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.

The main function of the door is to create a partition and opening between the interior of the house and the exterior. Security is its secondary function as it keeps the people inside safe from intruders.
Door as Heat Regulator
The door also has a very important function in terms of regulating the heat inside the house and keeping a difference between the inside and outside temperature.

• During the winter season, doors actually keep the inside of the house warm and your utilities low. This is why many new doors today are considered eco-friendly.
• If your door has slightly moved or shifted causing a gap from its frame, you do not necessarily have to replace the whole door. You can seal the corners of your entry doors to save money.

The first thing that you need to do is to inspect the door carefully. In this process, you have to figure out which areas have bigger gaps.
You can also check if there are big door cracks which can also allow the air to go through.
Close the door and check where the light is coming in.
Dealing with Large Cracks
If there are large cracks on the doors, you need to fill it out with caulking so it will be blocked.

• Open the door and see if a weather strip has been installed beforehand. If there are strips installed and the door is still leaking air out, remove the old strips.
• Measure the width of the door corners and cut new weather stripping to that same size.

There are different types of weather stripping available in the market today. It may be wooden or it may also be metal.

• The stripping must be screwed or nailed perfectly to the corners and it must be placed as tightly together as possible.
• You can also attach a rubber sweep on the base of the exterior doors of your homes. This sweep can actually create a tight seal and it can definitely bar the air from coming in or out.
• If the door is misaligned, you need to fix and tighten the screws on the hinges to make sure that the door is upright.

The common type of exterior doors used in most homes across the country is the wooden type. Many use wood because it can easily be turned into a decorative piece in the house. However, steel doors are also becoming popular since these types can offer superior security and function as well.
Unfortunately, many people think that a steel door does not look very attractive and there are limited things that you can do with it in terms of design. To add spice to this type of door, the easiest thing to do is to paint it. Painting a steel door is different from painting a wooden one mainly because of the material and how it reacts with the paint. Here are some tips on how to successfully do the painting.

• Prepare your steel door for the painting process. Remove all accessories like the knobs and clean them separately. With the use of rags, wipe the door using soapy water. Make sure all large debris and dirt will be removed. Let the steel door dry before moving on to the next step.
• If your steel door has windows or some portions that you do not want to be painted, you can line them with masking tape and place a covering like pieces of newspapers to prevent the paint from getting there. You can also lay a big piece of cloth to the surface where you will be painting the door to protect the floor. Also line the door frame with masking tape if you plan to paint the door without unhinging it.
• With the use of sandpaper, sand the door carefully to have a smooth surface. The sanding has to be done evenly. A metal primer must be painted over the newly sanded surface using a paintbrush.
• Once the metal primer has dried, you may now begin painting the door with latex paint, which works best in metal and steel doors. To have an even coat, you can use a roller paintbrush.
• Use a smaller brush to those hard to reach areas.
• Allow the latex to dry and add another coat to the entry doors. Let it dry again before putting back the door knobs and accessories. Remove all masking tapes to see if the paint hasn’t penetrated those areas.