How to Make Your Garage Door Energy Efficient
[lwptoc depth=”1″ numeration=”none” colorScheme=”inherit”]
Garages are very beneficial for homeowners. They offer a safe storage place and add extra square footage — but your garage can also be wasting money and electricity. One of the largest culprits for garage-related energy waste is an old, damaged or poorly insulated garage door.
Energy-efficient garage doors are an excellent asset because they provide:
- A more comfortable space: If your garage doubles as a workshop, gym, studio or apartment, then a comfortable temperature is essential. Energy-efficient garage doors prevent costly and uncomfortable temperature fluctuations.
- An eco-friendly alternative: About 40% of the United State’s energy consumption goes toward producing electricity. Much of this energy produces greenhouse gases and other pollution. The less power you consume, the more environmentally-friendly your home will be.
- Lower energy costs: Fluctuating garage temperatures are costly to keep up with, especially if your garage is attached. If the temperature is unstable in your garage, it can lower or raise the temperature inside your house.
- Increased resale value: Insulated garage doors, automatic door openers and garage insulation are great ways to boost your home’s resale value because they promise lower utility costs. They also save a potential buyer from having to make upgrades themselves.
Read on to learn more about how to make your garage door efficient.
Insulate the Door
The best way to insulate a garage is to start with the door. An insulated door can help maintain a more comfortable and controlled temperature inside your garage, keeping it up to 12 degrees warmer in the winter and 20 degrees cooler during the summer heat. Garage door insulation can also block out unwanted noise transfer, which is ideal for those who have garage workshops. You can measure an insulated garage door by its R-value. R-value refers to the level of effectiveness for each layer of insulation based on factors like its density, age and type.
When it comes to insulating your garage, you have two choices — use a do-it-yourself insulation kit or consult a professional garage door technician to help. DIY kits come with foam board insulation, reflective insulation or batt insulation to hang along the inside of your door. While this may be an inexpensive solution, a professional garage door technician will get the job done right and take one thing off your to-do list!
Seal Garage Door Cracks
If there are cracks between your garage door and the walls or floor, hot and cold air can easily flow in and out throughout the day. If you rely on an air conditioner or heater to regulate your garage’s temperature, this outside airflow will cause a spike in your energy consumption — and your bill. To seal garage door cracks, apply weatherstripping in areas with large gaps. Weatherstripping is a firm, sometimes flexible strip that fits around your door to prevent lost energy and temperature fluctuation. As you open and close your garage door, weatherstripping on the bottom will not break or scratch because it is made of durable rubber, vinyl or silicone, though some may be made of aluminum or a similar metal.
If your garage door already has weatherstripping, check that it is still attached correctly and in good condition. Signs that indicate possible weatherstripping damage include:
- Excessive drafts around your door.
- Visibly worn or damaged stripping with tears, cracks, dents or corrosion.
- Water puddles, insects or other evidence that the stripping is no longer doing its job.
Contact your garage door servicer for further guidance about how to seal garage door cracks.
Upgrade Your Garage Door Opener
If you have an automatic garage door opener, make sure it’s sized correctly for the job, and there are no visual or audible signs of strain. The harder a garage door opener has to work to move your door, the more energy it consumes in the process. You could also consider upgrading from a standard automatic garage door opener to one with built-in smart technology.
Smart garage door openers tend to use less electricity than a standard automatic door opener because you can program them to turn on and off at specific intervals throughout the day, rather than standing idle. With automatic closing, you also eliminate the possibility of accidentally leaving your door open when you leave your home for the day — an accident that is both a security risk and a significant energy waster.
Replace Your Door With a More Energy-Efficient Garage Door
A damaged or worn garage door is one of the quickest ways to rack up a hefty energy bill. Replace your garage door to reduce garage energy consumption if you have any holes, cracks, rust or excessive dents and scratches. When choosing a new, more efficient garage door, consider the following:
- Material: Each garage door material has different advantages. For example, steel is strong and resistant to most damage. When constructed out of several layers or combined with insulation materials, it’s also great for temperature regulation. Wood, composite wood and doors made of blended materials are also suitable for insulation.
- R-value: Always check the listed R-value for a garage door before making your investment. The higher the R-value, the better it will be for insulation.
- Windows: Garage door windows can be very beneficial, especially if you want to save money by using more natural light. That said, garage door windows can also be a source of energy loss for many homeowners. To combat this, make sure your windows are installed correctly, and there are no gaps or cracks around the windows. You can also consider adding an insulated or low-emissivity glaze to the glass to prevent excess heat transfer.
Schedule Preventative Garage Door Maintenance
Regular garage door maintenace is the best way to address minor concerns before they turn into larger, more energy-wasting issues later. With preventative maintenance from BlackHawk Garage Door, a specialist will visit your home at least once per year to inspect your door’s performance and appearance. They will check each part of your garage door, including the track, nuts, bolts, hardware and springs. The technician will also apply complete lubrication to all moving parts and address any additional concerns you might have.
Additional Tips for an Energy-Efficient Garage
Once you have made your garage door more energy-efficient, you can take some additional steps to create a more energy-efficient garage, including:
- Unplug all unused appliances, such as tools, machinery and exercise equipment.
- Switch to energy-saving lightbulbs and appliances.
- Turn off the light during the day or use natural light when possible.
- Regularly inspect all wiring for energy-wasting damage.
Contact BlackHawk Garage Door for Maintenance and Installation
An energy-efficient garage door is an important investment for your home or business. At BlackHawk Garage Door, we take pride in offering fair and honest service with competitive prices. Visit us online to learn more about our residential and commercial garage door solutions or contact us today to request a free estimate.
Top 5 Home Renovations for ROI in Minnesota: Garage Doors and More!
With all the benefits you can get out of a home improvement investment, you also want to ensure you’re getting the most value for your money. You want to take on remodeling projects that have a high ROI and add value to your home. What are home-buyers most willing to pay for in Minnesota or Wisconsin? We broke things down by the numbers, so you can get the best value for your home renovations.
What to Consider When Choosing a Home Renovation
Home renovations can range from completely redesigning your home, a single room or replacing some outdated elements. When you’re concerned about the resale value for a home project, the most important thing to consider is the upfront cost. Any home renovation should begin with a budget that reflects the project’s extent. When ROI comes into play, the ideal renovation has a relatively low upfront cost and will be seen as high value to potential buyers.
The more you invest upfront, the harder it will be to match that investment during a sale.
It’s also smart to consider renovations that add value beyond ROI. If you’re planning to live in the same home for a few more years before reselling, you should choose renovations that contribute to your happiness and make your life easier. If you spend a lot of time enjoying your yard, exterior renovations can boost your quality of life. A deck or porch renovation, for example, can make your outdoor experiences that much more enjoyable.
You also want to consider what added functionality a home renovation can bring to your residence. For example, a kitchen renovation might allow you more cabinet and countertop space. If you have an old garage door that doesn’t move smoothly and seems to get stuck often, a garage door replacement can make pulling into your garage a little easier and less of a hassle. You’ll recognize the benefit every time you head out or come home when you choose the right home improvement, such as these:
1. New Garage Door Installation
Replacing your garage door with a high-quality attractive model is one of the best overall investments you can make for your home. Why? First, exterior renovations tend to have a higher ROI because they increase curb appeal. A visually appealing outer appearance gets more buyers in the door and raises a home’s perceived value. A garage door makes up a good portion of that outer layer and ties the exterior together to create a focal point.
Investing in a new garage door also comes at a fraction of other exterior renovation projects, such as roof replacement, landscaping or deck additions.
Besides its high resale value, a garage door can provide other savings in the form of energy efficiency. Replacing a non-insulated garage door with an insulated one can help your home retain heat in the colder months and keep hot air out in the summer. As a result, your home’s heating and cooling system doesn’t have to use as much energy for climate control, and you can take advantage of excellent savings. We offer a variety of insulation options to meet your desired energy efficiency goals and budget.
A garage door is also a long-lasting investment. If you install one with quality construction and continue to maintain it, it will last 15-30 years. While you’ll need to replace the spring every 10,000 cycles — or openings and closings — and other hardware as required, the door itself will last a long time and continue appealing to buyers years after your investment.
2. Siding Replacement
Like garage doors, new siding can increase your curb appeal and attract buyers. As a result, it’s the second-highest ROI renovation in our location. Since siding covers a lot more area, you should expect to invest more upfront. The more expensive fiber-cement has a higher ROI. The average siding renovation will cost $19,964 upfront and recoup $13,667 at resale in Minneapolis. The average ROI for a fiber-cement siding job is 68.5%, making it one of the best home renovations.
Siding can give your home’s façade a refreshed look. If your current siding has taken a beating from harsh weather, this can be an important upgrade for those looking to sell their home. It also presents the opportunity to select a new color for your house.
3. Manufactured Stone Veneer Installation
As an alternative to siding, stone gives your home a natural look. You’ll find some surprisingly authentic options available with manufactured stone veneer. Manufactured stone comes with a lower price tag than real stone, and generally places less stress on your structural frame. Since it looks attractive to buyers without as high of an investment, artificial stone is an excellent choice.
You can apply a stone veneer in many places in your home, from a fireplace mantle to a shower backsplash. For the highest ROI possible, install it on your residence’s street-facing exterior, where it can increase curb appeal. When you replace about one-third of your home’s front-facing siding with a manufactured stone veneer, the project will cost about $10,777, on average, in Minneapolis. You’ll earn back an average of $7,300 at resale for a 67.7% return.
It comes in many styles, such as warm, earthy tones or cool slate grays. You can find veneers that replicate rectangular stone blocks or create a more organic pattern with a rougher texture.
4. Entry Door Replacement
While smaller than a garage door, an entry door has just as much of an ability to be your home’s main focal point. Since the front door is one of the first parts of your home a buyer interacts with, it can leave a lasting impression. Replacing an old, shabby door with a sturdy, eye-catching steel one can improve your curb appeal and resale value.
For an added boost to your ROI, consider replacing your entry and garage doors together with complementary designs. At BlackHawk Garage Door, we offer several collections of entry doors to complement our most popular overhead garage door designs.
5. Window Replacement
As one last improvement to your exterior, windows can be a worthwhile investment for ROI. Besides improving curb appeal, modern windows will likely enhance your home’s energy efficiency. Between extra panes of glass and weather-tight seals, better windows will let in less moisture and keep your home warmer all winter long. Those energy savings can increase your ROI beyond what you’ll earn at resale. Plus, savvy buyers will recognize the advantage of efficiency.
The average vinyl window installation, assuming you have 10 windows, will run you around $19,139. You’ll earn back $12,524 at resale for a 65.4% ROI, a slight bump to the ROI for wood window replacement.
Replace Your Minnesota or Wisconsin Home’s Garage Door
After crunching the numbers, you probably noticed that the garage door replacement ROI is far ahead of even the second-best home improvement in our area, and it comes at a fraction of the upfront cost. The key to getting the most from your garage door’s ROI is choosing an attractive, durable door that will draw in buyers and let them know they won’t need to replace it for years to come. You can add some additional value for yourself through improved energy efficiency.
You can get all the features of a high-quality, high-value garage door from BlackHawk Garage Door. Browse our overhead door collections and try our Door Imagination System to find the one that will look best on your home for higher curb appeal. Contact us today!
Garage Door Services, Repair, and Installation in Maple Grove, Minnesota and Surrounding Areas
When it comes to garage doors, if you are looking for garage door services, repair, and installation in Maple Grove, Minnesota and the surrounding areas, then BlackHawk Garage Door has you covered. We have been in business well over a decade and here are just a few examples of what we can do for you as a homeowner or a business owner.
Garage Door Repair
Let’s face it, your garage door is a functional part of your home or business as well as an aesthetic fixture. Just like anything else, garage doors and garage door openers sometimes break or need some kind of repair work done. Whether it’s your actual garage door that is giving you trouble or even your garage door opener, we will fix it fast and at a competitive rate that won’t break the bank. Over time there are usual wear and tear things that can make your garage door inoperable and we have the experience and knowledge to fix it. Whether it is a cable that needs replacing, hinges or springs, bearings and rollers, or anything else – leave it in our hands and we will have your garage door repaired fast and efficiently. We service all brands of both garage doors and garage door openers.
Garage Door Installation
Not only do we sell new garage doors and openers but we also do custom color painting, but you can build your own garage door right on our site to see what works with your needs. This application gives you all the options that are available so that you have a good idea what you are interested in so that when you are ready to buy your new garage door, you have all of the information to get started.
For instance, you can load your own photo or choose one of the sample photos, choose a one car or two car garage, choose your type of arch or clipped corners, choose from raised panels, a recessed panel, flush panel, carriage house, or HD fiberglass, choose short or long panels if you pick that style, choose your colors such as white, almond, desert tan, sandstone, brown, evergreen, bronze, and gray, what type of windows you want (cascade, sunburst, cathedral, mission, sherwood, or stockton) or no windows or inserts at all, and if you want plain, tinted, or obscure. You can then download or print your choices and go from there.
Garage Door Services
Along with garage door repair and installation, we have all-encompassing garage door services as well. For instance, we provide preventative maintenance on garage doors to ensure the longevity of your investment. We also offer garage door panel replacement and damaged section repair in case you need your garage door fixed but do not want to invest in an entirely new door just because you have some damage to your existing one. You can pretty much count on us if it is garage door related.
We don’t just cater to residential sales and services either. If you own a business and need a garage door, we also do commercial garage door installation. We only use premium, quality materials, superior designs, and our workmanship is something we take pride in.
If you are ready to schedule an appointment, need an estimate, or simply have questions, please feel free to contact us so we can help. We are available from Eau Claire, Wisconsin to the Greater Minneapolis, Minnesota areas, including Maple Grove Minnesota. We are locally owned and operated as well as being a family business whose mission is to deliver exceptional service and products at a competitive price.