Home Exterior Improvement Part 4: Garage Doors

Home Exterior Improvement Part 1: Clean Up Your Yard
Home Exterior Improvement Part 2: Small Things
Home Exterior Improvement Part 3: Doors and Windows
Home Exterior Improvement Part 4: Garage Doors

Being that we are a garage door and gate company here in Victoria, we would be remiss not to mention the impact that garage doors have on the exterior of your home. Garage doors, in some cases, may take up to 40% of the façade of your home and may be one of the first things that people see. Neglecting your doors has a significant impact on safety, function and visual appeal.

Let’s see how we can solve that.

DIY Refreshing

Are your existing garage doors still in good shape? How can you know? There are a number of things you can check to determine the safety and condition of your doors. This includes inspections of the hardware including springs, cables, rollers, pulleys and mounting hardware.  You should also check the reversing mechanism and photo eye sensor.

See this for a more detailed look at garage door inspection.

Let’s assume that your doors are still in good condition. There are a number of ways to improve the look of your doors without having to replace them. Here are a few ideas that may inspire you:

Refinish Panels
If you have generic (that’s another word for boring) looking garage doors, white being very common, then refresh the finish by painting or even getting creative with a faux wood finish. You can refinish whether you have wood or aluminum doors. Refinishing your doors will give you a new look while extending the life of the doors.

Replace or Add Glass
If you have doors that have no glass, or glass styles that are sadly outdated, you can replace the panels and immediately give your doors a new look.

Faux Glass
Don’t want to add glass? How about faux glass? You can add plastic resin faux panels to the front of your doors. Alternatively, you can even just paint some “windows” on your doors.

Faux Hardware
Who says those handles and hinges actually need to be functional? Add some hardware to your door simply for visual appeal.

Door Replacement

So maybe your doors are in the twilight of their existence. Perhaps they don’t operate as smoothly as they once did and are quite possibly not safe anymore. Replacing the doors will improve function and give you the opportunity of upgrading the thermal characteristics of your garage. If you have no plan on selling you home, you will enjoy the form and function of your new doors. If you are planning to sell, the investment in the curb appeal of your home will likely be rewarded.

As with all of our exterior improvement tips, there are budget options and more expensive options. As a Do-It-Yourselfer, you can refinish and really give a boost to the look of your garage doors, assuming they are still in good repair. If you need to replace the doors, it will require the service of professionals but it will be relatively quick and painless, while providing an upgrade for your own enjoyment or as a preparation for resale.

Home Exterior Improvement Part 1: Clean Up Your Yard
Home Exterior Improvement Part 2: Small Things
Home Exterior Improvement Part 3: Doors and Windows
Home Exterior Improvement Part 4: Garage Doors