Garage Door Buying Guide

Buying a garage door can be much more complex than on the surface, which is why we’ve created the Garage Door Buying Guide. A garage door must be the perfect fit for your home. It is both a driver of functionality and curb appeal. Since a garage door can take up a third of the front façade of your home, it’s important to consider the factors we have included here, so your new garage door is most cost-effective. Garage Door Styles The door must match the style of your home and the individual preferences you have. The most common stylistic choices include: Carriage House Garage Doors: Are rustic in design and often used for Victorian style homes, as well as use raised or recessed panels to add character. Contemporary Garage Doors: Modern style doors often incorporate aluminum, steel, glass, and wood; they tend to be quite durable as well as insulating. Traditional Garage Doors: Often made of steel or natural wood, traditional doors can feature a variety of panel styles along with decorative windows and a choice of finishes. Paneling Raised carriage house panels are popular, but there are many variations. Options include flush panels that are flat and slightly textured. The focus is mostly on the surrounding walls and not the garage door. To add depth, long raised panels enhance the look of a garage door, while short raised panels also add depth to compliment colonial, Tudor, and Victorian style homes. Layering The construction of a garage door determines how economical it is in terms of purchase price, installation, and efficiency. The primary choices for steel garage doors are: Single-Layer: A single galvanized steel sheet is used and constitutes the entire structure of the door. Double-Layer: An outer layer of galvanized steel is complemented by a backing of polystyrene or polyurethane for insulation and soundproofing. Triple-Layer: Add another layer of steel, so the insulating materials are sandwiched in between and protected. Triple-layer doors are also stronger and more secure than other doors. In terms of insulation, consider an R-value of at least 3 if you live in a moderate climate, and an R-value of 10 or higher if your area sees extreme temperature fluctuations. Materials The most common garage door material options are: Steel: Steel is versatile in terms of design and can include moldings, cross-buck designs, and even a surface that mimics wood grain. It can also be painted in many colors. Aluminum: Is lightweight and durable, and easily integrates with glass and acrylic panels. There are numerous aluminum frame finishes on the market. Wood: Although it doesn’t have the strength of steel or fiberglass, wood garage doors can made moisture resistant. Redwood, cedar, and cypress are common varieties to spruce up the look of your home. Fiberglass: Is growing in popularity and highly resistant to humidity, moisture, and insects. Fiberglass also resists warping, is strong and stable, and can mimic the color and grain of oak, cherry, or mahogany. Composite Wood: Composite garage doors have a sandwich-type construction with an insulating core, with panels made of wood fibers and durable resins. They won’t rot, split, or crack. Vinyl: Lightweight and durable, vinyl holds color through all layers, so you don’t see scratches, and resists dings as well. It is weatherproof and most models have foam core insulation. Color/Finish When going garage door buying, you’ll notice most doors can be factory painted or you can color the door as a DIY project. However, achieving the best results requires a few steps. Using the wrong color or a poor choice can lead to performance issues and/or void the warranty. A professional can help you choose from viable paint options and provide a flawless finish. Factory finishes include high-quality paints and stains to match with your garage door and home. Garage Door Parts & Safety Size A single-car garage door is typically 8 to 9 feet wide and 7 to 8 feet high, while double-car garage doors are typically 16 feet wide. Garages can also be built to accommodate doors 10 feet tall or more if you have a truck or recreational vehicle. When considering size, precisely calculate the required height and width of the framed opening (without the stop molding), left-hand and right-hand side space alongside the door, headroom, and backroom. The size specifications vary with extension or torsion springs, and the specific model of door, so take accurate measurements and check with the dealer or manufacturer before making a purchase. Tracks Track options are important to consider. The track installed must fit the garage so that the garage door can travel smoothly and there’s enough headroom and sideroom. Choose a track based on the type of door and layout of the garage. Factors to consider include standard radius, vertical/high lift, and roof pitch. Also consider handles or windows, which can interfere with a track depending on type. Garage Door Safety Modern garage doors incorporate more safety features than ever before. Automatic garage door openers now include auto-reverse features and photoelectric eyes, which are sensors that detect if anything is in the way, and reverse the garage door when necessary. Manual doors are now safer too; they have a closed-spring design that can be safely adjusted with a drill or ratchet. Look for pinch proof designs that avoid getting fingers stuck between panels. Safety features also include wireless keypads (the door will open with the correct code, even if you’re locked out) and red emergency cords to open the door manually during a power outage. With these points in mind, you can find a garage door that offers peace of mind and performs reliably for many years. Contact Us Today At Precision Door Service of Las Vegas, we specialize in new garage door installation and have experience with all brands and models. We can provide a free in-home estimate as well. Our technicians can answer all your questions
7 Easy Garage Ideas to Add More Function

Achieving a more functional garage may be easier than you think; here are a few garage ideas to turn this wasted space into a hidden gem. Most people see their garage as a simple place to store their car, tools, or outdoor gear. But even a small garage has much more potential than that. With a little creativity, a garage can be as functional and comfortable as any room in your home. 7 Easy Garage Ideas 1. Heating Your Garage Due to their lack of insulation and ventilation, garages are inherently more susceptible to changes in outdoor temperature. If you have a smaller garage, a space heater can easily warm things up in the winter. However, larger spaces are better served by gas-powered forced hot air units or by extending your HVAC system into the garage (which requires the help of a professional). An individual air conditioning unit, which is easier to install, will usually suffice for the summer months. 2. Arrange Your Garage Into Zones Here’s a great garage idea for the organizer in your life, separating spaces for your car, workshop, personal equipment. You can even add partitions if you’re handy. Each zone can then essentially be its own ‘room’ within the garage space. And if there’s room left over, you can set aside a workout area where you can store all your gear and equipment and get in your workout without interrupting other family members or occupants. 3. Insulating Your Garage While insulating garage doors is a modern amenity, you don’t have to invest in a new door if your existing one is still in decent shape. Instead, you can roll in insulation if your garage has exposed beams. Additionally, if the room is already finished, you can have spray insulation installed by a contractor. In general, it is not difficult to insulate garages and it can have a profound effect on comfort and energy efficiency. 4. Adding Plumbing Adding plumbing is an excellent garage idea to add function to your garage. If you have an auto or wood workshop, a slop sink is a can certainly come in handy. On the other hand, setting up a living space with a half-bath can make your garage much more accommodating to guests. Additionally, adding a wet bar to your man cave is a sure-to-please garage idea. Most garages have a water line that you can tap into, making this idea a realistic option. 5. Upgrade your Garage with Wi-Fi If you use the garage as an office and/or want to connect your smart devices, a Wi-Fi connection is critical. Depending on your system, there may be a strong enough signal in the garage. If not, you can install a Wi-Fi hotspot or signal booster to get the connection that you need. 6. Move the Storage Outside The best way to free up the garage is to move the lawnmower, power tools, and other supplies outside. Outdoor storage cabinets are available at most home improvement stores and are protected against all kinds of weather. You’d be surprised at how much space you can free up for other items and purposes when you rethink storage. 7. Setup Walls for Storage Are there boxes, tools, and other items you don’t want to move outside? Then you can make use of wall space with hooks, brackets, wire shelves, and even pegboards. Storage containers aren’t efficient when it comes to managing floor space. If the walls don’t fit all your stuff, you can add ceiling storage racks for holiday decorations, sporting goods, or camping equipment. A tool tower is another novel idea that can help. Contact Us Today Precision Door Service of Las Vegas is here to address all your garage door needs, including insulation, repairs, and maintenance. Whether you need new parts or the garage door opener adjusted, our trained technicians can address any issue. We can make your garage more functional, safe, and secure. To schedule same-day service, call us 24/7 at 702-637-2700.