold. Other types of lubricants are available for more specific applications, including PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene) lubricants which offer resistance to harsh chemicals and temperature fluctuations.

Regularly cleaning the tracks and moving components of your garage door helps to remove dirt and grime that can damage them. This can also help to keep them in good condition, preventing rust and extending their longevity. For example, if your door has aluminum or steel tracks, a mixture of water and mild dish soap can be used to clean them. Regularly rinsing the tracks with a garden hose helps to rinse away any dirt or debris.

Check the moving parts of your garage door for wear and tear, such as loose screws or bolts. These can be tightened using a wrench or screwdriver, and will ensure that the garage door operates smoothly. A squeaky garage door may indicate a loose hinge or roller, which can easily be fixed with a lubricant spray.

Visually inspect the cables that lift your garage door for frays and tears, which can put unnecessary strain on the parts of the door and present a safety hazard to anyone using it. Do not attempt to tinker with the high-tension cables yourself; they have enough force to maim or kill and are best left to a professional.

Test your garage door’s movement sensors, which are installed at each end of the vertical track. When activated, the sensors will automatically reverse your garage door if they detect an object in its path. If yours fail to do so, you’ll need to contact a technician for adjustment.