September 28, 2018

Your Guide to Adding Personality with Garage Doors

Adding Personality with Garage Doors

When it comes to your home’s exterior appearance, you have a lot of things to consider. However, one of the most important is how attractive your garage door is. Think about it – the entire neighborhood can see your garage door. It’s also the first thing that a potential buyer will see when they pull up at your home.

Real estate agents love to point out the fact that your home’s architecture is not just a reflection of your personal sense of style, but that the value of your home depends on its exterior appearance. Consider the fact that your garage door makes up between 25% and 40% of that façade, and it becomes obvious that it should reflect the overall home’s aesthetic.

Of course, there’s also the fact that you need to like your garage door in the first place. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways that you can transform your garage so that you love it, and so that prospective buyers will, as well.

Spic and Span

The first tip in this guide is this – your garage door needs to be kept neat and clean. Over time, it collects dirt, debris, pollen and more. It doesn’t take a lot to clean off the garage door, though. A bit of soap, a soft brush, and a water hose is really all you’ll need. You can even combine this task with your weekly car wash to save some time. However, if you’re facing tough stains or other hard to remove issues, check out this guide.

Paint That Eyesore

If your garage door is showing its age, cleaning it will only do so much good. You might be better off slapping a fresh coat of paint on it. Not sure where to start with repainting? It’s actually not that hard. If you have a standard metal, sectional garage door with an existing coat of paint that just needs some rejuvenation, you can use this guide. However, we do have a few additional tips to share:

Red garage door
  • You’ll discover that most major paint companies have online design centers that let you coordinate your colours and even preview how they will look together. Three of our favorite centers are the following:
  • Yes, tastes will differ, but when it comes to paint colours, follow these simple tips:
    • For double garage doors that measure roughly 16 feet in width, avoid dark colours. This can make the doors stand out too much and take away from the rest of the home’s appearance. Go with a lighter colour to avoid this issue.
    • Single garage doors that max out around 8 or 9 feet in width can use almost any colour. However, very bright colours may be too bold.
    • With some home designs, it’s important to make sure that your front door stands out – use a different colour to paint it than your garage door, and tie into your front porch’s aesthetic.

Decorative Windows Ramp Up Your Style

One option that you might not have thought of is adding decorative windows to your garage door. This can allow you to add light to the interior, which is good for usability, particularly with crafting and other hobbies, as well as business use. However, you’ll also find that it adds a lot of style to the door.

With that being said, you might want to consider how much weight you’re adding. This is particularly important for a garage door that doesn’t currently have any windows. Glass adds a lot of weight that can upset the counterbalance system and result in a garage door that is unbalanced and dangerous. This guide offers more information.

Exterior Décor and Embellishments

If your garage door already has windows, there are plenty of other ways to ramp up its appearance. You’ll find a host of embellishments on the market. One of the most visually stunning is a pergola – tie it in with a larger one in your yard, or train a climbing vine to creep up to the top.

Exterior deco
Exterior lighting

In addition to pergolas, you can add accent lighting to the sides of your garage door. Exterior lighting has evolved a lot over time, and you’ll find almost any option imaginable on the market today. Go for broke with carriage‑house style lights, or add some Art Deco flair if you prefer. Not sure what’s out there? Hit Pinterest and get an idea of what other people have pinned.

In addition to pergolas, you can add accent lighting to the sides of your garage door. Exterior lighting has evolved a lot over time, and you’ll find almost any option imaginable on the market today. Go for broke with carriage‑house style lights, or add some Art Deco flair if you prefer. Not sure what’s out there? Hit Pinterest and get an idea of what other people have pinned.

Exterior lighting

Holiday Décor

Whether it’s Christmas, Easter, Halloween, or the NBA playoffs, there’s a lot that you can add to your home’s exterior to help you celebrate the holidays and other special events. Consider tying together the garage door and your front door/porch to really create a cohesive feel.

Tune‑Ups Matter

Of course, none of this matters if your garage door is not in good working condition. If it rattles, creaks and groans while opening, then no amount of cleaning or painting is really going to add value to your home. Regular tune‑ups from a garage door professional will keep that door in good working order.

Need a Replacement? We Can Help

If you find that your garage door is just too old and too worn, then replacing it is the best option. You can contact us at:

  • London: 519‑685‑9797
  • Mount Pleasant: 905‑304‑9700
  • Guelph: 519‑821‑4400
  • Clinton: 519‑482‑3251

We’d be happy to explain all the options available to you, and help you match your home’s aesthetic. We can send you a free quote by email if you prefer, but you can also feel free to drop by our showroom in person if you prefer. Feel free to try our Design Centre to see how a new door will look on your home, and use our image gallery to get some inspiration.

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