The Durability and Benefits of Steel Doors
Installing the right garage door helps protect your property and provides several other benefits. Today’s options include wood, aluminum, vinyl, fiberglass, composite and steel, all of which have their own distinct appeal.
Steel garage doors are a popular choice for many people looking for a robust, attractive solution. Learn more about their advantages and what you can expect with a steel garage door installation.
Durability — Steel’s Main Advantage
Perhaps the most obvious benefit, steel garage doors are inherently strong and designed to withstand impact from heavy winds and other natural forces. The strength of a given design is determined by how many layers it features:
- Single-layer: A cost-effective and simple steel door construction
- Double-layer: Includes a layer of polystyrene behind the steel for greater durability
- Triple-layer: Features thermal insulation sandwiched between two steel layers for more toughness and energy efficiency
Thanks to the ruggedness of steel, these garage doors are made to last and provide an excellent return on investment.
Other Benefits of Steel Garage Doors
Along with being naturally resilient, steel doors come with other advantages:
- Easy maintenance: Compared to other materials like wood, steel garage doors require little upkeep.
- Aesthetic appeal: Steel doors are sleek and attractive, and they have a positive impact on curb appeal. You can even find versions with a faux wood finish to complement a specific aesthetic.
- Value: Steel doors are affordable yet durable, ensuring safety and security for residential and commercial properties.
- Energy efficiency: Insulated steel promotes energy efficiency to help reduce utility bills.
- Damage resistance: Steel doors resist fire, warping, corrosion, rotting, rusting and cracking. They also perform well in adverse weather.
- Customization potential: You can order a custom steel garage door to complement your property. Options include different panel colors, matte or gloss finishes, and adding windows and handles. Try our customization tool to see what’s possible!
How to Maintain a Steel Garage Door
Routine inspections and maintenance extend your garage door’s life, especially when performed before and after seasonal changes. Going through the following steps between professional inspections will help you catch and correct any potential issues early:
- Listen for unusual sounds: Creaking, cracking, scraping and other sounds may signal a mechanical issue.
- Check all moving components: The tracks, cables and springs are prone to wear and tear and should be inspected for damage. If you see something wrong with a spring, call a professional promptly, as trying to handle it on your own could be dangerous.
Blankenship Garage Doors provides expert maintenance services to keep your steel garage door in optimal condition.
Choose Blankenship Garage Doors for Premium Service and Installation
Partner with our team for everything your steel garage door needs. We offer expert garage door repair, replacement, maintenance and installation services to customers throughout central Oregon.
Call us at 541-383-2658 or contact us with your estimate or service request today to get started!
Are Swing Garage Doors Right for You?
A standard garage door has connected sections that roll up or down during operation. You may be less familiar with another style — a garage door that swings in and out.
This type is known as a carriage garage door because it resembles the doors installed on carriage houses during the days of horse-drawn wagons.
What Are the Advantages of Swing Doors?
A swinging garage door offers many potential advantages for homeowners:
- Extra space: Traditional doors need the garage’s top level for storage while open, which consumes ceiling space. Because a carriage door swings in and out, it won’t use this area of the garage. You can use this additional space for storing items, reorganizing the garage or other purposes.
- Attractive style: Many people love carriage house door designs because they create an elegant look that can complement homes showcasing a range of aesthetics and eras. The enhanced curb appeal could even increase your home’s value and sale price.
- Security: Swing doors are solidly built structures crafted from sturdy materials like wood and steel. They typically consist of multiple layers up to 2 inches thick. These door systems are also easy to secure by installing steel chains and locking mechanisms.
- Versatility: A carriage garage door doesn’t require overhead tracks for movement. Instead, it relies on a hinged swing system that is less obtrusive and can accommodate substantial weight. Your door will glide smoothly during opening and closing.
- Minimal maintenance: Swinging garage doors require little preventive care to keep them operating smoothly and looking fantastic. The steel and wood materials hold up well against the elements, and they have no electrical or mechanical features to fail and require repairing or replacing. However, you can add an automatic door opener with some models if you prefer.
Are Swing Doors Suitable for Small Garages?
While swinging doors can fit most garages, they may not be practical in urban areas with smaller lot sizes. A garage door professional can help you determine whether you have sufficient space in front of your garage’s entryway to ensure a successful installation. If you have room for the door to swing open and closed freely, a carriage garage door will suit your property.
Explore Your Carriage Garage Door Options With Blankenship Garage Doors
Blankenship Garage Doors has been helping central Oregon residents find the perfect garage door since 1996. Contact us to learn more about our Clopay® COACHMAN® carriage garage doors and request an estimate today.
Real Wood vs. Faux Wood Garage Doors
Installing a new garage door is exciting, but before you can enjoy your home’s new look, you have to select a door that will best fit your residence. If you love the appearance of wood and want to see it on your exterior, you could choose from two common door types — faux wood and real wood. Learn more about these two options to ensure the best match for your home.
Real Wood Garage Doors
Real wood doors come in various wood species, such as cedar, oak and alder. When well-maintained, they offer excellent durability and can increase your home’s value — an essential point if you’re aiming to sell your house later. These doors don’t dent like faux wood can, which helps you maintain a beautiful appearance, but real wood can have issues with rot or swelling, making regular upkeep important.
Consider that real wood models tend to cost more than faux wood options due to their authentic quality and personalization. However, this higher price tag comes with numerous benefits. You can choose from a range of paints and stains and vast design options, such as adding windows or changing panel arrangements.
Faux Wood Garage Doors
Although they often look like the real thing, faux wood doors consist of a fiberglass, steel or aluminum core. They are then covered with composite overlays that are either real wood or faux material resembling wood’s appearance and texture.
Because of their long-lasting materials, like steel and aluminum, these doors show great durability and require less maintenance than real wood. These garage door materials also tend to result in lower price points, meaning you might pay less to install a faux door with composite overlays.
Which Wood Garage Door Type Is Best for You?
Choosing the proper garage door type depends on how the above factors fit into your lifestyle. A faux wood door might be best for you if:
- You’re looking for a lower price point on your garage door.
- You want a lower-maintenance option that will hold up well over time.
- You want a quicker and easier installation, as faux wood models are lighter than real wood.
- You live in a storm-prone or humid area that would affect a real wood door’s appearance.
Alternatively, you might choose a real wood door if:
- You want an authentic, unique real-wood look for your garage door.
- You’d like more customizability in your door, such as stains, wood types and panel sections.
- You want to increase your home’s value and potentially get a higher return on investment when selling.
- You have the time and resources to keep up with consistent wood garage door maintenance needs.
Contact Blankenship Garage Doors for Installation
Whether you’ve chosen between faux and real wood or you could use more guidance, Blankenship Garage Doors will be there for your next project.
We’re a Clopay® Master Authorized Dealer® that’s been operating in central Oregon since 1996. We know what it takes to service and install garage doors with care and integrity, and we’ll assist you when you need to decide on the right model for your residence. Once you’ve chosen, we can install your door with expert care.
Get in touch with us today to request a free estimate on a new door.
Pros and Cons of Roll-Up Garage Doors
There are two primary styles of doors to choose from when outfitting your home or business with a new one — sectional or roll-up garage doors.
Sectional overhead garage doors are common, with many homeowners choosing them. There are also commercial versions of sectional doors available. They feature construction with wide panels and run-on tracks that keep them parallel to the ceiling when open.
Roll-up garage doors comprise roll-up sheet doors and rolling steel doors. These options have no tracks. Instead, they coil tightly into a roll near the roof just inside the garage. Roll-up sheet doors feature one large piece of steel, while a rolling steel door has numerous metal slats. Learning about these styles’ benefits and drawbacks can help you make a better decision for your home or business.
See Our Roll-up Garage Door Options
Advantages of Roll-Up Garage Doors
Roll-up steel garage doors offer advantages like:
- Space savings: Because these doors coil, there’s no need for extended space to mount tracks. That ability makes them ideal for home garages with limited clearance. It also makes them perfect for commercial buildings where lighting or HVAC equipment may be present overhead.
- Extended durability: Steel is a highly durable material that can withstand heavy use. Plus, it’s resistant to insects and the elements for extra peace of mind.
- Enhanced security: Roll-up doors typically offer more protection for your home or business than traditional sectional doors. The sturdy material and construction help safeguard against fire, intruders and even vandalism.
- Increased value: These options are low-maintenance, so they don’t need frequent attention or repairs. Their long life spans and fewer upkeep needs help maximize your investment.
Business owners can pair their roll-up doors with high-performance commercial operators for faster cycling. These doors can handle high-volume traffic and help boost productivity.
Drawbacks of Roll-Up Garage Doors
When deciding if a roll-up door is right for your home or business, consider the cons, such as:
- Higher cost: Roll-up doors are sometimes more expensive than traditional sectional garage doors. Expect to pay more for upgraded options, like high-performance models.
- Limited customizability: These styles generally offer fewer ways to tailor the door than traditional garage doors. Those seeking more decorative opportunities may be happier with a conventional sectional door with higher customizability.
- Unique aesthetics: Roll-up doors create a one-of-a-kind appearance for your structure’s exterior. The practical and industrial look may not complement every home or business.
Contact Blankenship Garage Doors for Garage Door Installation in Oregon
Blankenship Garage Doors has been a trusted Central Oregon partner for commercial and residential roll-up doors since 1996. Our highly skilled team is ready to help you select, place and maintain the best solution for your property.
Visit our local showroom for personal assistance. You can also request a quote or schedule a service appointment online.
How to Get the Most Secure Garage Doors
Garage door security is critical since you keep valuables inside, including your vehicles, and attached garages provide direct access to your home. Learn more about which protection tactics you can use to secure your garage doors today!
Are Garage Doors With Windows Safe?
Having windows on your garage doors is safe, especially if you take the right precautions. Most overhead doors have high enough windows that people can’t see inside or easily get in through them. You can also choose double-pane glass to help increase your garage’s safety.
If you want to secure your garage door windows even more, consider frosting them. This treatment prevents people from seeing what types of vehicles, tools or other equipment you have inside. Another benefit of frosted windows is that they allow natural light in while keeping prying eyes out.
Tips to Ensure the Security of Your Garage
While frosting windows is an effective way to make your garage door safer, there are plenty of other methods. Follow these tips to enhance the safety of your overhead door:
1. Take Your Garage Door Opener Remote With You
Many people choose to keep their remotes in their cars at all times. While this might be convenient, it can entice a burglar or thief to break into your vehicle to get ahold of it. You can take extra precautions by carrying your opener in your coat or bag when leaving your car.
2. Install Security Cameras
Adding cameras outside your garage acts as a deterrent for thieves or burglars. Many people know that security cameras can pick up their clothes and facial features, making it much harder to get away with a crime. You can choose a camera system that is right for your home — motion-activated ones are often a great option.
3. Use Motion-Sensor Floodlights
Outdoor lights that automatically turn on when they detect movement also increase garage safety. When the lights come on, many criminals are frightened enough that they don’t dare try to enter. Floodlights can also help you and your family feel more secure at home because it is easier to see the area around your garage.
Trust Us for Securing Garage Doors at Your Home
At Blankenship Garage Doors, we provide installation and repair services for homeowners in the area. We sell high-security garage doors from Clopay®, a top-rated brand that offers durable and safe overhead doors in numerous styles and materials. Contact us online to start making your garage safer today!
Things to Consider Before Buying a New Garage Door
Your garage door is the cornerstone of your home’s curb appeal and a major entrance to your residence. However, an older door may soon warrant a replacement. Thankfully, new doors offer longevity, monetary savings and a vast range of customizations. If you’re shopping for your next overhead door, the experts at Blankenship Garage Doors have developed the ultimate garage door buying guide.
How to Get the Most of Your ROI When Replacing Your Garage Door
We all know better than to judge a book by its cover — but the exterior of our homes can make a big difference! Most people want a home that reflects their personal style and makes a good first impression. There are plenty of renovations that will improve the appearance of your home, but the challenge is deciding which one will get the most bang for your buck.
Updating your garage would look great, but does a new garage door increase home value? It can actually benefit your home in more ways than one. Replacing your garage door improves curb appeal and has a higher return on investment (ROI) than you might think. Whether you’re making home improvements for your family to enjoy or preparing to list your house on the market, replacing your garage door is a wise investment.
How to Extend the Life of Your Garage Door
Your garage door is a reliable way to enter your home, and it should last for several decades on your property. However, over time, debris buildup and broken components can put unnecessary strain on it and cut its lifespan short. These regular garage door maintenance tips can help you inspect and clean this significant part of your house.
Trends That Increase Home Value
Trends That Increase Home Value
Whether you want to sell your home soon or are just planning for the future, you’ll want to find ways to increase your home’s value. Over time, your home’s value may decrease as it’s used and loved and lived in, but a sturdy and well-loved house doesn’t always sell on the market. That’s when you start to wonder how to add value to your home.
How to Increase Home Value
There are several ways to increase the value of your home, and many of them come down to keeping up with regular maintenance and repairs. Others are decor tips that can help make your home seem expansive and spacious. Whichever methods you choose, you can increase your home’s overall value.
More Space
Bigger homes are more likely to sell for more money than smaller homes, but that doesn’t mean you have to pay for massive renovations. Look around your home and see if you can knock down any walls to make the area feel and look bigger. Maybe adding a small half-bathroom somewhere will add usable square footage and convenience.
Perhaps it’s just a matter of how you arrange the furniture and the color you paint the walls. There are many tips and tricks to make your home look bigger and more spacious without resorting to renovations, so if you can’t increase the literal square footage of your home, you can at least make it seem larger to potential buyers. In general, lighter colors and lots of light help a space feel more expansive.
Energy Efficiency
These days, energy efficiency can go a long way. More people are looking to change their habits to become more environmentally friendly and cost-effective, and they’re looking for energy-efficient homes as well.
If your home is already energy-efficient, you’re good to go. It’s a good idea to make sure there’s no way you could be even more efficient because energy efficiency is an excellent way to boost your home’s value.
If you’re unsure whether your home is energy efficient, you can find out by checking on several key energy-sucking features, including:
- Heating and cooling: Look at how much you spend on heating and cooling every year. Can you reduce this cost to preserve energy?
- Windows and doors: Make sure your windows and doors are installed properly so they don’t let heat out during the winter or in during the summer. Are the windows and doors insulated all over the house, or are there places where they could use the upgrade?
- Lighting: Technological advancements have made it so you can use energy-efficient lightbulbs without sacrificing brightness. The same level of brightness without the high energy cost should be reason enough to switch to energy-efficient lighting.
- Appliances: Just like lighting, there are now few reasons not to upgrade your appliances to be energy efficient. They save you money on your energy bills, and they work just as well — or better — than ones that aren’t energy efficient.
Solar panels are also an option for making your home energy efficient, but not every home is ideal for installing them. However, landscaping is another way to make your home more energy-efficient, and it’s a method many people forget. If your front or back hard has mature trees that shade your house, thus reducing your cooling costs, they will inevitably add value to your home.
Reduce Maintenance
One of the best ways to increase your house’s value is to reduce the level of maintenance it needs. A low-maintenance home is much more attractive to potential buyers, and you can offer this perk by updating the major appliances in your home.
This goes beyond a finicky stove or a refrigerator that’s reaching the end of its life cycle. If you have a leaky pipe or an air conditioner that makes awful noises, you’re better off replacing them with new items that won’t be fussy and cause the new owners any problems.
Go through your house and see what adds value to a home if updated. These can include water heaters, HVAC systems, garage doors or roofs that need repair.
It’s a good idea to walk through your home and note all the things that need repairing. Even seemingly small repairs can seem like a giant chore to new homeowners if there are many of them, so make sure they will have nothing to worry about when they move in.
Curb Appeal
You shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but many potential homebuyers do judge a house by its appearance, which is why curb appeal is so important. It’s your chance to make a good first impression and encourage homebuyers to see the interior of your home.
This can be as simple as making sure your yard is landscaped neatly and even pops out a little more than your neighbors’ yards. Make sure your house doesn’t have any chipped paint or anything unsightly front and center. Do any repairs or upgrades you’ve been putting off, including painting the front door or upgrading your garage door.
Benefits of Updating Your Garage Door
Updating your garage door can really help increase the value of your home. If you’re wondering how much value a garage door adds to a house, just think of when you were buying your home. Would you have considered a home that had a garage without a door? A garage that was totally open to the world, revealing all your belongings to every passerby? Probably not.
Here are some examples of how updating your garage door can add value to your house:
- Appearance: We talked about curb appeal, and the garage door plays a large part in your home’s appearance, especially if your garage is at the front of your house.
- Security: You may not keep your most valuable items in your garage, but you still want to ensure your possessions are secure. Plus, if your garage is attached to your home, you’ll want to be extra vigilant about security to ensure that your possessions and your family remain safe.
- Energy: Older garage doors that aren’t insulated will inevitably increase your utility bills. Along with the other energy-efficient methods you put into place to increase your home’s value, add an updated garage door to that as well. This is especially crucial if you have rooms above your garage.
- Value: Newer garage doors are modern and sturdy, with a higher lifespan, so they’re a great long-term investment. Plus, you can have your garage door match your home’s style to increase the curb appeal further.
Replace Your Garage Door With Blankenship Garage Door
If you’re looking to increase your home’s value, a simple upgrade of your garage door can do wonders for you. At Blankenship Garage Door, we’re proud to offer high-quality residential garage doors so you can increase your home’s value without fuss.
Get in touch to talk about your garage door update by filling out our online contact form or calling (541) 383-2658.
Benefits of Insulated Garage Doors
You do what you can to boost your home’s insulation. Quality windows, walls and doors all play a part, but have you considered your garage door? It’s a significant part of your home’s exterior, and because of that, it plays a role in your home’s thermal envelope. The thermal envelope is anything that separates the inside of your house from the outdoors. An insulated garage door improves that envelope.
Maybe you’ve never considered an insulated garage door or don’t know much about them, but you’d like to improve your home’s thermal envelope. See the benefits of insulated garage doors below and learn more about insulated versus uninsulated garage doors.