By Christine Miller Blue Sky Builders • Custom Garages • Doors • Garage Doors • Garage Safety • Garages • • • • • • • • • • • 0 Comments

Why Steel Garage Entry Doors Are a Good Choice For Your Home

thumbnailWhile you may put a lot of thought into the aesthetics and security features of the front door of your home, you could be neglecting the safety of the internal and external entry doors into your garage. These may not seem as important to you, but the types of doors you choose for your garage can have a significant impact on all sorts of things, from safety to energy usage. The door that we recommend for all homebuilders or fixer-uppers is a steel entry door.

4 Benefits of Steel Garage Entry Doors

There are many benefits to installing steel entry doors in your garage, including the following:

  1. Security—It is much more difficult to break through metal than it is to break through wood or fiberglass. This is especially true for those who have a high-quality, powerful set of keyed dual locks installed with the doors. With or without the additional safety precautions, the strength of the material of these doors typically keeps intruders at bay.
  2. Affordability—Typically, steel doors are the least expensive option for entry doors. And while some might argue this is due to the material’s lack of aesthetic appeal, the truth is, with help from the right garage builder, you can actually create an attractive entry door, even with steel as the material. Possible ways to spruce it up include:
    • Diverse paneling options
    • Different colors
    • Ornate door lights
    • Elegant glass windows and other glass inserts
  3. Energy Efficiency and Good Insulation—Most steel entry doors, especially those for residential areas, are not made entirely of steel due to the heaviness of the material. In fact, other than the steel outer-coating, these entry doors often have a similar core as those made of fiberglass. Overall, this makes steel entry doors good at keeping the heat and cold outside, improving both indoor insulation and energy efficiency. Add some magnetic weather stripping and you will be well on your way to effectively braving the elements of inclement weather.
  4. Low Maintenance—Other than the possibility of dents, which are uncommon in residential homes, and rusting, which often takes a long time to occur, steel entry doors are very low maintenance. Other popular alternatives, such as wood and fiberglass can easily rot or crack from changing weather conditions.

Contact a Downers Grove Steel Entry Door Professional

Thinking about replacing your garage entry doors or determining which entry doors to use in your new garage? Call a Chicago-area garage building specialist at 630-852-8485 to discuss your options. With more than 40 years of garage building experience, Blue Sky Builders can help you choose the right steel entry doors for your garage, including helping you with the overall design, security, and environmental impact of those doors on your home.

Sources:

https://www.thespruce.com/installing-a-steel-door-at-home-1821451

https://learn.reeb.com/knowledge-base/wood-vs-fiberglass-vs-steel/

https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/entry-doors/buying-guide/

 

By Christine Miller Custom Garages • Electric Garage Door Opener • Garage Doors • • • • • 0 Comments

How Do I Know When My Garage Door Needs to Be Replaced?

DuPage County garage door replacement professionalsWhether you are having trouble opening your garage door or simply want to update your garage with an electric garage door opener or some other exciting modern upgrades, there are many reasons you may decide to replace your garage doors. Sometimes, though, garage door replacement is a requirement borne out of necessity. In those cases, you may want to hire a professional to guide you through the process. In case you are not entirely sure whether you need to replace your garage door or your garage door opener, consider some of these definitive signs that your garage door and opener have seen their last days.

3 Telltale Signs You Need to Replace Your Garage Door

Overall, there are three main areas to focus on when determining whether you may need a new garage door or opener. The top two most critical areas to look at are the overall function and structure. Secondarily, you may also want to review aesthetics, special features, and other ways to improve your garage door or opener. While these issues may not necessarily affect your day-to-day functions and safety, they could still make your life a whole lot easier or your home a whole lot more attractive. Within each area, there are some significant things to consider. Here is a closer look:

  1. Problems with Functioning—If your garage door is not opening or closing, or if your opener is not functioning properly, a repair or replacement might be needed. For instance, if your garage door exhibits any of these issues, you are going to want to get it checked out:
    • Inconsistent Responsiveness: Perhaps your garage door will not close or open, or it may not close or open the entire way, or it may reverse shortly after opening or closing. The remote in your car or the controls inside your garage may have no effect. In addition to causing aggravation, all of these problems have the potential to put your family’s safety and security at risk.
    • Vibrations and Noises: Garage doors can vibrate when opening or closing, but if you notice excessive vibrations, or if your garage door generates significant noise when operating, you might want to have an expert look into this issue.
    • Constant Maintenance or Repair Visits: If your garage door keeps breaking down, it may be more cost-effective to replace it with a new and more reliable garage door or garage door opener.
  2. Structural Issues—Sometimes, a garage door and garage door opener alike will function properly, but other major structural issues may lead to safety concerns or other problems. These problems may include:
    • Damage to the Door: Hazardous weather, or irresponsible driving, or countless other issues may cause a garage door to be dented or damaged in some way that could impede its alignment.
    • Sagging, Rusting, and Rotting: If the door itself appears a droopy or rusted, or if the walls or frame around the door are damaged or rotting, these structural concerns will need to be addressed immediately. In these cases, a garage door may need to be replaced, and other repairs may need to be made to the garage.
  3. Aesthetics and Special Features—While these issues may not be as serious, they may still present compelling reasons to replace your garage door:
    • Design Decisions and Color Facelifts: If you are remodeling your home, or if you notice that your garage door does not fit the design or color of your house, a replacement might be the right choice, no matter how well the door is functioning mechanically or structurally.
    • Smartening Home Features: Special features like smart garage door openers and other modern conveniences can make your life easier, especially if you are upgrading your entire home to a smart home ecosystem. 

Contact a Downers Grove Garage Door Expert

If your garage door or garage door opener are not working the way they should, contact our Chicago-area electric garage door opener specialists at 630-852-8485. Blue Sky Builders can design, install, repair, or replace your garage door and ensure your equipment is functioning properly. Since we have more than 40 years of custom garage building experience, you can trust us to get your garage door in the best shape possible.

Sources:

https://www.cnet.com/how-to/is-it-time-to-replace-your-garage-door-opener/

https://incredibleplanet.net/5-signs-you-need-to-replace-your-garage-door/

https://realtytimes.com/advicefromtheexpert/item/1027469-5-signs-it-s-time-to-repair-your-garage-door

 

By Christine Miller Blue Sky Builders • Garage Doors • • • • • • • 0 Comments

Should My Garage Have One Double or Two Single Garage Doors?

Blue Sky Builders single vs. double garage doorsWhen you want to upgrade the look and functionality of your garage, several of the most important decisions you must make involve the garage doors. Some decisions will significantly impact your property’s curb appeal, such as the color and decorative style of the doors. Other decisions are more functional, such as the insulating value and the type of electric garage door opener you install. But the most long-lasting decision you will make is this: should you design your garage for one double garage door or two single doors? Read more

By Christine Miller Blue Sky Builders • Garage Doors • • • • • • 0 Comments

Improve Your Home’s Curb Appeal With a New Garage Door

Blue Sky Builders garage door selectionWhen some part of your home, like a garage door, needs to be replaced, you should not just automatically buy the cheapest option or an exact replacement for the one that broke. Your home may well be the most valuable asset you have. When the time eventually comes to sell it, you will want to get the best possible price for it. This means that you cannot wait until you are ready to put the house on the market to think about maximizing its value to potential buyers. Rather, protecting the value of your home has to be an ongoing practice, like changing the oil in your car and buying new tires when the old ones wear out. Read more

By Christine Miller Blue Sky Builders • Garage Doors • Garage Maintenance • • • • • • • • 0 Comments

Signs That Your Garage Door Needs Attention or Replacement

Blue Sky Builders garage door repair replacementGarage doors tend to fall pretty low on the list of home repairs for most homeowners. However, as the largest and perhaps most used entrance to your domicile, it is essential that your garage door is safe as well as functional. Additionally, the garage door makes up a significant amount of your home’s curbside view, making its appearance a contributing factor to your home’s overall market value. The timelines for maintenance, repair, and replacement vary considerably depending on the amount of use a garage door endures, and factors such as severe weather, damage, and a variety of other elements can also affect the need for replacement. Here are a few tips to help you know when it is time to replace your door: Read more

By Christine Miller Blue Sky Builders • Garage Doors • Garages • • • • • • • 0 Comments

Factors to Consider When Choosing a New Garage Door

Blue Sky Builders garage door style and materialsWe are at the time of the year when it is nearly time to execute our carefully planned home improvement projects. Replacing a garage door may be one of the many tasks to check off that list during the spring and summer. Even though finding the perfect garage door may be very difficult, as there are many styles to choose from, considering the following factors can help you narrow down your options. Read more

By Christine Miller Blue Sky Builders • Garage Doors • • • • • • • • • 0 Comments

Choosing the Right Material for Your New Garage Door

Blue Sky Builders choosing garage door materialsIn the Chicago and DuPage County area, we experience cold winters, warm summers, and everything in between. Any homeowner will want to make sure their garage will survive these extremes, as well as the abrupt changes in temperature which can often occur. One key area of consideration is the material used for your garage door. Whether you are planning to replace your garage door or completely renovate or rebuild your garage, it is important to understand the pros and cons of the different types of garage doors that are available. Read more

By Christine Miller Blue Sky Builders • Garage Maintenance • Remodeling • Renavation • Spring Replacement • • • • • • • • • 0 Comments

Garage Repair Vs. Garage Renovation: Weighing the Costs and Benefits

Blue Sky Builders garage repair or renovationIt is almost the end of the year, and most of us are making huge plans for the holidays. What many of us have not considered is how we should go about making garage repairs for the upcoming season. There are many factors which can determine whether you may need some quick repairs on your garage, or if you need complete renovations. Weather, which can change abruptly in the Chicago area and DuPage County, can be a factor in that determination, as well as changing storage needs, and the addition of new drivers to the household. Read more

By Christine Miller Blue Sky Builders • Do It Yourself • Doors • Garage Doors • Garage Maintenance • Garage Safety • Garages • Management • Spring Replacement • • • • • • • • • • 0 Comments

How to Clean Up Melted Snow in Your Garage

Blue Sky Image (3)As the sun begins to stay in the sky for just a little longer each day, the winter weather slowly starts to fade away in the Chicagoland area. As the snow melts, your garage may become damaged due to the excess water. However, there are a number of tactics you can tackle in order to clean up any messes made in your garage and prevent any damages from happening in the future.  Read more

By Christine Miller Blue Sky Builders • Do It Yourself • Doors • Garage Maintenance • Garage Safety • Garages • • • • • • • • • • • 0 Comments

4 Ways to Evaluate Your Garage Performance this Winter

Blue Sky Image (3)Illinois winters can be rough on your garage. With this season comes freezing temperatures, snowy and wet conditions, and sometimes even high winds. However, there are a number of ways to evaluate the performance of your garage during the winter. Read more