Garage Doors

Tips for Creating Curb Appeal on a Budget - Part One

Exhibiting at the International Builders Show last month let us take a break from winter and start daydreaming about warmer weather and all of the great outdoor home improvement projects that go with it. Although most of us have several more weeks to go before we begin to thaw out, now is the perfect time to start planning spring projects that will help boost your home’s curb appeal and value, as well as your spirits. 

 TV designer Chayse Dacoda, best known for her role as a design expert on the TLC home improvement series, While You Were Out and HGTV’s Get It Together, has built her reputation on helping homeowners refresh worn out spaces. Here are her suggestions for minor cosmetic changes that have an extreme impact on a not so extreme budget.

  

Creating curb appeal doesn’t have to be extensive or expensive. Here are some ideas:

 

1.  Paint your house!  This may be an obvious one, so I have to get it out of the way first. Even so, not enough people do it.  Most houses need it anyway. Go crazy, do what you have always wanted.  Many tones of the same hue can really add dimension to the house. And remember, decorative moldings on older houses give license to use more than one color.  Good prep work, like sanding off worn and chipping areas and priming, can make an exterior paint job last a lot longer and look better.

2.  Change out-dated light fixtures - or add lights if you don't have some already.  Light up your doorways and walkways. Better to have more lights at lower watt-ages than one, very bright one.

3.  Add landscaping. Consult your local nursery for plants and shrubs that work best in your area.  If you're an urban dweller, don't let cement stop you -- add potted planters. The right landscaping around a property will make all the difference in the world.

4.  Replace a worn out garage door with a new, decorative model. This will have a big impact especially if you have a front-facing garage. Manufacturers offer many designs and decorative accessories so it’s easy to find a door that will complement the architecture of your home.

5.  Illuminate your landscape. This will completely change the look of your property at night. Angle low lights to point up at trees and bushes and point down along a pathway for safety.  Keep it simple.  Use solar lights that charge during the day if you don’t want  to run wires.  

Check back tomorrow for more tips.

“Try On” a Garage Door Before You Buy

Shopping for a new garage door can be an overwhelming experience, especially when your home’s curb appeal is on the line.

For most, the hardest part is visualizing what an uninstalled door featured in a showroom or a brochure will look like on their actual house.

Clopay makes the visualization process easy with its Web-based Door Imagination System, an interactive tool that allows builders and homeowners to upload a digital photo of their home and “try on” a variety of garage door styles to find the perfect match.

“Today’s garage doors are built to last between 15 – 20 years so it’s important to make the right design choice. This tool gives you confidence in your decision,” says Pat Lohse, Clopay Building Products vice president of residential marketing. 

Once users have selected a garage door model, they can customize the design to complement their home by adding different windows, hardware and paint colors.

Selected images can then be saved into an online folder and printed or e-mailed to share with a garage door dealer, contractor, friends and family.

The Door Imagination System even provides a specification summary for each door image saved including the product style and decorative options so the user knows they are ordering the correct product.

The Door Imagination System is available at the Clopay Website, so go ahead and upload a photo of your garage and give it a try!

Faux, Fabulous, and Green

Faux Wood, Real Beauty: the Clopay Canyon Ridge Collection Delivers the Beauty of Natural Wood Garage Doors without the Upkeep!

Clopay’s Canyon Ridge Collection, which came away with top honors in the garage door category at the 2009 International Door Association Expo and has been named one of the most innovative products of the year, is now available.

The Canyon Ridge Collection combines the beauty of a natural wood appearance with the latest innovations in polymer composite engineering. The result is a faux wood cladding with high definition grain that replicates all the charm and character of real wood. The ½” thick material is attached to an insulated three-layer steel base door for added strength and energy efficiency, delivering R-values ranging from 8.5 to an impressive 19.2.

The cladding is molded from actual wood to duplicate its natural texture and intricate grain patterns as well as its imperfections, like deep, irregular pockmarks, knots, cracks, and holes up to ¼” deep.

Once installed, the material is virtually indistinguishable from real wood. But it doesn’t have the drawbacks inherent in natural material. Unlike real wood, it’s UV resistant and impervious to moisture, so it won’t rot, split, shrink, separate, or crack, thereby minimizing the use of materials, energy and resources necessary to maintain or replace door components.

Builders and homeowners can choose from three overlay species: Pecky Cypress, Clear Cypress and Mahogany. Two Clopay factory-finished stain options are available or the doors can be finished on site by the builder or homeowner. Optional decorative hardware can be added to enhance the character of the doors.

For more information, visit the Clopay website. Questions or feedback?  Leave a comment below!

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Clopay at International Builders Show Tomorrow!

Don’t forget, the International Builders Show begins TOMORROW!  Clopay Garage Doors will be at the IBS show in Las Vegas for the next 4 days, so be sure to follow our social networks to stay updated.  We will be talking about the show, what’s new, discussing products, and posting videos.

If you are attending IBS 2010, visit our booth at #C2445 in the Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center.  Clopay will be showing off the latest innovations in garage door design and materials!

Clopay has also been selected to be a part of the Builder Concept Home 2010!  This home represents the shift in housing trends toward energy efficient, affordable housing.  For the past 27 years, the Showcase Home has been constructed and people could take the tour during the International Builders Show.  However, with the credit crisis this year, the home was unable to be completed on time, so a new spin has been put on the home… it is virtual!  Visit the Builder Concept Home 2010 and sign up for a virtual key!  Virtual tours begin tomorrow!

Builder Concept Home 2010

Clopay is showcasing three distinct insulated garage door options on the Builder Concept Home 2010 tour: The Canyon Ridge Collection, a rustic faux wood door, a Coachman Collection steel and composite carriage house style door, and a steel grooved panel vintage style Gallery Collection door with Clopay’s Ultra-grain stained woodgrain paint finish.

 
Clopay Garage Doors on Facebook

Clopay Garage Doors on Twitter

Clopay Garage Doors on YouTube

Vote on the Before & After Contest

The winter session of the Before and After Contest ran from November 1 through December 31. Voting is still going on until January 31, 2010. Time is running out, so vote for your favorite makeover today!

Clopay will award one (1) $250 Grand Prize and two (2) $100 runners-up prizes.

Before

 
After

Any individual visitor to Clopay’s website who is 18 years of age or older may vote for any posted entry before the voting concludes for this period. Voters may visit the site to vote as many times each day as they choose. In each site visit, however, voters can vote and rate each makeover only once, but they may vote for as many makeover entries as they wish.  ONLY ONE VOTE PER MAKEOVER WILL BE ACCEPTED FROM ANY PARTICULAR INTERNET PROVIDE (IP) ADDRESS IN ANY 24 HOUR PERIOD.

In order to vote, the voter will select a particular makeover and then rate the garage door makeover on a five star scale based solely on the voter’s personal assessment of the aesthetic improvement to the property as a result of the garage door makeover. Winners will be announced within thirty (30) days after voting is closed.

View the entries and vote here. 

Just a Few More Considerations When Purchasing a New Garage Door

Materials. Today, homeowners can choose among wood, steel, composite or aluminum garage doors. Here’s the lowdown on the pros and cons of each.

Wood: There’s no substitute for the warm, distinctive look of wood. It offers the most design flexibility to create a one-of-a-kind door, and the species and stain options are endless. Wood doors can be expensive, with an average starting price of $1,000. They also weigh more than typical steel doors, so an opener with a higher horsepower is recommended. Depending on the climate and exposure, wood doors require more finish maintenance.

Composite and Steel: Steel doors with composite overlays offer the benefits of durable, insulated steel with added charm and design flexibility. Details like coped edging, true divided lites and embossed woodgrain texture make it an attractive, low-maintenance alternative to real wood, if you’re in the market for a carriage house style door. Prices start at about $900.

Steel: Classic steel panel doors offer the broadest range of insulation and price options from as little as $300 for a single layer, non insulated door, up to $1,500 for a premium 24-gauge, three layer sandwich door featuring 2” thick insulation and decorative windows.

Aluminum: Rust-proof and corrosion resistant, this material is ideal for humid, caustic environment as well as coastal areas. And it’s incredibly durable.

See our selection of materials at the Clopay website.

Additional Things to Consider When Purchasing a New Garage Door

Lifestyle. If you have children or use the garage as a workshop, opt for an insulated, heave gauge steel door that isn’t going to dent every time a ball or bike hits it. This type of door will also help keep the space a comfortable temperature.

Upkeep. Maintenance is another consideration. Every door needs regular check-ups to maximize its life and reliability. Steel doors are very durable and virtually maintenance free, but some people prefer the warmth and character of wood and the limitless design options. Depending on the climate and exposure, wood doors will need to be painted or stained every few years.

“Green Factor.” Sustainability is a key element of green building, and, with a life cycle of between 15 and 20 years, an investment in a durable garage door that can withstand the rigors of daily use is money well spent for a home and the environment.

Look for galvanized torsion springs, which look better and last 50% longer than the industry’s standard oil-tempered springs, heavy gauge steel to ensure a quality appearance, dent resistance and quiet operation, a hot dipped galvanized coating topped with a baked-on paint finish that resists fading and peeling, and environmentally safe, CFC-free insulation that is bonded on both sides of the door panel for improved strength and energy efficiency.

Building Code Requirements. If you live in a coastal region or high wind area you may need a reinforced door as specified by the local building code authority.

Because of their size, garage doors are more susceptible to wind damage than other exterior openings- especially two-car garage doors. Unless you have a tested, reinforced door installed, high winds can force it out of the opening, putting your home and property at risk.

What to Consider When Purchasing a New Garage Door

The average age of the U.S. housing stock is 34 years old, according to a Harvard University study, which means many homes are candidates for a new garage door. Here are some factors to consider:

Budget. Like everything, budget dictates options. Garage doors range in price from a few hundred to several thousand dollars depending on the size, material and design you choose. Even if you have a small budget you can still get a great looking door that is going to enhance the look of your home.

Design. Let the home’s architectural style, the shape and size of the windows and entry doors, and exterior design details influence the design of the garage door.

It’s a good idea to visit retailers and review manufacturer web sites to get a sense of the options available. Many companies like Clopay offer doors predesigned to match specific architectural styles, which can make the selection process easier.

Insulation. Doors can be insulated or non-insulated. If the garage is attached to the house, choose an insulated door. This will help reduce utility bills- both in hot and cold weather. An insulated door is especially important if there is a regularly occupied room above the garage. In addition to being more energy efficient, it will also help block out noise.

If you live in a mild climate or have a detached garage that will be used only to park the car, specify a less expensive, non-insulated door.

Preview of International Builders Show

Clopay Garage Doors Featured in BUILDER Concept Home 2010:  A Home for the New Economy

Clopay residential garage doors have been selected for the Builder Concept Home 2010: A Home for the New Economy, which will launch at the 2010 International Builders Show in Las Vegas January 19-22.

The Builder Concept Home 2010, designed by Marianne Cusato and Mark LaLiberté, exemplifies a dramatic shift in how homes are designed, built, maintained and lived in. The 1,700-square-foot home with 4 bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms adapts to homeowners’ personal budgets and changing lifestyle needs.

For the first time in national show home history, the house will be open exclusively as an online virtual tour using photo−realistic renderings and state−of−the−art movie software that enables a customizable experience for each visitor.

The online virtual tour and informational web site will launch January 19, 2010 at www.builderconcepthome2010.com, in conjunction with the opening of IBS, allowing tours anytime, anywhere, including Internet−connected kiosks at the Hanley Wood IBS booth #C2128.

Whether among the 80,000 building industry professionals attending IBS 2010 or the millions of homeowners, builders and developers unable to travel to the annual convention, this Web site will serve as the platform for the Builder Concept Home 2010 as well as the definitive source for up-to-the-minute information about IBS.

Canyon Ridge® Collection

Clopay is showcasing three distinct insulated garage door options on the Builder Concept Home 2010 tour: The Canyon Ridge® Collection, a rustic faux wood door, a Coachman® Collection steel and composite carriage house style door, and a steel grooved panel vintage style Gallery® Collection door with Clopay’s Ultra-grain™ stained woodgrain paint finish.

Gallery® Collection

Go to the builderconcepthome2010.com site and pre-register for a “key” to tour the home on the 19th. Be among the first to tour the home when it opens…

Coachman® Collection

Choosing the Right Insulated Garage Doors

Here are the basics to help you choose the right insulated garage doors for your home:

Construction

Steel garage doors offer the broadest range of insulation options and price points.

▪ A single-layer garage door is made of one layer of non-insulated steel.
▪ Two-layer garage doors feature a layer of insulation combined with an outer steel skin for added comfort, energy efficiency and quiet operation.
▪ Three-layer garage doors are the most durable construction with insulation sandwiched between two layers of steel for excellent energy efficiency, strength, durability and quietest operation.

Insulation Type

There are two different types of insulation used in garage doors: expanded polystyrene and polyurethane.  Both offer good thermal performance and strength.

R-value and U-Factor

▪ “R-value” is a familiar benchmark for shoppers to compare the insulating efficiency of a garage door. The higher the R-value, the more energy efficient the door is.
▪ “U-factor” is another term related to thermal efficiency that has become familiar to consumers because of the federal stimulus legislation. The lower the U-factor, the more energy efficient the insulation is. Insulated garage doors with a minimum U-factor of 0.30 installed on a homeowner’s primary residence by December 31, 2010 are eligible for a 30% tax credit. Additional criteria apply.

Both polystyrene and polyurethane insulated garage doors qualify for the Energy Tax Credit. More details are available at Clopay and www.energystar.gov.