Improving My Garage Door

Garage doors serve a simple purpose, but don't let that fact trick you into thinking that all garage doors are the same. In fact, there is a large amount of variation between different makes, models, and features. If you would like to learn more about what you should know before purchasing your next garage door, read on. This article will provide two handy pieces of information.

Resist the temptation to purchase wooden doors.

There's no denying that wooden garage doors are one of the most attractive options available. Yet such doors will require massive amounts of maintenance in order to keep them looking their best as time goes on. This is especially true of wooden garage doors with natural finishes. Worse still, wooden garage doors are much more vulnerable to rot and other forms of water damage.

Don't despair if you already have your heart set on a wooden door. The good news here is that there are a number of potential compromises--compromises that will allow you to retain the aesthetics of wood without all of the attendant dangers. Consider purchasing a door constructed of embossed steel. Such doors can be cleverly designed so as to mimic the appearance and coloration of natural wood. Likewise, a metal door with a wood or composite overlay is another way to get the best of both worlds.

Opt for nylon rollers.

As you are probably already aware, automatic garage door openers are not exactly the quietest of home appliances. That's because the motors, chains, and pulley systems involved lead to a lot of vibrating and clanging. Yet you can do wonders to soften the acoustic impact of a garage door by upgrading the type of rollers used.

A roller consists of a straight metal bar with a rotating wheel attached to one side. The bar is secured to the door itself, with the roller wheel being slotted into the tracks on one side of the garage, thus allowing the door to move up and down in a controlled manner. Metal rollers are responsible for generating a lot of noise as they move up and down inside of the metal tracks.

Nylon rollers, on the other hand, are much quieter. By choosing to upgrade this simple component, you can do wonders to reduce the volume of your garage door. Even pre-existing garage doors can be retrofitted with new nylon rollers. This repair operation is simple enough that many home owners elect to undertake it on their own. If you're not comfortable with it, contact a garage door repair professional.