The garage door is the largest front facing feature on your house. Why not have the best garage door in the neighborhood? Not only will it make your neighbors jealous, but your house will literally be worth more. In fact, your garage door is probably the biggest single factor when it comes to curb appeal, which has a huge impact on its appraisal value. That’s why a new garage door has such a high return on investment, virtually 97%, like money in the bank.
What’s the best way to outplay all your neighbors’ garage door game? Short-term projects and long-term care. And who knows, maybe you won’t need to outright replace the whole garage door to get the positive effects of a home façade makeover. Here are 4 tips for a gorgeous garage door:
Keep Up On Garage Door Maintenance & Repair
It goes without saying, if you want a great garage door, you have to keep up on the preventative maintenance and repairs. This means lubricating your garage door regularly — all the moving parts from top to bottom. But be sure to use an approved garage door lubricant — not WD40, which can cause the parts of your garage door to rust prematurely.
You should also tighten down any loose parts — the bolts, hinges, and especially the garage door tracks. They need to be securely in place. The less rattle you allow your garage door, the less abrupt movement it will have that can cause it to wear out.
Give Your Garage Door a Glow-Up
If your garage door is looking old and outdated but you’re not ready to install an entirely new door yet, you should consider a makeover. Broken, rusty or worn panels should be replaced. If you have an aluminum garage door, dents can easily be removed either as a DIY repair or by calling a garage door repair professional.
You might also consider a new paint job. If done right this can leave your garage door looking as good as new. Be mindful about the type and color of paint you choose. Be bold. Bright attractive colors can really make a statement and define the allure of your home.
It’s also a good idea to have the trim, your front door and garage door match or at least complement each other. Consider the entire facade of your house to be one gigantic art work which your garage door must blend to create a cohesive piece.
Refresh Your Landscape & Lighting
The lighting of your driveway can attract attention to a beautiful door and help it to stand out in the neighborhood. It also provides added security because burglars have nowhere to hide. Landscape lighting can add a depth of dimension and shadows that provide intrigue and style to any home front. Don’t forget lighting to illuminate pathways, lawn artwork, trees, or other features to help give your home character. Be creative.
Invest in a New Garage Door
Some garage doors are too old and beaten up to be worthy of a makeover. Sometimes it’s best to start fresh with a brand new garage door. And as we mentioned above, this is an investment. You might want to plan it out — perhaps around tax return time. You know you’ll make it right back in terms of increased home equity. You can’t really go wrong.
Do You Need a New Garage Door Opener, Too?
If your garage door opener is older than Gen Alpha, it’s probably time to get it replaced. Outdated garage door openers aren’t secure – you don’t even have to be good at tech to be able to hack one. And then there’s the whole thing where you have to rely on a wall switch and a remote – and that’s it. Modern garage door openers are a much smarter choice, in more ways than one:
- Operate from anywhere via smartphone
- Monitor access remotely 24/7
- Able to be integrated with other home security technology
- Energy efficient
- Emergency battery back units for power outages
- Quieter operation
- Smoother movement
Want more tips on garage door repair, design, maintenance, and installation? Check out our blog for more garage door repair guides, and check out our design-your-door module to start brainstorming your home makeover.