Performing Timely Garage Door Maintenance and Repairs

Your garage door goes through a lot if you use it multiple times a day. All that opening and closing year after year takes its toll. Plus, the door may have dents from kids playing or mishaps with your car. Even sitting in the sun all day or being in a lot of rain can cause the door to wear down. If your door is old and on the brink of giving out, call a garage door company to replace it before disaster strikes. The first step is to choose the type of door you want. Here are some tips for selecting a new garage door.

Decide If You Want Natural Light

Natural light is nice if you spend much time in your garage working on hobbies or cleaning your car. You can buy new doors with rows of windows that let in light but are small enough that they don't pose a security risk. However, you may prefer privacy over windows. In that case, you can buy a solid door so no one can peek inside your garage from the street. This allows you to work in your garage and not worry about anyone watching you from the outside or seeing the valuables you have stored in the garage.

Choose The Door Material

Steel and aluminum are popular choices for garage doors since they're sturdy and easy to maintain. Metal doors are easy to clean and don't need a lot of upkeep. However, aluminum doors are fairly easy to dent. Wood doors are heavy and require the most amount of work to keep the door in good shape. The company can show you the different materials their doors are made from and compare the cost and maintenance requirements so you know ahead of time what to expect with your new door.

Pick A Color

White is the classic color for a garage door, but sometimes white doesn't go well with your home's exterior colors. In that case, you might want a brown door. You could also choose gray, red, or blue. The company can show you the colors available in their doors and also explain which doors can be painted a different color without voiding your warranty.

Think About Insulation

Garage doors don't necessarily need insulation, but if you want your garage to stay as warm as possible, you'll probably at least want weatherstripping to keep out drafts. You can buy some doors that have insulation included, but you can also buy an insulation kit and apply it yourself. If you'll be using the garage as an exercise room or to work on hobbies in the summer and winter, insulation may be important to you. 

For more info about garage door services, contact a local company.