GARAGE DOORS CAN ADD VALUE TO YOUR HOME

You may not be aware of this fact, but garage doors are typically the largest moving objects in your home and also occupy a large portion of the face of the structure. With garage doors being such a large factor in your home’s safety, security and appearance it makes sense to take a good look at your garage doors when planning a home improvement or remodel. Replacing your old garage doors will give your home a facelift, add curb appeal and value to your home.

There are three basic styles of garage doors; Contemporary, Conventional and Carriage Style. All three styles can be made insulated and non-insulated.  By choosing insulated garage doors you can improve your homes energy efficiency and the money you save on your heating bills can help offset the costs of your new garage doors. Most insulated garage doors are Eligible Building Envelope Components which qualify for a Federal Tax Credit under the Energy Improvement and Extensions Act of 2008 and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. This is a $1500 Federal Tax Credit.

Garage doors are made of a variety of materials. The three most common materials are steel, aluminum, and wood. Depending on your application one or more material types will usually work for your application.

Steel garage doors are the largest selling garage doors by volume. They are economical, can have high insulating qualities, require little to no maintenance and are suitable for most applications except in salt air.

Aluminum garage doors are extremely heavy duty and are very popular especially on homes with Contemporary Architecture. Aluminum is more expensive than steel, requires little to no maintenance and are suitable for all applications including salt air but do not have high insulating qualities.

Wood garage doors offer the greatest degree of design flexibility. The price range will vary depending on the construction method; stile/rail or clad construction and the species of wood used. Wood doors can have very high insulating qualities and are suitable for all applications except where the doors face harsh weather. Wood doors should have sizeable overhang to help protect them from the elements. The doors do require annual maintenance and should never have a southerly exposure.

Windows are available on all door styles in any type of tinted or patterned glass you desire up to a maximum of ½” thickness. Arched windows and custom arched windows are also available. With so many styles available you can choose garage door windows that are similar to those in your home.

Northwest Door® manufactures a full spectrum of garage doors; any style or type including odd sizes up to 20 feet wide and 14 feet high. Northwest Door is an industry leader in innovation and design, a local family owned business established in Tacoma, Washington in 1946. Independent Northwest door dealers are located throughout the Western United States and Canada to serve your garage door needs. For information about Northwest Door or the find a dealer near you, go to www.nwdusa.com.

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John Southard, Northwest Door, Inc
December 8, 2009