In order for your garage doors to be eco-friendly, you need to make sure that the door will be able to regulate the temperatures inside the house. Through this, the heating and cooling system will not be used too frequently which leads to saving energy and the environment. For this reason, you need to make sure that you install weatherstripping in your doors. Weatherstripping can also protect your garage from snow, water and even insects. This project is fairly easy and it does not take much of your time too.

1. Begin with the garage door open. In order for you to manipulate the garage door manually, you need to disconnect it from the garage door opener by detaching the release cord.
2. Since you will be installing new weather strips on your door, you would first need to remove the old stripping. Grab a pry bar and use it to separate the old weather strips from the door jamb. Do this carefully so that the door or the jamb will not be damaged. Simply insert the pry bar in between the strips and carefully separate them from each other.
3. Most weather strips that are sold in hardware stores are made with different lengths. If you have a double- car garage door at home, then you can simply use the entire stripping. If the garage door is only for one car, you need to measure the door jamb and cut the stripping to its appropriate size.
4. Install the weatherstripping for the top jamb first. Manually close door to begin. Start with one corner and make sure that the strip will fully touch the corner of the jamb. Hammer the stripping into place until you reach the other corner. Make certain that the stripping will slightly touch the residential garage doors. This creates a seal to separate the inside temperature from the outside.
5. If the stripping is too short, grab another one and simply connect the two pieces without any spaces.
6. Use the same technique when installing the strips for the right and left garage door jambs. Always see to it that the flap of the stripping will touch the door.

Homeowners who are looking into replacing their old garage doors should definitely do so because new ones are built with improved security and safety features which will be very beneficial to the house and to the family as well. But if you are on a tight budget, you really do not need to worry because there are many affordable choices that you will be able to find in your local area. Here are some essential tips that you can use when looking for new residential garage doors:

• Do not look for the cheapest doors available but look for doors that offer great value for your money. If you really want to save money, going for the cheapest one that you can find will not help. Cheap does not always mean sturdy so before making a sale, check the material and the quality of the door that you are about to buy. You can read reviews about the company that offers these very cheap doors to see if its products are of high quality.
• Do not be afraid to look at top brands when choosing a garage door. There is a reason why these brands are popular and that is the durability of their products. You should also ask the sales clerk regarding the price range of these brands. Usually, even those popular labels have affordable options for their customers. They can also offer a wide variety of exterior doors that will look great on your house.
• Before you leave the house, research ahead of time on what you want your new garage door to have. This way, you can immediately look for these specifications when you visit the store. It will save you time and energy too. You might want to consider doors that give great insulation to your home. These doors can help lower your utility bills and they are eco- friendly as well.
• Do not buy immediately after looking at one store. Always search for alternative options and lay everything on the table before spending your money. Choose an affordable yet durable option from different stores and suppliers.

Some people who have not owned a house with garage doors before may not have the right knowledge regarding these fixtures. One of the things that all homeowners with garages must know is getting the correct measurement of their residential garage doors.
Reasons Why You Need to Measure Properly
There are reasons why people should know how to do this job properly.

1. Measuring the garage door will be important when you want to change your door to a new one.
2. Another reason why this is important is because knowing the measurement of the door will also give you the clearance level of your garage. With this information in mind, you will also know what types of vehicles will fit into the door to be stored inside the garage.

As homeowners, you need not to worry since measuring their garage doors does not take a lot of time and effort. All you need to have is a reliable tape measure, a pen and a paper for writing and a stepladder. Once the materials are ready, you may now begin measuring your garage door.

• When measuring the garage door, the secret here is not to measure the current door that you have but you need to measure the size of the opening instead. You need to base your measurements on the opening and not on the door so that your new door will be perfectly fitted to the frame. Since the opening will be measured, homeowners can use their garage door openers to open the fixture fully.
• Grab your tape measure and get the width of the door opening from side to side near the bottom of the door. You might want to ask for a friend’s help with this. Record the numbers in your paper.
• After the width of the bottom, bring the tape measure up near the top of the opening. Measure the width and take note of it. The width of the bottom and top of the opening must be the same. If not, you should have this corrected because the door frame may be slanted.
• With a stepladder, measure the top to bottom length of the opening.
• Do not fail to get the measurement from the ceiling to the top opening. Same as the closet in the sides to the left and right door frames. This will give the homeowners an idea of how much extra space they have in their garage.

Modern day garages do more than just safeguard your vehicles from the elements. They are functional and recreational spaces that can be designed and renovated in any way you want. Being natural extensions of your home, garage doors are also important elements that affect your home’s overall aesthetics. It is no wonder then that homeowners are investing their dollars and time towards choosing the right garage doors for their style and utility needs. Here are some latest residential garage door trends that are fast becoming popular with homeowners.

Enhancing curb appeal with striking garage door styles: Steel sectional doors have replaced slab-style doors of the past. People are going one step further to opt for sectional units with flush panel designs and full-view styles with windows. Windows allow natural light to seep in, and transform dark and gloomy garages into brighter and more appealing spaces during daytime. The emphasis is on contemporary and elegant lines, with most homeowners going the extra mile to complement the design of their garage doors to their homes’ architectural style.

Garage door materials: While steel doors have dominated the market owing to their availability and price, the popularity of wood, vinyl and fiberglass has spiked. If you still feel that stain-grade wooden garage doors are the best option, you can consider looking at the latest fiberglass units that offer the wooden feel of traditional doors. They come with steel reinforcements and insulation linings, offering years of service.

Insulated garage doors: An increasing number of homeowners are favoring insulated garage doors, and for good reason. They keep heat in during colder months and out during summers. Doors with high insulation or R.value offer energy savings, and can contribute to lower heating bills. Insulated garage doors also function as decent noise barriers. The good news is that there are many eye-catching insulated garage door designs to choose from.

Safety features in garage doors: Here, safety is in the context of garage door operation. Homeowners are looking at doors that incorporate multiple safety features. This includes pinch-resistant doors that push your fingers away when they are placed very near to a closing door, and protect against injuries. Tamper-resistant bottom brackets, on the other hand, lower the risks of injury arising from door components under tension. Garage doors with polyurethane insulation offer greater fire safety by reducing the amount of flames and smoke generated.

Explore your options, and zero in on a garage door style that perfectly matches your unique requirements.