 HAT is the one fall home fix-up project that takes only
a couple of hours and yields the biggest bang for the buck of any
exterior home renovation?
Here’s a clue: This project adds style, energy efficiency and security
to your home, and the preparation is easy and mess free – all you
need is an Internet connection and a telephone. For most people,
the answer does not immediately come to mind: it’s a stylish new
garage door.
Think about it. If your house has an attached garage, the garage door
may comprise more than one-third of your home’s front facade. If that
home is more than five years old, your garage door probably is a solidcolored,
raised-panel door that looks like every other garage door in
the neighborhood.
A new door, quickly and correctly installed by a local professional,
will differentiate your home and add style, value and curb appeal.
The hottest new style in garage doors is the carriage house design.
It’s available in steel, wood or composite materials and in many
price ranges.
Tom Wadsworth, long-time editor of a garage door industry trade
magazine, says the carriage house garage door is “the first major new
design in garage doors in more than 25 years.” He says that all major
manufacturers have joined “the carriage house craze” and offer thousands of unique variations of the doors.
A garage door is an important home improvement project. It is typically the first thing people notice when they pull into
your driveway or pass your house. Doors also offer protection against severe weather and theft, help you save money on
heating bills and substantially increase the appearance and value of your home.
A nationwide poll of realtors revealed more than 71 percent felt a new garage door added to the value of a home, even
adding as much as four percent of the selling price. That means $10,000 on a $250,000 home, which is a huge deal for
people wanting to sell now during a difficult real estate market.
If you think installing a new garage door project is “easier said than done,” think again. GarageWowNow.com, a
non-commercial Web site, explains the impact that a new garage door can have on a home. It’s a resource that helps
homeowners redesign the outside of their homes, and the site offers tips on garage door design and gives them an
opportunity to view scores of door styles.
The Web site also provides before and after photos that show how a garage door dramatically changes a home’s
appearance. It also features a list of all the major North American garage door manufacturers and a handy
“Find a Dealer/Installer Zip Code Search” to help people look for the nearest qualified garage door professional.
Hiring a pro is a smart move. Garage doors are heavy and operated by springs under extremely high tension. It’s dangerous
to install a door yourself.
Call for professional installation. After only a few hours of the pro’s work, you’ll
get a stunning home makeover that will make you proud every time you pull in your driveway. |
