With the garage door overtaking the front door in primary access, the door you select is essential to the safety and accessibility of your home. Not to mention, your garage door can drastically impact your curb appeal. Did you know, the 2024 Remodeling Magazine Cost vs. Value Report found that homeowners can expect to regain an average of 193% on garage door replacement costs – the most valuable home improvement project in 2024! Even better, job costs for garage door projects have increased less than every other exterior remodeling project, making its ROI unbeatable when considering an exterior home upgrade.
When it comes to garage door shopping, there are many options and features to consider. There may be questions you do not even know to ask! What is R-value? What are my design choices? What safety features can I add? And, what am I forgetting? Homeowners can typically expect their garage door to last 15-30 years, so selecting the door is a decision that should not be taken lightly.
Tip: If you are still considering a new garage door, be sure to check out our blog with additional tips to know when it’s time to invest in a new garage door.
Invicta Door, manufactured by SSC, is your go-to resource to simplify your next garage door-buying experience. Let’s take a look at the most important questions to consider.
What are the Different Types of Garage Doors?
Sectional garage doors consist of horizontal panels hinged together to smoothly travel along the track without binding or impeding operation. Great for garages with limited space available, these doors can operate on tracks with a standard lift, hi-lift, vertical lift, and even in a low headroom garage with rear-mounted springs. Because these doors consist of multiple panels, repairs are easier and less expensive when replacing only the damaged panel versus the entire door.
As the name suggests, one-piece doors are single-panel doors. Rather than having seams between the panels like a sectional garage door, one-piece doors have a smooth, seamless appearance. These doors pivot and swing outward when opening, and due to this angled opening, space can be limited inside of the garage.
Rolling steel doors are comprised of individual slats that travel through a set of guides and wrap around itself upon a spinning barrel. While mostly commercial, these doors can be found in some residential settings, although rare.
While there are additional door styles available, these are the most prevalent and will provide you with many options to consider.
Garage Door Materials
The most common materials you will find garage doors made from are steel, wood, or aluminum. Selecting your material based on your climate will ensure it can withstand typical weather conditions.
Wood doors boast natural beauty and charm, but while it is a beautiful material, it requires more maintenance than other materials and may warp in the heat. With excellent insulating properties, wood doors may be a good option for colder climates.
Aluminum doors are a popular and economical option, but they may not be as well-insulated as other materials and are more prone to dents and other damage. Aluminum doors do not require extensive maintenance, making them a low-effort investment.
Steel is the most popular material due to its durability and affordability, and while it is not completely resistant to dents, it does not require much maintenance and will survive the test of time.
For families in need of a “kid-proof” option, vinyl garage doors can be a good and economical choice. Vinyl garage doors are resistant to most damages and tend to be low maintenance.
Fiberglass doors make a statement and are resistant to dents, scratches, and corrosion, however, they are not suitable for harsher environments. Repairing a fiberglass door is not an option; the only way to fix a damaged door is to replace it.
Invicta Door manufactures steel doors with three available insulation options, combining the long-lasting durability of steel with the insulation level to fit your needs.
Evaluate Your Budget
Like most projects, evaluating your budget should be one of the first steps to determine the best options available. A garage door is an important investment, but it is not the only expense to consider. When working with a reputable garage door business, you will want to budget for labor costs, operators, accessories, and more. You will also want to consider maintenance and warranty plans to keep your door operating smoothly for years to come.
Be honest with yourself on the use of your garage. Is it strictly for cars and storage? Has it been repurposed to a man cave? Understanding the use – and future use – of your garage will help guide your purchasing decisions.
Insulation Type
The insulation type you select will affect the R-value, climate control, and even soundproofing properties of your new garage door. You may be wondering, what is the R-value? R-value is the rating or measurement of an insulating material’s resistance to conductive heat flow, also known as its thermal resistance. The higher the R-value, the greater the insulating effectiveness of the door. Use for the garage has expanded from its traditional purpose of storing cars and additional storage. Whether it is a home gym, workshop, or man cave, soundproofing may be of higher importance than traditional uses.
Invicta Door offers three insulation choices for our garage doors – no insulation, double layer insulation, and triple layer insulation. More often than not, we recommend you choose an insulated garage door. With insulation, your door will have better temperature and airflow control, as well as noise reduction. This helps your garage door to better accomplish its job of keeping the outside, outside. Door insulation can be expensive though, so if you live in a mild climate area, insulation may not be a top requirement for you. If you live in an area where the weather varies drastically, insulation will be a worthwhile investment.
Choosing the Right Style
Once you have determined the functionality requirements of your new door, the fun part can begin. Curb appeal sets the foundation of your home’s first impression for potential buyers. Even if you are not considering selling soon, investing in an aesthetically compatible garage door will survive the test of time if you decide to list your home for sale in the future. With a variety of colors and finishes, hardware, windows, and more, garage doors are truly customizable investments for your home.
Style
Invicta Door’s six residential garage door panel designs range from timeless and traditional, to sleek and modern.
Finish
Customizable garage doors have established the long-standing impact your investment will carry. With eight colors to choose from, find the perfect door color for your home, or replicate the look of natural wood doors, without the upkeep, with one of our three unique wood tones.
Windows
For a truly individual garage door style, select any of our windows and insert options for added charm and light to the exterior of your home. Invicta Door also offers four glass options in standard or tempered to highlight the window’s architecture and block out unwanted sight into the garage.
Hardware
Garage door hardware is an affordable way to customize your garage door. Available in a variety of colors and finishes, hinges and handles can be added to your garage door for a visual boost without impacting its functionality.
Find the design that fits the aesthetic of your dream home with Invicta Door.
Safety Features and Smart Technology Upgrades
As with any entry point to the home, the garage door plays a crucial part in keeping your home – and family – safe and secure. Garage door openers have evolved over the years to include safety at the forefront of operation. Sensors and auto-reverse mechanisms work together to ensure the door functions properly while avoiding hazards and objects underneath the opening or closing door. While it is not often you will need to rely on manual operations to open your garage door, a manual release mechanism is typically included to allow you to open the door in the case of a power outage or opener malfunction. Battery backup systems are another feature to consider ensuring garage access without opener usability.
Smart technology has revolutionized garage doors, allowing homeowners to control and monitor access directly from their smartphones. With busy mornings and hectic evenings, families can monitor their children’s comings and goings, or close a garage door that may have been left open as you rushed out for an after-school sports practice.
Professional Installation vs. DIY
For homeowners with a knack for DIY projects, it can be tempting to address any garage door issues – including installation – yourself. It is important to avoid this temptation and call a professional. Garage doors can be hazardous and must be handled cautiously – especially garage door springs. A standard torsion spring helps to easily operate the garage door manually or with a garage door opener because the weight of the garage door is offset by the lift produced by the torsion springs. If performed by anyone other than a trained professional, the spring could become unwound causing serious injury to you and damage to your brand-new door. A garage door professional will ensure that the door is properly installed and is ready to withstand years of use.
Research
Be sure to read reviews on the company, the product, and the installation before you make your purchase. Value does not mean the cheapest product or the cheapest installation. This is an investment you will want to make with all the information you can gather to make the right decision you are happy with for years to come.
Conclusion
Many of us look at our garage door as an easy access point that we do not have to put a lot of thought into; it opens and closes as we need it to. And we get it. It is not every day you have to think about how the garage door is functioning, the upgrade options available, and what the R-value of the door is. With a quality-made and dependable door, along with proper maintenance, your garage door will last your family for decades to come.
Are you ready to bring your vision to life? With Invicta Door’s Garage Door Builder, you can get started today by uploading a photo of your home or utilizing one of our many sample photos. Let the building begin!
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Invicta Doors are sold exclusively to a professional installer. Reach out to us below and we will provide you with a list of professionals in your area.
