Folks in the remodeling mood often consider many parts of their homes for overhauls, but they might overlook one change-out that could increase curb appeal significantly. The garage door is becoming one of the main focal points of the house. Garage doors often make up more than one-third of the front facade of many homes and should be considered in home-improvement plans.
A recent study released by Remodeling Magazine found that homeowners who replace their garage doors are seeing an average of 84 percent return on investment. This means homeowners can expect to recoup about 84 percent of the cost of the new garage doors in selling price should they place their property on the market. This ranks higher than a kitchen or bathroom remodel. It’s one of the least-expensive home-improvement projects, and it can greatly improve curb appeal that can affect buyer first impression.
One door style in particular has become very popular. Carriage-house doors are big right now. They’re a design that comes from an older time period. Carriage doors, often compared to barn doors, come in both wood and steel and often have windows on the upper section. They can simulate the swing-out style with decorative strap hinges added.
Consumers have more choices these days and are finding more options available than ever before. They want to distinguish themselves from their neighbors. In addition to garage doors coming in several styles and colors, they also can complement other parts of the house.
Garage-door openers also have made technological advances. One of the newest garage-door opener features is having a full-power battery backup in case of a power outage. This allows security and peace of mind. For example, a mother and her children can still enter or exit the garage as usual during a power outage.
As always, consumers are looking to energy-efficient products to help cut costs. The garage doors’ R-value is the key number here. The R-value indicates the thermal efficiency of the garage door. The higher the R-value, the more energy-efficient the door will be. In addition to cutting costs, an insulated door is more soundproof. Insulation also plays a large part in smaller house doors, such as the front or back entryway. The difference in energy efficiency is so much more substantial. It not only lowers heating or cooling costs but makes the home more comfortable.