|
Garage Door Trends
Whether you are the Jones’s or just trying to keep up with them, garage doors are fast becoming an integral part of America’s homes. Homeowners are becoming savvier when it comes to choosing the “right” garage door for their house. The garage door has long been a functional concern but style is now playing a major role. A fast growing trend in modern architecture is to use doors as the focal point of a home’s facade. As this trend continues to snowball more and more design options are becoming available. Curb appeal is at the top of the list when it comes to a home’s value. A well designed facade with a fashionable garage door can make a drastic difference in your homes overall appearance.
The carriage house door is back! A century ago horses and buggies were kept in the carriage house. Those carriage house doors were basically a set of barn doors that swung outwards using strap hinges. Many styles of houses call for this old world look. Garage door manufacturers have designed garage doors that look like old carriage house doors. These doors reflect the style of the yesteryear with the convenience of modern technology. Carriage house garage doors roll overhead in tracks and are sectional. In other words they work the same as any standard garage door but look like they swing out. Carriage house garage doors are made out of a variety of materials including wood, steel and composites. There are many different styles of carriage house garage doors available today. Be sure to consider this old school look when you are shopping around for your new door.
Glass doors are becoming extremely popular for today's contemporary style homes. They are garage doors made out of glass panels with an aluminum frame. They can accentuate the clean sleek lines of a contemporary style house as well as allow plenty of natural light into your garage. They can also be used as a great transition to indoor and outdoor spaces such as a room with a glass door that opens up to an outdoor patio. The glass and frame are available in a variety of colors. Of course if you have a 90210 area code and you'd like to show off your vintage Ferraris clear glass would be a perfect choice.
As every household product on the market is going "green" you can be sure garage doors are to. Well insulated doors can provide energy savings. Doors with high R. value will trap heat in your house and block cold air from coming in. The garage is the largest opening in the house so this can make a huge difference in your heating bills. Going "green" also applies to manufacturing materials. There are doors available today that are made with up to 75% recycled materials. If you skateboard to work now because you just got to be "green" consider an energy efficient door.
When it comes to installing a new garage door, homeowners need to be aware of the restrictions governing some neighborhoods. Many HOAs and architectural committees might have selected options which are your only choice. Many HOA’s will allow what is referred to as short panel steel doors, which is the most common door on the market. It is always a good idea to talk to your HOA prior to purchasing a new garage door to save you the headache of putting in a new door that might have to be removed after installation. Another good idea is to drive around your neighborhood and look around at what your neighbors have. Garage door companies can provide you the literature to submit to your HOA in most cases so the process can be simple and smooth.
Remember, no matter what kind of home you have, the garage door can make an immediate impact to the curb appeal of your home for a fraction of the cost that other exterior projects can cost. The garage is typically 1/3rd of your home’s facade…TREAT IT ACCORDINGLY!
Happy Shopping!
|