1. Know the pros and cons of natural wood doors versus steel or aluminum doors before choosing a material for your garage door. The most popular garage door material is steel. Steel doors can be insulated to be more energy efficient than wood doors and they are lower maintenance and generally less expensive than wood doors. Aluminum doors are typically the least expensive type of garage door and the most lightweight (and thus easiest to lift manually) but also the most prone to dents. However, aluminum has the advantage of being resistant to rust and corrosion, giving it an advantage in coastal regions. Natural wood doors need to be repainted or restained every few years and they can be quite costly compared to steel and aluminum doors. However, the warmth and beauty that wood garage doors can bring to a home is undeniable!

2. Consider the insulation value (“R-value”) of the garage door. The higher the R-value of the garage door, the greater the insulation value and energy efficiency. If you live in a temperate climate, this may not be an important issue for you. However, if you live in a harsh climate, have finished living space above your garage, or plan to heat or cool your garage because you are using it for purposes other than parking cars (for example, a workshop or laundry area), the garage door’s R-value is definitely something to consider. Several years ago, we put a master bedroom/bath addition above our garage and the space has always been much colder than the rest of the house in the winter – our new garage door that has a much higher R-value than the old one has made a significant different in the colder temperatures. The negative of getting a garage door with a high R-value is the cost – generally, the higher the R-value of the door, the higher the price. So your need for a well insulated garage door needs to be weighed against the extra cost.

3. Choose a garage door color that coordinates with the exterior colors of your home, whether that be by selecting one of the standard prefinished door colors or painting/staining your door a custom color. Most garage door manufacturers offer their garage doors in several fairly standard color options. If one of the standard colors matches well with the rest of your house, perfect! A prefinished door is the way to go if you can find a color that works for you because it’s virtually maintenance free. However, if none of the colors offered by the manufacturer work well with the exterior colors of your home, consider painting it. To make the painting job easier on you, you can request to have the door delivered to your home prior to installation so that you can paint the individual sections of the door before it is hung. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for how to prep your door before painting, the type of paint to use (use of oil based paint may void the warranty), and restrictions on painting with dark colors.

4. Don’t underestimate the visual impact of adding windows to your garage door. My old garage door didn’t have windows so initially I didn’t consider this option when selecting a new one but after using Clopay’s Door Imagination System (see tip #6), I could see for myself what an amazing difference the addition of windows would make to the overall look of my home. Now I’ve become a believer that the vast majority of the time, the most attractive garage door for your home is going to be one with windows.

5. Select a style of garage door that complements your home. Obviously, you don’t want to put a contemporary looking aluminum and glass garage door on a traditional Colonial home or a carriage style door on a contemporary home. Also, if your garage door will have windows, be mindful of the shape of the windows and the size of the window grilles that you choose.

6. Use an online tool such as Clopay’s Door Imagination System that allows you to upload a photo of your home and change the design of the garage door to see how various designs transform your home’s appearance.

7. Be aware that most garage door manufacturers have options for different styles of decorative door hardware and also that installing some of the hardware on the door is optional. For example, I chose a carriage-house style garage door but wasn’t fond of the look of the hinges or step plate (hardware on bottom center) with the style of my home so I chose to not install those pieces of hardware. I also changed out the standard lift handles for colonial handles that better suited my home.

8. If you live in an area at risk for hurricane force winds, be sure that your garage door is a wind-rated door that meets local wind load reinforcement requirements. Approximately 80% of residential wind damage starts with wind entry through the garage door.

9. Ask about the the warranty for your garage doors, as some manufacturers offer longer warranties than others. The length of warranty can also differ depending upon the specific type of door you choose.

10. Once you’ve found the door that’s perfect for you, be sure to price shop. I had gotten the quote for the Clopay door that I ended up choosing from a local dealer but then saw that Home Depot was having a sale on Clopay doors that would have made my garage door less expensive to buy through them. I informed the salesperson that I was working with and they agreed to match the Home Depot sale price, saving me a few hundred dollars.

Good luck with choosing a new door! While shopping for a new garage door isn’t the most fun you’ll ever have, take the time to make the right choice. The impact that a new garage door can have on the appearance of your home is likely much bigger than you may expect!

Source: http://www.drivenbydecor.com/2013/05/garage-door-replacement-10-tips-for.html

If you purchased and installed an ENERGY STAR® qualified Clopay entry door in 2012 or plan to in 2013, you may be able to take advantage of a federal energy tax credit worth up to $500.

The credit equals 10% of the product cost with a lifetime maximum of $500.

For example, if an entry door costs $2,000, the tax credit would be worth $200. Labor and installation charges are not included.

To be eligible for the tax credit, entry doors must:

• Meet ENERGY STAR program requirements
• Be installed in a taxpayer’s existing primary residence between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2013.

How to claim the credit:

• Obtain a receipt showing the purchase price of the door, excluding labor and installation charges, and the Manufacturer’s Certification Statement.
• Submit tax form 5695 to claim the credit for the year the purchase was made.
• If you claimed a residential energy efficiency credit in a previous tax year, consult a tax professional or visit www.irs.gov to determine your eligibility for this credit.

See the Clopay entry door models that qualify for the energy tax credit.

Source: http://www.clopaydoor.com/blog/post/2013/03/20/Go-Green-and-Save-Green-Clopay-Front-Door.aspx

One Clear Choice installs Clopay entry doors. Give us a call!

They are also background checked and drug tested, so you can feel 100% safe when they show up at your home.

We dispatch fully stocked trucks locally to better serve you 24 hours a day, seven days a week in your neighborhood!

Learn more about our technicians here

One Clear Choice Garage Doors Denver Showroom Tour from OneClearChoice on Vimeo.

Call for pricing. Pick up, delivery, and installation available.

888LM MyQ® Control Panel

Gone are the days of wondering if you put the door down or worrying over the kids forgetting their keys.

Now, any LiftMaster® garage door opener manufactured since 1998 can be controlled with your smartphone, tablet or computer thanks to the new 888LM MyQ® Control Panel (when paired with the 828LM LiftMaster® Internet Gateway, sold separately).

MyQ® technology enables you to manage, monitor and control everything from your garage door opener to lights and beyond – anytime, and from anywhere. It also allows for simple programming of new MyQ® Accessories and Security+ 2.0™ remote controls and keyless entry products and features Timer-to-Close, that automatically closes the garage door after a pre-programmed number of minutes – making it easy if you have your hands full.

You can also purchase the MyQ® Control Panel and the LiftMaster® Internet Gateway together in the MyQ® Package.

• Turns opener lights on/off from inside the garage
• Equipped with a 150º sensing angle
• On/Off switch for deactivation of motion-detecting function
• Adjustable light timer lets you set when you want the opener lights to go out after closing or opening the garage door (pre-set at 4 1/2 minutes)
• Timer-to-Close feature allows the door to automatically close after a pre-programmed number of minutes
• Easily program remote controls and MyQ® enabled accessories directly from the control panel
• LiftMaster® Internet Gateway accessory required (sold separately) to utilize MyQ® functionality

SAFETY & SECURITY FEATURES

• Locks out all outside remote control signals while you’re away
• Motion detector automatically turns on garage door opener lights when movement is sensed

Garage Organization

Decorating

Curb Appeal

And so much more!

We encourage you to check it out today!

Taking a look back at the past month, here are our most viewed pages and posts in the month of April:

Garage Doors

Garage Doors

SPECIALS

Top 10 Garage Doors for Denver Reviewed – Part 2 of 3

Garage Door Openers

Garage Door Springs

Custom Garage Doors Series

Garage Door Hardware

Top 10 Best Garage Doors for Denver Reviewed – Part 1 of 3

Where to Buy the Best Garage Door Parts in Denver

Check out this video to learn more about these unique garage doors: