Don’t be stingy when buying garage doors – even if you have to pay a bit more than you signed up for, it is worth the money as a good door lasts for several years. With minimal maintenance, you don’t have to worry about getting it replaced for a long time.
Get an estimate in person
Please don’t order garage doors over the phone or online. Every garage is a little different, and a knowledgeable salesperson will check details like opening size and shape, headroom and side clearance, and even help you make design decisions. Ask a professional to visit your home, gather the necessary information, and then give you a quote.
Steer clear from wooden doors
These garage doors contribute to aesthetic appeal, but requires a lot of time and money when it comes to maintenance. Natural finishes last a few years before they need recoating. And if you wait too long, you have to sand off all the finish and start over to get your door looking new again. If you want the “wooden door look”, get one made of embossed steel with a faux wood-grain finish – it seems totally authentic.
Upgrade insulation
Planning to buy an insulated door to keep energy costs low or your garage warm? Spend around 15% to 20% more to upgrade to polyurethane insulation. Remember – the insulating effectiveness of a garage door is its R-value; the bigger the number, the better is the insulation.
Invest in sturdy springs
Springs are responsible for helping the garage door go up and come down easily. Most doors use torsion springs that are rated around 10000 cycles, which can be quickly used up if you and close your door six times a day! Pay a bit more and buy a spring rated for 20,000 cycles instead.
Buy a new opener
The same person who installs your new door can also install a new garage door opener. The opener eventually fails, so if it is showing its age or you just want a quieter opener or one with more features, this is the perfect time to replace it.
Get professional help
You could save a few hundred dollars by installing the door yourself, but it is best seek professional assistance. There are numerous parts so it will take least a full day to put them together. Plus, winding the spring calls for special tools and lots of arm strength and is fairly dangerous. If you hire a pro to install the door, the new door will be delivered and the old one hauled away, and the job gets done in a few hours!
Don’t buy your garage door in a hurry – take your time to explore options and then make up your mind.