Installing a New Garage Door Can Give Your Home a Lift

Despite its hanging in there through life’s ups and downs, it’s time to replace your garage door. A new garage door can improve the look of your entire home, but what should you expect to pay?

Garage door installation — not including an opener — costs about $2,300, on average, according to the National Association of the Remodeling Industry, or NARI. But the cost of your new garage door will vary depending on where you live, the size and type of door you choose and who installs it.

Keep reading to find out how much a garage door should cost, the factors that affect cost and tips to make it more affordable.

Garage door cost breakdown

Here’s a breakdown of factors in the final cost of your new garage door:

Size

A standard single-car garage door is 8 to 10 feet wide, while a two-car garage door is 12 to 18 feet wide. Garage doors also come in different heights and thicknesses, and in general, the bigger they are, the more they cost.

Type

Most homes have sectional or roll-up garage doors, which tend to be more affordable. Other types include the one-piece or swing up, the swing out or carriage-house style and sliding garage doors.

Materials and hardware

• Steel: Durable and low-maintenance, steel garage doors are a popular residential option. But steel doors are also heavy, hard on an opener and easily dented. Steel is typically one of the most affordable garage door materials. The cost of a steel, two-car garage door generally ranges from $750 to $3,500 depending on the style and construction.
• Aluminum: Lighter than steel, aluminum is rust-resistant and well-suited for wider doors. Though generally affordable like steel, aluminum is a poor insulator and bends easily. The cost of an aluminum two-car garage door typically ranges from $1,500 to $2,000.
• Wood and composite wood: Solid wood garage doors are heavy, require upkeep and are expensive. Composite wood garage doors are lighter and less expensive than solid wood, but not as durable as metal or synthetic materials. The cost of a wood or composite wood two-car garage door generally ranges from $1,200 to $4,000.
• Fiberglass: Resistant to rot and rust, fiberglass doors are light and available in many looks. Fiberglass is generally affordable, but it yellows with age and sometimes cracks in extreme temperatures. The cost of a fiberglass two-car garage door typically ranges from $1,500 to $2,000.
• Vinyl: Vinyl garage doors are lightweight and low-maintenance and can take a beating, making them ideal for high-traffic homes. Vinyl is prone to fading, however, and style options are limited. The cost for a vinyl two-car garage door generally ranges from $900 to $1,500.

An automatic opener with infrared safety beam, if not already installed, may be required for proper door function. The cost to install a garage door opener may range from $200 to $650 depending on horsepower and features.

Professional installation

Hanging a garage door isn’t for the average person, says Jim McGrath, CEO of Doors Galore in Clayton, Ohio. For starters, garage doors are heavy and difficult to move into place without the right equipment. The powerful springs and cables required to operate the door are dangerous if handled incorrectly.

Hiring a professional installer may cost about $200 to $500 of the total job, depending on your location and complexity of the work, but it’s faster, safer and comes with a warranty.

How to plan your garage door installation

1. Have a goal in mind. Is your current door malfunctioning and you need a full replacement, or are you hoping for a better price when you sell your house? Your reason for buying a new garage door should guide style choices and how much you spend.

2. Hire the right installer. Compare quotes from at least three garage door installers, including a chain like Lowe’s or Home Depot, to make sure you’re getting a good deal, McGrath says. Make sure the price includes parts, labor and disposal of the old door.

The best installers are licensed and insured and warranty their work, says Linda Anderson, owner of Coast Garage Door Co. in Seaside, Oregon. Ask for examples of past projects and make sure they follow local building codes.

3. Think about the weather. Extreme hot or cold, high winds and corrosive coastal air take a toll on garage doors. Talk to your installer about the garage door materials and hardware that make sense for your climate.

4. Keep it simple. An garage door with windows, custom colors or keypad locks may seem exciting but will cost more. Aim for a door that matches the look of your house. Simple, durable doors are generally the most affordable.

Reasons for garage door replacement

• Your current door is damaged. Repairing an old garage door’s tracks, springs and rollers can cost hundreds of dollars. Your money might be better spent on a brand-new door, McGrath says. Replacement means a new warranty and ensures the door meets current safety standards.

• You want to increase energy efficiency or security. The garage may be your home’s biggest entrance or serve as an extra room. If you want to conserve energy or feel safer, a new garage door with extra insulation or an open-door alert system may be the answer.

• You want more curb appeal. The garage door is a prominent part of your home’s exterior, whether the garage is attached or detached, Anderson says.

• You want to increase home value. If your door is faded, dented, rusting or otherwise showing its age, a new one may help you sell your home at a higher price. An upgraded garage door recovers up to 87% of its cost in added resale value, according to the National Association of Realtors.

source: https://www.nhregister.com/realestate/article/Installing-a-New-Garage-Door-Can-Give-Your-Home-a-13008202.php

for a free garage price quote, please visit our website at

http://a1overhead.com

Realtors say improving a home's curb appeal adds to the most resale value

REALTORS SAY IMPROVING A HOME'S CURB APPEAL ADDS THE MOST RESALE VALUE

Any real estate professional will tell you curb appeal is important. If prospective buyers don't like what they see from the street, they won't waste time going inside.

A new garage door is an easy upgrade that can boost a home's curb appeal and asking price, without breaking the bank, and these numbers prove it.

Garage door replacement claimed the top spot in REMODELING magazine's Cost vs. Value Report*, which ranks home improvement projects by their return on investment (ROI) at resale.

Now in its 31st year, the annual Cost vs. Value Report compares costs for 20 of the most popular professional mid-range and upscale remodeling projects in 100 U.S. markets to how much real estate professionals believe the investment will improve a home's resale value.

The 2018 report says the approximate $3,470 cost for an upscale garage door replacement delivered an estimated $3,411 when the house sold. That's a 98.3 percent ROI on average, nationwide.

Clopay Canyon Ridge Ultra-Grain Series faux wood garage door

In 46 of the 100 individual markets, an upscale garage door replacement actually recoups more than 100 percent of its cost.

In January, residential garage door manufacturer Clopay partnered with an independent research firm to conduct its own nationwide survey** to gauge realtor perceptions about the garage door category, and to determine if garage door appearance made a difference in the listing price they would assign to a house. Here's what they said:

· 70% of Realtors agree that a new garage door helps sell a home faster
· Over 80% of Realtors believe a new garage door can impact home value

Clopay showed realtors before and after images of different homes featuring a variety of garage door styles ranging in price from inexpensive to high-end. Respondents were asked to assign a selling price to each of the houses and were alerted that the only difference in the photos of each house was the garage door.

Before 

After

Realtors estimate that upgrading a garage door can increase the perceived selling price of a home by up to 4%, depending on the style.

With the average U.S. home price estimated at $206,300 in 2017, this can mean an incremental increase of $8,000 to $14,000, just because of the garage door.

GETTING THE BIGGEST BANG FOR YOUR BUCK

For most buyers, a new garage door is typically a once in a lifetime purchase. Whether you are sprucing up your exterior to sell or just giving it cosmetic update, a new garage door that improves your home's curb appeal is a good investment.

While it's easy to just swap out the old garage door with a newer version of the same design, do your research to see all of the garage door styles and materials available.

Some of the exciting innovations include faux wood doors that require less upkeep, contemporary garage doors with mid-century modern appeal, and glass garage doors that make your garage feel like additional living space.

Clopay Gallery Collection steel garage door with Ultra-Grain finish  


Clopay Modern Steel Collection garage door


Clopay Avante Collection aluminum and glass garage door

Use Clopay's Door Imagination System to upload a photo of your home and try out different garage doors or contact your local dealer for a free design consultation.

Find more inspiration in these winning before and after photos from Clopay's imagineNATION Garage Door Makeover Contest. 

*© 2018 Hanley Wood, LLC. Complete data from the Remodeling 2018 Cost vs. Value Report can be downloaded free at www.costvsvalue.com.

**From a nationwide survey of Realtors’ estimates of perceived home value based on exterior appearance. Not based on actual home sales. Clopay's Realtor Home Value Study was commissioned by Clopay Building Products in 2018.  An online survey was conducted by Hitchcock Fleming + Associates and Qualtrics, an independent marketing and advertising agency, and internet-based research company, respectively.  

source: https://www.clopaydoor.com/blog/post/2018/03/22/realtors-say-improving-a-homes-curb-appeal-adds-the-most-resale-value

to schedule a free garage door estimate, visit our website http://a1overhead.com

Here are some good reasons to replace your old garage door opener

Does your garage door opener look like something used by Fred Flintstone? Do you have to go through all sorts of contortions with your opener to finally get your door to open or close? Then here are some good reasons that make you think seriously about changing your old garage door opener.

First of all, some facts

To start, it is good to take note of some everyday realities concerning garage doors that often go unnoticed:

• Did you know that almost 70% of people use their garage door as a point of access their house?
  • It may be when your kids leave for school in the morning or come home at the end of the day at times when you’re not around.
  • Sometimes it’s when you are doing outdoor work around the house.
  • If could be simply when parking your car.

• Did you know that a garage door is the largest moving object in a home?
  • And that its inherent weight is considerable, even with a spring system that acts as a counterbalance to this mass.
  • This means that it’s your electric garage door opener that becomes the way to secure your safety, and that of your family, by controlling this immense object, day in and day out.
• If your old garage door opener uses a remote programmed with dip switches that you move up and down into +, 0 and – positions, then it is missing a second automatic reversal system, one based on photoelectric sensors (UL 325 standard).
  • Electric door openers manufactured before 1993 are also not equipped with a system to prevent the copying of the code of your remote.
  • In addition, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find replacement parts for these door openers as safety standards and manufacturing techniques have changed significantly.

So then, what is out there on the garage door opener market today?

Electric garage door openers have come a long way since 1993. They provide more safety and, since 2014, they come with the latest technology in regards to intercommunication.

• Safety comes first
  • Since 1993, it has been mandatory for garage door openers to come with two automatic reversal systems. The first one is mechanical and the second is based on photoelectric eyes. For the first, if it is adjusted correctly, when the bottom of the descending edge touches an object or person, the door must reverse automatically. In the case of the second, it consists of two units installed on each side of the door with an invisible light beam being sent across the threshold of the door, a similar technology to that used to open entry doors on supermarkets. If a person or an object breaks the beam as the door descends, it automatically reverses direction.
  • Starting in 1996, garage door openers have used what is called “rolling code” protection in their operation. This system, called Security+ by LiftMaster (or Chamberlain’s labels), stops anyone from stealing the communication code between your remote (the transmitter) and the opener motor (the receiver). How does it work? It’s simple. Each time you use your remote, it automatically changes its access code. There are more than a billion possible codes thus making it impossible for someone to pick up your signal and get into your garage with a stolen code.
  • If you live in an area where power outages happen more often than you’d like, be aware that you can equip your door opener with a backup battery.
• Quieter than ever
  • Instead of door openers using a chain drive (or a combination of chain and steel cable), there are door openers equipped with a rubber belt reinforced with metal fibers, like used for manufacturing tires. As you might imagine, this choice is much quieter, and is definitely preferred if you have a bedroom over the garage.
  • Another new development that has been added in recent years is DC-type motors for door openers instead of the AC-type we were normally used to. This follows the European trend where manufacturers use DC motors for reliability and quietness. With AC motors, there is a jarring jerk when the door begins moving versus DC motors that start slowly, increase to regular speed, then slow before stopping to prevent the door from slamming.
• Increasingly “intelligent”
• Since 2014, LiftMaster has offered its MyQ® technology – its contribution to Internet connectivity – which allows you to open and close your garage door from your smartphone, tablet or laptop, no matter where you are in the world
• It is also possible to get email or text alerts informing you if someone is using your garage door, or if you had forgotten to close it earlier for whatever reason.
• Tied into these functions is the ability for you to operate your door long distance and allow someone you have confidence in to access your garage via the garage door.

source: https://www.garaga.com/blog/good-reasons-replace-old-garage-door-opener

for more information or any garage door services please visit our website at

http://a1overhead.com

How to Fix a Noisy Garage Door

Basic maintenance checklist

Photo 1: Tighten all parts

Snug up all the nuts and bolts on your garage door and check for worn parts and replace where needed. Then spray all the moving components with garage door lubricant.

The fixes for a garage door that makes a racket when it opens and closes are fairly easy and will take less than an hour. Start by tightening all the door and track hardware (Photo 1). Use a deep socket and a ratchet on all the nuts to snug them up. But don’t overtighten—that can pull the carriage bolt heads right through the door skin or strip the lag screw holes.

Next, check for worn rollers and hinges (Photo 2). Many track rollers have unsealed bearings that self-destruct after years of rolling around in a dirty environment. The wear can be so severe that the rollers actually wobble as the door operates. If your rollers are worn, consider replacing them with nylon rollers with sealed bearings (available at garage door suppliers or online). Nylon rollers are quieter and don’t require periodic oiling. But they are more expensive than steel.

Replace track rollers one at a time (Photo 2). If your door uses torsion springs mounted on the header above the door, do NOT attempt to replace the rollers in the bottom brackets. Those brackets are under constant spring tension and can cause serious injury if you unbolt them. That’s a job for a pro.

Worn hinges are less common than worn rollers. But sloppy hinges make a lot of noise and can cause the door to bind and wear out the tongue-and-groove joints at the door sections. Some play at the hinge is normal. But if you see an oblong hole where the tubular hinge pin mates with the hinge bracket, replace the hinge. Gray dust and metal filings around the hinge pin are early signs of wear.

Once you’ve replaced the worn door components, check the garage door opener chain. A loose garage door opener chain makes loud slapping sounds and causes jerky door movements that smack the rollers against the track. So start by tightening the chain (find the procedure in your owner’s manual). If you have a track drive opener, the next step is to lubricate the opener track with grease. If you have a screw drive opener, grease the threads (Photo 4).

Next, spray the hinges, roller bearings (unsealed style), and springs (Photo 5) with a garage door lube like the Prime Flo garage door lubrication kit (about $7 at home centers). Also hit the torsion bar bearings, and any other pivot points. The special garage door lube penetrates the parts as a liquid and dries to form a non-tacky grease that won’t attract dirt and dust, which can gum things up. Lubricate all moving parts every six months to reduce wear and keep the door quiet. Avoid other lubricants such as oil, grease, or spray lithium grease. They’re cheaper, but they don’t penetrate as well and tend to pick up dust and grit—just what you don’t want on moving parts.

Isolate the opener

Photo 6: Add anti-vibration pads

Slide one anti-vibration pad between the mounting bracket and the ceiling and the second pad under the bracket. Then slip a fender washer onto the new lag screw and drive it into the rafter with a socket wrench or impact driver.

If you have an attached or tuck-under garage and your opener seems loud inside the house, try this step.

Mechanically isolate the opener from the garage rafters/trusses with rubber pads. Cut rubber pads out of an old tire, or buy specially made rubber/cork anti-vibration pads. (Four 5-1/2- x 5-1/2- x 3/8-in. pads are $14, available through our affiliation with amazon.com.) You’ll be adding about an inch in thickness, so you’ll need four longer lag screws and four fender washers.

Required Tools for this Project

Have the necessary tools for this DIY project lined up before you start—you’ll save time and frustration.

• 4-in-1 screwdriver
• Adjustable wrench
• Impact driver
• Socket/ratchet set
• Stepladder
• Wrench set

Required Materials for this Project

Avoid last-minute shopping trips by having all your materials ready ahead of time. Here’s a list.

• Fender washers
• Garage door lube
• Lag screws
• Nylon rollers
• Replacement hinges
• Rubber anti-vibration pads

source: https://www.familyhandyman.com/doors/garage-door-repair/how-to-fix-a-noisy-garage-door/view-all/

If you need any garage door repairs or installation, contact A-1 Overhead Door

http://a1overhead.com/

10 Garage Conversion Ideas To Improve Your Home

A simple garage has more potential than you can ever imagine. With a little effort and imagination, you can turn a cold and sober place in a welcoming and peaceful area…or not. The final result depends on your wishes! The options are endless but, unfortunately, you still have to take into consideration various aspects. One of them is the amount of space you have.

The other one is related to what is your idea regarding a garage conversion. What would you like to have instead of it, an office, a reading corner, a playground for your kids? Maybe the following images will help you decide what you really need.

1. Garage renovated for family play.

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Kids are always full of energy. Why not teach them how to channel it on something good for their health, like sport? Who knows, maybe in time they will develop a passion for sports! Besides that, such a place will stimulate their imagination and help them to improve their skills. Climbing monkey bars, swings, ropes, gym mats, sounds like a perfect playground, don’t you think?{found on menterarchitects}.

2. Cozy guest house.

Always be prepared for surprise visits! Think about your friends from out of town. Where could they sleep if they decide to come over? Turn your garage in a small guest house and you won’t have to be concerned about this anymore. Notice how important is a room divider in the case above. Used as a TV stand, this also provides storage and architectural detail to the room.{found on urban}.

3. Stylish lounge with a bar.

Modern Craft Construction succeeded in creating a gorgeous living space area where once was a garage. They did their job so well that I wouldn’t have noticed this space was actually a garage. The lack of windows in that area, and the glass garage door were the only ones that made me think of this option.  This is a good place to watch a movie with your family, or to throw a party. You have plenty of space!

4. Sleeping loft, Santa Barbara.

We all need a special place where we can find our peace and unleash our creativity.  This splendid lofthas almost everything you need: a sleeping area, a small kitchen and bathroom, huge barn doors with a rustic charm and a beautiful climbing plant that will bring freshness to this space. Such a lovely setting would make you dream about an endless summer.{found on bethdana}.

5. Romantic retreat.

Who would have thought a garage can be converted in such a romantic room? The mosquito net over the bed is the main attraction. I can only imagine a fresh airflow playing with those white curtains!{found on schappacherwhite}.

6. Relaxing living room to spend some time with your family.

How simple would be to have a remote control that will help us to fulfill our dreams with a simple push of a button! One thing I know for sure: somebody’s dream has come true thanks to Kerrie Kelly Designers. They converted a garage into this beautiful family lounge. An ethanol fireplace niched into a sheet rock wall was added to create a warm and relaxing atmosphere. The vividly painted items on the shelves and these beautiful flowered chairs bring a splash of color and induce a whimsical feeling.

7. Turn your garage into a man cave.

Have you ever wanted to play pool or darts or anything else, but you weren’t in the mood to get out of the house? How about designing your own space for such activities… in the garage? A pool table, darts, a foosball table, rummy, board games, video games, all of these could easily find their place in your garage. If you have enough space, you can add a bar and some tables. After this,  all you have to do is call your friends and spend a memorable time with them.

8. Home gym to stay in shape.

It’s not so easy to stay in shape these days! We are always in a hurry, many of us work a lot and are too busy thinking about something else than about what should we eat and when. Not to mention that we don’t have enough time to go to the gym daily. So how can you change your lifestyle without running all day long from home to work, then to the gym, then home again? This is definitely not a way to stay in shape, but a way of dealing with more stress every day. Turn your old garage in a home gym and stop wasting precious time and money to go to the gym.

9. Create a suitable working place for you…in your garage.

Whether you’re a freelancer, a writer, a painter or just a person that enjoys spending a lot of time on the internet, you need a proper space to do your job in peace. If that place can be furnished and decorated by you, even better! So go ahead, think about what you need, make a list, buy whatever you need and turn your garage in an office or an art studio.

10. Turn your garage in a home cinema.

Everybody loves watching movies, it’s a relaxing activity. One of my dreams is to have a cinema in my own house and organize movie sessions with all of my friends. If you’re a film fan with a useless garage… consider this as an opportunity to use it. The basic things you will need are: a big screen, good sound equipment, some comfortable armchairs or a big sofa and popcorn.

source: https://www.homedit.com/garage-conversion/

for help on your own garage conversion, contact A1 Overhead Doors at http://a1overhead.com