Does a New Garage Door Increase Home Value?

When making home improvements to boost your resale value, a new garage door should be one of the first things you consider. Garage door replacement benefits include enhancing your home’s curb appeal, security and energy efficiency, thus ultimately increasing the market value.

Explore how replacing your garage door adds value to your home. 

Do Garage Doors Add Value to Your Home?

Installing a new garage door can significantly boost a home’s value, offering more than just financial returns. This upgrade can enhance your curbside appeal and improve your living space by providing robust protection to your garage and, by extension, your house. 

Adding a new garage door with advanced security features and reliable operation can improve your door’s functionality and aesthetics. 

Garage Door Replacement Benefits

Replacing your garage door provides numerous advantages that go beyond purely aesthetic benefits. Some of the key benefits of replacement are:

• Increased curbside appeal
• Improved energy efficiency
• Enhanced security and safety
• Upgraded and smoother operation

Garage Door Return on Investment (ROI)

Garage door replacement ROI can vary depending on several factors such as the type, style, material, features, colours and more. Garage doors offer some of the highest returns of all home improvement projects — up to 85% in some cases.

When reselling your home, garage door upgrades outshine entry door replacements and more. 

The Process of Replacing a Garage Door

Replacing a garage door has several benefits, but a few key steps are involved in assessing your current door, choosing the appropriate type of door and then hiring a professional to install the door correctly. If you understand this process, you’ll have a smooth transition from old to new, and you can maximize the benefits of your investment.

Assessing the Need for Replacement

When determining whether you replace your current garage door, there are several signs to look out for, including:

• Frequent break downs 
• Visible damage such as rust, dents, or warping
• Excessive noise during operation
• Lack of modern safety features
• No proper insulation 
• Outdated or undesirable style
• Excessive energy use

Choosing the Right Garage Door

When selecting your new garage door, consider the following key factors:

• Aesthetics: You’ll want to choose a style and colour combination that complements your home’s exterior.
• Durability: It is best to select materials that can withstand the weather conditions in your area and daily use.
• Maintenance: Pick out a door that requires minimal upkeep and is easy to clean.
• Insulation: Winters in Ontario can be rather cold, so it is a good idea to consider insulated doors for warmth and energy efficiency. 
• Security: Speak to your local garage door specialists about modern and advanced security features to help protect the home and add additional value. 

Hiring a Professional Installer

Like most products, garage doors come with warranties and guarantees. Therefore, it is best to have a professional installer come and install your garage door to ensure it is done correctly and safely and not to void your warranty. It is also highly recommended to have a professional assess your garage door, should it need repairs or maintenance, as they are appropriately trained and licensed. 

Additionally, a professional can tell you when to repair or replace the garage door and explain the reasoning.    

Types of Garage Doors to Consider

There are various types of garage doors available, and with so many options, you will want to narrow your search and decide on what you want to install based on a few characteristics and elements. 

Garage Door Materials

Steel garage doors are the most common and affordable option, and they come in a vast amount of styles, textures, and colours. But you might opt for different types of garage door materials, such as:

• Wood: If you’re looking for a natural and classic appearance that is customizable with various stains and paints, you might choose a wood garage door. Also, this material is ideal if you want an elegant, traditional look that complements a high-end home. Note that they often require more maintenance. 
• Composite: This material, made from wood fibres and resins, is resistant to rot and splintering. Additionally, it offers the appearance of wood doors but with lower maintenance and increased durability. 
• Steel: A solid and durable material available in several styles and finishes, which you can have insulated for colder climates. It is a robust option that provides excellent security and low-maintenance. 
• Aluminum: Commonly used with full-view glass doors. This aluminum framing comes in many colour options including anodize finishes that complement contemporary designs.

Garage Door Styles and Types

When choosing the style of your garage door, you want something that will complement the home’s style and preferably match the front door and other elements, such as window frames and trimmings. You can choose from ready-made styles and types of garage doors or create a custom garage door design to match your home’s aesthetics perfectly. 

Some popular garage door styles include:

• Carriage-house: This style mimics the old carriage houses, offering a rustic yet often classic and elegant design. These frequently feature windows and decorative hardware. 
• Contemporary: For a sleek and modern design with clean and neat lines and large glass panels, you might choose this style typically made with aluminum and glass.
• Traditional raised panel: You might prefer a simpler and symmetrical style with raised rectangular panels, which come in various materials and several finishes. 

The main garage door construction types include:

• Roll-up doors: Instead of running along an extended track, this type consists of far narrower slats that allow the door to roll up into a coil above the garage door opening.  
• Sectional doors: Somewhat like a roll-up, these doors are made up of panels connected by hinges, and the door opens and closes by rolling up and down along a track.

Garage Door Opener

When you replace your garage door, it is essential to get a new garage door opener that complements and is compatible with the new door. The opener must handle the door’s weight and ensure smooth operation — the kind you get will depend on the door type and material. 

There are various garage door openers, including standard chain drive openers, which are durable and highly cost-effective. Modern options include openers equipped with cameras for added security and Wi-Fi connectivity for remote control and monitoring from anywhere.

Choosing the suitable garage door opener enhances the functionality and convenience of your new garage door system, which certainly adds additional value to your home.  

Get Your New Garage Door Today and Increase Your Home Value

When it is time to replace your old garage door with one that adds exceptional value to your home contact us at Upper Canada Garage Doors, where you will receive quality same-day service at competitive pricing. We are a local company that prides itself on bringing the best service to the people in our area. 

Whether you are looking for a standard replacement or a custom job, we are the team for you. Easily request a garage door quote today or call us at 905-267-2700 with any questions you might have about our garage door options, the replacement process or how upgrading your garage door will improve the overall value of your home.   

6 Tips for Garage Door Child Safety

Garage doors are heavy pieces of equipment, ranging from 45 to over 200 kilograms, or 100 to 500 pounds, depending on their material, thickness and insulation. In addition to their weight, garage doors have many moving pieces, making them a safety hazard for everyone in the family — from adults and kids to pets. Protect your family and avoid garage door accidents with these six safety tips!

1. Know the Risks

As a homeowner with a garage door, it is your responsibility to know how your garage door works and what risks it may carry. Review the manufacturer’s manual and inspect your garage door often to identify potential areas that could cause harm, such as hinges, tracks or signs of damage. As you educate yourself on how garage doors operate and how they might cause safety hazards, you can minimize risks of injury, protect your little ones and extend your garage door’s life span. 

Modern garage doors are equipped with essential features that meet garage door safety requirements set by the UL 325 safety standard. If you have an older door, it may not meet these safety standards, putting your family at risk. Be sure to replace your old door with a high-quality option you can trust to provide long-lasting, safe performance.

2. Invest in Regular Maintenance

One of the most effective ways to keep your kids safe around your garage door is to ensure it always operates as it should. Routine checks from a professional once or twice a year are critical to maintaining your garage door’s safety while improving its longevity and efficiency. A garage door expert can assist with various preventive maintenance tasks, such as:

• Inspecting springs, cables, hinges and tracks
• Lubricating all moving parts
• Balancing of the garage door
• Adjusting the belt or chain on the garage door opener
• Adjusting the garage door force and travel limits
• Checking the battery backup system
• Making sure the door is correctly sealed from the elements
• Move objects away from the tracks or door path

While you can perform a few maintenance tasks independently, such as looking for cracks or dents in the door, clearing away dirt or replacing batteries in your remote, it is best to leave most maintenance needs to a professional. Never try to repair your garage door on your own — you could put yourself and your family at risk. If you suspect your garage door has an issue, call a professional immediately.

3. Test Sensors and Auto-Reverse Mechanism

Modern garage doors have various safety features to prevent the heavy door from crashing down on objects and people. One feature is a photoelectric, or photo eye, sensor. Garage doors have two sensors on either side of the door near the floor. One sensor sends an invisible infrared beam to the other sensor to detect if an object or person is in the door’s path. 

The garage door should only close if the beam is unbroken, but the sensors can become misaligned, dirty or broken, affecting their performance. Testing the sensors every two to three months ensures they work properly to keep your garage door safe and operational. You can clean the lenses with a microfiber cloth and realign by simply adjusting the sensor by hand. If the sensor is too tight loosen the wing nut and tighten security once aligned. If damaged or aligning is too difficult, call a professional for repairs.

In addition to testing sensors, check your garage door’s auto-reverse function, which causes the door to reverse as soon as it detects a small amount of force — such as by making contact with an object or person. You can test it by trying to stop the door with your hands as it is closing. If the door is too difficult to hold onto as it closes contact a professional to fix your auto-reverse mechanism.

4. Teach Your Kids About Garage Door Safety

Protect your children by teaching them how to respect the garage and its door. Help your kids understand the dangers associated with a garage door by:

• Setting rules about when they are allowed in the garage.
• Telling them how heavy it is and how it could hurt them if it fell.
• Preventing them from climbing the door or hanging from its parts.
• Ensuring they know what they can and cannot touch within the garage.
• Allowing them to be in the garage only when a responsible adult is present.
• Showing them how they could get hurt by touching different parts of the door.
• Cautioning them to never run underneath the door when it is opening or closing.

By creating clear rules and boundaries for how your children should behave when in the garage, you can promote their safety and encourage their ability to be responsible. Always supervise your child around a garage door, and set a good example by following your own safety rules.

5. Keep Buttons and Remotes Out of Reach

Some buttons and remotes can be fun toys for children — but when it comes to garage door opener buttons and remotes, it is best to keep them far away from your kids. Little ones might think it is fun to open and close the door on their own, but allowing this could turn the button or remote into a toy they don’t take seriously. Teach your children that garage door buttons and remotes are not for play and should be respected.

Place your wall panel button high from the ground and hide remotes in your vehicle so little children cannot reach them. When your children are old enough to take on some responsibility, you can allow them to use the buttons and remotes as you teach them the appropriate times. Ensure your kids cannot use the buttons or remotes to escape the house without your knowledge.

Some garage door openers come with a mobile app for opening and closing the door. This convenient feature helps minimize the risk of a child misusing a button or remote.

6. Ensure the Rest of Your Garage Is Safe

As you focus on keeping your kids safe around your garage door, it is also beneficial to think about other safety risks in your garage. A few ways to organize and secure your garage to protect your children include:

• Keeping vehicles locked.
• Minimizing clutter and tripping hazards.
• Placing toxic or sharp items out of reach.
• Closing or opening the garage door all the way.
• Securing large items like power tools or bicycles.
• Locking interior and exterior doors to the garage.
• Preventing kids from hiding in small spaces, like cabinets or cars.

Try to keep playing with toys and riding bikes out of the garage to show your children that it is not a place to play. If you need to store these items in your garage, keep them away from the door to encourage your kids’ safety.

Update Your Garage Door With Help From Upper Canada Garage Doors

If you have an aging garage door that is putting your family at risk, update it with help from Upper Canada Garage Doors. Our friendly and experienced team will work with you to find the right door for your budget and preferences, enabling you to make an informed decision that promotes your family’s safety.

Visit our fully stocked showroom to see our Clopay® and LiftMaster garage door products in person. You can also contact us online to receive a new door quote or to discuss your questions and concerns with one of our experts.

Dangers Associated With Old Garage Doors

Dangers Associated With Old Garage Doors

Your garage door has performed dependably and efficiently for many years with little issue, so why should you consider replacing your old garage door system? Older garage doors pose several safety risks for homeowners — they can abruptly stop working, or parts and hardware can unexpectantly break and cause severe personal injury or property damages. With a new garage door and opener, you can enjoy several significant benefits, including:

• Improving your home’s visual appeal
• Increasing safety and security measures
• Energy-efficient insulation options
• Experiencing today’s best technological and convenience advances

While garage doors may function longer than their expected lifespans, it’s best to consider upgrading your old garage door to avoid costly inconveniences and safety issues and enjoy exceptional, reliable performance.

Dangers of an Old Garage Door

Having a safe, functional garage door is essential for your daily activity. Old garage doors showing signs of wear or lacking modern safety and efficiency upgrades can pose several security and safety risks. Dangers of old garage doors often include:

• Ageing spring systems: The torsion or extension springs are under an immense amount of weight and tension. If these parts become worn and break unexpectantly, they can cause significant damage to your garage door or nearby items. Broken springs can even severely injure homeowners. To prevent breakages, note that extension springs typically work for up to 7,000 cycles, and torsion springs last up to 10,000 cycles.
• Worn and damaged hardware: As your garage door ages, parts wear and loosen. This can cause significant damage to your garage door system and presents an opportunity for burglars to manipulate the weakness and force the door open. Over time, if moving hardware like springs and cables aren’t appropriately lubricated, they can form rust. This rust can lead to extensive water damage throughout your garage, unexpected hardware failure or ability for thieves to easily enter your garage. Keep your hardware properly lubricated to extend the lifespan of your garage door.
• Outdated technology: If your garage door opener was manufactured in 1993 or earlier, then you may want to consider purchasing an upgrade. Older garage door openers weren’t built with modern safety features like photo-eye sensors. Photo-eye sensors placed at the base of your garage door are responsible for preventing the garage door from lowering on an object. Without these sensors, the garage door can close on people and personal property, causing severe injury or damage.

Replacing Your Old Garage Door With the Professionals at Upper Canada Garage Doors

When it’s time to replace your old garage door, trust a professional garage door company to perform an efficient, quality installation. By hiring a garage door installation professional, you can benefit from:

• Installation and product warranties: Have added assurance that your garage door was installed using the best tools and industry techniques available with services backed by various workmanship and product guarantees.
• Proper tools and technician experience: A highly trained and experienced installation professional will understand the most effective installation techniques available. They’ll install the finished product properly to ensure lasting efficiency, safety and reliability.
• Safe installation: Garage doors are under an immense amount of weight and tension. Homeowners can be severely injured if they attempt to install the door themselves.

Reimagine the look of your home and experience unmatched convenience and security with a new garage door from Upper Canada Garage Doors. We have the most extensive selection of classic and contemporary garage door products and accessories throughout the Oakville area from top-rated, quality manufacturers like Clopay. Visit our local showroom today to fully explore our products — our team of helpful experts can help you select, design, and install a new garage door that best suits your needs, expectations, and budget. 

Contact Upper Canada Garage Doors Today to Replace Your Old Garage Door

At Upper Canada Garage Doors, we pride ourselves on providing local Oakville, Burlington, and Milton, Ontario residents with the most comprehensive garage door repair and maintenance services and quality new garage door installations. Our team is happy to help you select and install a new Clopay garage door to replace your old one. We even offer free estimates on all installation projects.

For the best garage door services throughout Oakville and the surrounding areas, reach out to Upper Canada Garage Doors today by calling 905-267-2700 or completing our online contact form.

Decrease Your Energy Bill With a New Garage Door

Decrease Your Energy Bill With a New Garage Door

Have your utility costs been steadily climbing lately? Most homeowners upgrade their windows and doors to improve their household’s energy efficiency, but many overlook their home’s garage door as a source for poor energy conservation.

While regularly opening and closing the garage door can allow small amounts of your indoor air to escape, most of your home’s energy loss is happening while the door is closed. The best solution for minimizing energy loss through your garage door is by installing a new insulated door. But even with this structural improvement, you may find your efficiency isn’t as optimal as it could be. By better securing your insulated garage door, you can have even more energy efficiency and decrease your energy bill.

How a New Garage Door Can Decrease Your Energy Costs

The first step towards achieving better household energy efficiency is by installing an insulated garage door with a high R-value. Insulated doors include added layers of insulation — unlike conventional garage doors that feature no insulating materials — that prevent heat from escaping through the door. But in harsh Canadian winters, homeowners want to achieve superior energy efficiency to reduce air transference and lower annual energy costs. To improve the performance of your insulated garage door, consider these improvements:

• Wood end blocks: End blocks help keep insulation materials in place. Many manufacturers use steel sheets to cap the ends of the garage door, which can lead to thermal bridging — allowing heat to readily transfer through the material. By upgrading the end blocks to wood materials with superior thermal performance, you can easily reduce heat loss through the garage door.
• Efficient joint door sections: To secure the end blocks to the door, manufacturers often use metal staples or glue, which can also cause thermal bridging. During your garage door’s construction, specify that you’d like to secure these joint door sections with a triple-contact PVC weather seal. This seal prevents the inner and outer metal materials from touching and limits thermal bridging.
• Proper weatherstripping: Work with your local garage door installation company to make sure your garage door’s weatherstripping is optimal quality and not worn or damaged. Weatherstripping at the bottom of your garage door forms a tight seal between the door and the floor, preventing air transference. Make sure your weatherstripping can withstand frigid temperatures without becoming dry and brittle while maintaining its flexibility.

Contact Upper Canada Garage Doors Today to Learn About Our Energy Efficient Garage Doors

To achieve optimal energy efficiency for your home, visit Upper Canada Garage Doors’ local showroom to explore our wide selection of Clopay energy-efficient garage doors. Our Oakville showroom is available to all residents throughout the surrounding areas. Our helpful, innovative team of professionals will work closely with you to find the best energy-efficient garage doors that best suit your tastes, efficiency needs and budget.

Learn more about our energy-efficient and insulated garage door options today by stopping by our showroom, filling out our online contact form or calling 905-267-2700 to speak to a team member.

Tips to Get the Best Return on Your New Garage Door

Tips to Get the Best Return on Your New Garage Door

Many homeowners are looking to modernize the exterior of their homes and improve curb appeal. But did you know that replacing your garage door is one of the fastest and most budget-friendly solutions for adding home value and visual interest to your house?

Installing a new garage door for your home not only improves the value, functionality, and appearance of your home but also offers one of the best home improvement project returns on investment. This is particularly appealing for many homeowners looking to sell their houses in the near future.

Benefits of Replacing Your Garage Door

Whether you’re looking for a fresh upgrade to enhance your home’s architecture or need to replace a drab, aged or damaged garage door, with a new door, you can freshen the look of your home and add real value. A new garage door for your home can also improve safety and security, offer exceptional protection and add convenience to your daily routine.

By upgrading your home’s garage door, you can also expect:

• Exceptional Return on Investment: Of all home improvement projects, garage doors offer one of the highest returns on investment, with at least 85 percent or more. No matter how old your home is or how long you’ve lived there, a new garage door design can make your home appear modern and fresh.
• Affordable Upgrade: Not only is the ROI for garage doors exceptional, but it’s also one of the most affordable upgrades a homeowner can invest in. Average double door replacements, without windows, cost just over $1,500.
• Improved Features and Functionality: With a new garage door, you can not only easily recoup your investment when you sell your home and increase your home’s curb appeal, but you’ll also enjoy improved convenience and the most advanced garage door improvements. Many garage doors today feature better materials and can be customized with added insulation. Insulation upgrades in your garage door will improve your home’s energy efficiency and lower your overall annual utility costs. With garage door insulation, your door will also be sturdier and operate more quietly.

Getting the Best ROI on a New Garage Door

When replacing your home’s garage door, don’t settle for a standard and underwhelming sectional garage door design from your local hardware store. To get the best ROI for your garage door, maximize efficiency and create striking curb appeal, consider the following:

• Style: Purchasing a new garage door isn’t about finding the most expensive option. Find a quality door that enhances the natural charm of your home and complements your neighborhood.
• Upgrades: Consider investing in added garage door insulation. Insulated garage doors will improve your home’s energy efficiency and lower annual heating and cooling costs. Additionally, many buyers find this added feature appealing and may be willing to offer more money for your home.
• Durability: Consult with your local garage door company to find construction materials that are guaranteed to offer lasting protection in your climate. For example, upgrade your door for improved storm and wind resistance in areas with bad storms and freezing winters.

Reach Out to Upper Canada Garage Doors Today to Explore Your Door Replacement Options

For the most attractive, durable and efficient garage doors in the Oakville, Ontario area, contact the skilled professionals at Upper Canada Garage Doors. We proudly stock a wide variety of Clopay® garage doors, the finest, highest-quality products, available in several styles ranging from classic to contemporary. Our creative and innovative team is happy to work with you to find styles and materials that best suit your needs and budget. For customer convenience, we even offer same-day services, competitive pricing, and free service estimates.

Explore your garage door replacement options today. Call us at 905-267-2700 to learn more or fill out our online contact form to request a free quote.

Which Home Improvements Offer the Best Return on Investment

Which Home Improvements Offer the Best Return on Investment

If you’re looking to update your home, whether it’s to create a brighter space, increase curb appeal or finally complete that bathroom makeover, there is a wide variety of home improvement projects you can tackle — but which upgrades are the most likely to offer you the greatest return on investment if you plan on reselling in the future? Traditionally, kitchen and bathroom remodels or converting drab areas into functional, comfortable living spaces were popular improvement projects. However, upgrades intended to improve curb appeal actually have the greatest home improvement returns.

Best Returns for Home Improvement

Home improvement projects like kitchen and bathroom remodels, finished basements or new flooring may make your daily living more comfortable, but prospective buyers are often drawn to and paying more for homes with exceptional curb appeal and stunning exterior finishes. The projects with the best home improvement returns include:

• Garage Doors: Garage doors can occupy up to 40 percent of a home’s exterior, and a new door can modernize your home’s aesthetic. Garage door upgrades can expect up to 98 percent return on investment.
• Entry Doors: Like the garage door, the entry door is one of the first features a visitor sees. With a new, stunning entryway, you can earn a return of up to 91 percent.
• Wood Decks: Having a functional, attractive indoor and outdoor living space is important for many prospective home buyers, and a welcoming wood deck addition can have a home improvement ROI of nearly 83 percent.
• Kitchens: Kitchens are the heart of the home, and while they’re not the most profitable home improvement project, they still do tend to return over 80 percent of your investment.
• Vinyl Windows: Not only can old windows negatively impact your curb appeal and date your home, but they can also reduce your energy efficiency. New efficient and attractive vinyl window upgrades can return 74 percent of your initial investment.

Other Benefits of a New Garage Door

Not only is replacing your garage door the best home improvement for resale, but with the latest garage door designs and materials, you can also experience the following benefits:

• Modernized Home Exterior: With the latest designs and customization features available today, you can tailor your new garage door to suit your personal tastes and enhance your home’s architecture. Choose from carriage-style doors to create a warm, welcoming and traditional look or install a new door with bold modern designs for a fresh and sophisticated home exterior.
• Improved Home Safety and Security: Newer garage doors are crafted from exceptional materials and feature the latest safety and security upgrades to improve daily usage. Doors manufactured and installed after 1993 have photo-eye sensors to ensure the door doesn’t close on a person or object and rolling door codes to prevent duplication.
• Increased Energy Efficiency: An insulated and weathertight door can reduce air transfer between indoor and outdoor environments, allowing you better temperature control. Your HVAC system won’t work as hard to regulate indoor temperatures, resulting in lower annual utility costs.

Contact Upper Canada Garage Doors Today to Install a New Garage Door

Installing a new garage door for your home is not only a cost-effective upgrade project, but it also has the greatest home improvement ROI. At Scarboro Garage Doors, we offer a wide variety of durable, reliable, and attractive Clopay garage doors that can boost your home’s curb appeal and offer an excellent home improvement return. We’re proud to provide comprehensive garage door services for residents throughout Oakville and its surrounding areas. Explore your garage door design and installation options today by calling 905-267-2700 or contacting us online.

Improving the Appearance of Your Driveway

Improving the Appearance of Your Driveway

First impressions matter. This saying isn’t just true when you’re meeting your new boss or welcoming a new neighbor. It’s also true about your home. And as far as first impressions go, driveways are incredibly important. After all, they’re one of the first things your guests notice when coming to your home for the first time.

Because you want to make an excellent first impression and improve your curb appeal, you want to make sure your driveway always looks its best. Here are some tips to ensure that your driveway creates a lasting impression for your home.

Lighten It Up

Keep your driveway well-lit and welcoming with lights lining your drive and entryway. Not only will lights add a beautifully classic touch to your home and highlight its exterior, but they will also keep your guests safer as they park and walk into your home.

In fact, lighting the outside of your driveway and home with lights can help to deter burglars. Motion-activated lights, in particular, are often enough to frighten trespassers. Solar lights are an electrically and environmentally friendly choice, as they require no wiring or electrical outlets.

Use Edging

Installing a border along the sides of the driveway gives it a textured, polished look. It also adds a buffer between the driveway and your yard, preventing accidental mishaps. Edging can be made to fit your home’s aesthetic, as there are many options available. The edging can either be raised or flat, and it can be made using a variety of materials such as brick, concrete, logs, stones and even railroad ties to add a beautiful edge around your driveway.

Add Foliage

Flowers and bushes add vibrant colors and pleasant scents along your driveway. These plants raise your curb appeal and act as beautiful welcomers to your guests.

Different regions host different types of wildlife, so before you plant, contact a local nursery to decide what kinds of flowers will thrive in your area that you’ll have the time to maintain. Remember to continuously take care of your plants to ensure that they continue to add to the beauty of your driveway.

Replace Your Garage Door

At the end of your driveway lies your garage door. No matter how good your new driveway looks, a run-down garage door can detract from the beauty of your entrance and ruin that good first impression guests had of your home. Keeping your garage door maintained and up-to-date allows guests to have a beautiful experience from the first tire that pulls into the driveway to the first step they take into your door.

At Upper Canada Garage Doors, we believe you deserve a driveway that gives an eye-popping first impression to every visitor of your home. We offer a selection of beautifully designed garage doors that will add a classic touch to any traditional or modern driveway. Contact us today or stop by our showroom — the only showroom in Oakville— so we can provide you with the door you deserve.

Garage Door Safety Tips

Garage Door Safety Tips

A garage is more than just an empty space. It welcomes your car, yourself and your family. It stores snowmobiles, soccer balls, and power tools. It’s basically part of your family. But if you go in and out of it every day, you may forget your garage door is even there — or that it’s still a powerful machine that needs to be taken care of to ensure that your family is kept safe.

Avoid severe mishaps by following these garage door safety tips:

1. Perform Self-Checks

It’s important to continually check the safety sensors in your garage door.

The sensors, located on the rails of the door, reverse the direction of a closing door if a person or animal crosses underneath it. To test the sensors, begin closing the garage door as usual and stick an object such as a broom under the door. If the door doesn’t immediately reverse, call a professional to inspect and repair the sensors.

2. Keep Children and Animals Away From Doors and Door Openers

Children are naturally curious. But the garage door is never something that should be played with. When opening and closing the garage door, make sure children and animals don’t come near the door until it is all the way up or down.

Also, make sure that children know never to put their hands in the joints between the panels of the door while it’s opening or closing. NEISS reports over 7,500 injuries from fingers getting stuck in garage doors every year.

3. Keep Your Remote With You at All Times

Likewise, keeping your garage door entry remote with you at all times ensures that children will not accidentally get access to the remote and hurt themselves or others. Remind children that the remote is not a toy. Explain the dangers that can occur with the improper use of the garage door.

Not only will you be protecting your children and yourself from harm by keeping your remote with you, but you can also prevent break-ins by never leaving your remote in your car. Leaving a garage door remote out in the open creates an easy target for burglars. Your garage door is a key to your home. Treat it like one by keeping it with you like you would a house key.

4. Keep Your Garage Door Closed When Not in Use (And Avoid Giving Out Passwords)

Another way to protect your home from theft is by keeping the garage door closed when not in use. Only give out your passcode to people you trust — never to repair or delivery people.

If you need to let someone in temporarily, many newer entry systems allow you to enter a temporary PIN that you can set to be used a certain number of times. Making use of this feature ensures that only those you trust have continuous access to your garage.

5. Get Regular Garage Door Maintenance

Getting your garage door regularly tuned up allows you to have peace of mind that your door is working as it should.

Trust Upper Canada To Ensure Garage Door Safety

At Upper Canada Garage Doors, we are proud to offer quality repair jobs — never rushed jobs — to Oakville and the surrounding areas. Contact us today to schedule your garage door service and repair. We look forward to becoming your trusted garage door provider.

Top 2018 Garage Door Design and Color Trends

Top 2018 Garage Door Design and Color Trends

Keeping up with yearly real estate trends is hard. You want to stay relevant and keep your property value high, but you don’t want to spend a fortune to get a look that’ll go out of style within the next 12 months. You need durability that will last you for years with the effortless style that the whole neighborhood will envy.

Many homeowners work tirelessly to improve the appearance of their home. From sidewalks and driveways to siding and shutters, they approach the summer ready to tackle all the projects they can handle to improve their home’s beauty.

But they often miss the one key feature that will instantly improve a home’s value and charm.

Believe it or not, one of the best ways to increase your home’s curb appeal is through the purchase of a new garage door. In fact, garage door replacement has the highest payback rate of 2018 home remodeling projects, giving you an average 98.3 percent return of the amount spent on your upgrade. It’s important not to take your garage door for granted any longer.

Many home design trends continuously change. But the right garage door will look timeless, providing you with the beauty and style you need for your home to look its best and maintain its maximum value and curb appeal for years to come. Here are some of the top garage door trends and design ideas in 2018 that you should consider when you’re in the market for your home’s next new look.

Biggest Design Trends

Your garage door’s design builds your home’s character. Gone are the days when nearly every house on the block featured simple white-paneled garage doors that matched neither their home’s aesthetic nor its personality.

These top garage door design trends taking over 2018 will add a personalized charm and sophistication to your home:

Materials

Your door should be a fun addition that welcomes visitors into your house with its eye-catching design. Classic garage door materials regained popularity in 2018, and modern styles allow you to customize your door to match your home’s look perfectly.

1. Wood

Garage doors were primarily made of wood from the carriage-house days of the 18th and 19th centuries to the late 1960s. While they were replaced in the ’70s by more modern materials such as aluminum and fiberglass, wooden garage doors recently resurged in popularity and gained exposure through home decorating magazines.

Wood garage doors provide an appealing rustic charm to those looking for a country aesthetic. Wood adds a cozy feeling to any home, particularly to farmhouse-style houses, and can be paired with metal and glass windows to create a pleasing blend of vintage and modern architecture.

Of course, real wooden doors are often impractical.

Wood is hard to maintain and protect from harsh weather and rot. Traditional wood doesn’t last as long as modern materials, which is why many suppliers offer the best of both worlds with steel or aluminum doors made with faux-wood overlays.

These doors will boost your home’s value while protecting your valuables from the harsh outdoors and your wallet from frequent garage door repairs. They provide the beauty of the classic wooden garage door with the anti-wear protection of newer materials.

For an added vintage touch, evoke the traditional wood door aesthetic of long ago with carriage style garage doors. Despite its age, homeowners love this time-honored style for its added charm and country appeal. Carriage house doors accounted for one out of every five garage doors sold in 2013, a number that has remained steady ever since.

2. Modern Materials

Of course, you want your doors to match the existing aesthetic of your home. You also want doors that you’ll enjoy looking at for years to come. So if wooden doors don’t appeal to you or don’t match your home’s current look, fear not. Other favorite 2018 options like fiberglass, aluminum and steel can prove just as successful at creating an eye-catching look for your garage.

• Fiberglass: Fiberglass still reigns as the most popular garage door material. Easy to maintain and available in a range of style and color options, these doors effortlessly give life to your garage. They’re also easily paintable, so you can add unique trim that pops from your home.
• Aluminum: Aluminum offers a more modern upgrade with a sleek design that allows your home to look stylish at an affordable cost. It’s easy to take care of and requires little maintenance. A favored choice for modern-style homes, aluminum gives your door a contemporary flair and make the garage look more expansive, specifically when combined with glass.
• Steel: Steel-paneled doors come in a variety of different colors and provide another affordable alternative, with the broadest range of pricing options. These doors are durable and dent-resistant, allowing them to last for years if properly cared for.

Each material has different pros and cons that you should take into consideration and discuss with your garage door supplier before your purchase. But each can provide the perfect look for your 2018 home renovations.

3. Windows

You need your home to appear friendly and inviting. And a gloomy, cave-like appearance isn’t the warm welcome you want to give your family and visitors. Garages shifted in 2017 from gaping, storehouse-like spaces to open expanses of natural light and beauty, aided by the addition of huge windows in garage doors.

Windows provide the inviting openness of natural light that garages of the past lacked, and the shift from bland slabs of panels to sunny, windowed designs signifies a change in overall garage use and perspective.

Glass windows come in a variety of style and color options that can be set to match the accents of your door and your home. Vertical window patterns add a modern look, while an all-window door can add a bold statement to your home’s design.

Frosted windows are a useful option that allows you both privacy and inviting natural light. They come in a range of opaqueness options, so you can choose how much privacy you want in a garage.

Top Color Trends

Garage doors are becoming a focal point for your home’s exterior. While homeowners of the past wanted sophisticated traditional doors that blended into their homes, experts increasingly place eye-pleasing garage doors as one of the home’s most critical outdoor pieces.

This makes sense because the garage door is one of the first things you and your guests see upon pulling into your driveway.

To take full advantage of this focal spotlight, use splashes of color to wow and welcome visitors. Color is a simple way to keep up with changing home improvement trends, as many types of doors are easily re-paintable and can be customized to fit your needs.

Bold color combinations that brighten the garage are rising in popularity in 2018. Here are some color trends that will boost the appeal of your new garage door:

1. Matching or Complementary Colors

Your home already has its own unique style. The trim, window panes, shutters and other outdoor features are what make your home yours. Don’t try to force the garage door to fit a different mold apart from your home’s preexisting aesthetic.

Use colors that match your home’s preexisting color scheme to make your garage door an effortless part of your home. Matching colors can be used on the trim surrounding the door, on any window trim or on the door itself.

On the other hand, complementary colors — colors found opposite each other on the color wheel — prove that opposites do indeed attract when it comes to fashion and design. These colors bring out the best in each other and allow the other to stand out. Color wheels can help you choose your perfect complementary shades. These can also be used as a decorative trim to highlight the garage door’s features or as a bold standalone color to draw attention to your door.

Play around with a mix of matching and complementary colors for the perfect blend of sophistication and eye-popping design that will set your home apart in its appeal.

2. Blues, Greens and Browns

One of the top new trends of garage door color is the rise in the popularity of cool colors like soft green hues and deep shades of blue. These colors will pop out from a traditional off-white home exterior. Greens and blues have calming qualities, perfect to come home to after a long day of work.

Again, avoid colors that mismatch your home’s preexisting color scheme. Brown, the color of most wooden doors, is another favorite 2018 option that can be paired well with both cool and warm color tones. It works well with nearly any home.

3. Black Doors and Accents

Black is back.

A perfect match for wooden garage doors or with virtually any paint color, you can use black to paint the door’s trim, handles or faux hinges to accessorize your door and make a sophisticated statement.

For a strikingly bold look, take the extra step and get an all-black garage door. This move might seem daunting, but off-blacks such as blue-black or dark grey have remained some of the trendiest color options throughout the years.

Other Top 2018 Trends

Sometimes the best features of your home are the ones you can’t even see. While color and design are important parts of your garage door’s appearance, the following non-visual trends boost your door’s comfort and security:

1. Insulation

Insulated garage doors are becoming a hot new trend in garage door renovation. One of the most sought-after features in a garage door is its ability to keep the garage protected and warm through all seasons and types of weather.

If you’re looking to save energy while keeping your home warm during harsh winters and cool during hot summers, insulation is a crucial part of your garage door, especially if you use your garage as a hangout spot or a home office. Insulated doors are eco-friendly and cut down on heating and cooling costs, so you’ll save money in the long run if you spend a little more on your door’s insulation.

Today, most collections of garage doors come with insulated and non-insulated options. But this trend won’t be going away any time soon. Hop on board to increase your home’s market value, improve your comfort and allow you to get the most use out of your beautiful new garage.

2. Technology

In a time when the top five spots on the Forbes list of Most Valuable Brands are technology-based, it comes as no surprise that 2018 ushers in the rise of technology-based garage door accessories.

Smartphones have controlled televisions, thermostats, drones and security cameras for years. And that’s not a bad thing. Smartphone controls can provide you and your family with added comfort and security. Now, the remote control trend has extended to the garage.

Open and close your garage door, turn lights off and on, check your door’s security and more with Wi-Fi-connected smart garage doors and accessories. Added smart security cameras allow you to monitor your garage from any part of the world with the touch of a finger.

Many newer garage door openers come equipped with smart technology while other accessories such as cameras can be bought and added.

Any smart garage door hub easily adds to your garage’s value, but it also gives you added peace of mind. It allows you to go through your day without worrying about your garage door and your home’s security, making this trend well worth your money.

Get the Most Out of Your Door

With so many changing design and color trends, 2018 is the perfect time to update your garage door and get the most out of your garage use. And whether you’re looking for a boost of color, some eye-catching windows or an entirely new door style altogether, Upper Canada Garage Doors can help.

Upper Canada Garage Doors offers some of the best selections and most competitive prices in the Oakville, Burlington, and Milton areas. We’re a proud dealer of Clopay products, so you know you’re getting a top brand you can trust when you order from our vast selection of garage door styles and sizes. And with our employee-based workforce and excellent customer service, you know you’re always getting a quality job, never rushed.

Our selection includes many of 2018’s top trends, including faux-wooden and carriage-style doors. All our garage door series come with a variety of window designs and color options, so you’re sure to find a combination to fit your home. Don’t just dream about making your garage door dreams a reality. Contact us today or visit our showroom in Oakville to learn how we can help you get the most out of your garage with a door you’ll love.

Why it’s Time to ‘Get Off the Fence’ About A New Garage Door

Why it’s Time to ‘Get Off the Fence’ About A New Garage Door

It’s not something you do very often. In fact, you’ll probably change homes more often than you’ll ever get a new garage door. And that longevity is both a blessing and a curse.

The good part is that new garage doors are designed to last a very long time. Despite the fact that they are the largest moving object in your home, door designs, materials and technology have advanced to the point where most homeowners will only need to replace their garage doors once.

But that infrequent need for a new door can be a bit of a problem. Primarily, because it’s done so rarely, most people are very unfamiliar with the process of finding, buying and installing a new garage door – or even when they should start the process.

Instead, they start making subtle ‘adjustments’ in how they use the door. You know – you have to pull up on one side more than the other to make it open. Or you don’t notice the squeak that jars your neighbour awake every morning.

But unknowingly putting up with the ‘characteristics’ of a too-old garage door is still not the most pressing reason to get a new one. Many of Scarborough’s famous bungalows and semi-detached homes were built in the 1950s and 1960s. And, incredibly, many of those homes still have their original garage door.

Even if those doors still work properly, there are good reasons to change them. And if you’re suffering some of the other symptoms we mentioned above, which is why you’re thinking of replacing the door any way, the following points means you no longer have an excuse to avoid getting a new garage door.

1. Reduce Heating and Cooling Costs

Most new garage doors are insulated. And most old garage doors aren’t. Few homeowners understand how much of the house’s heated and cooled air can be lost through an attached garage. Especially if you have a room above the garage, an insulated garage door keeps more of your heated and cooled air where it belongs: inside.

Insulated doors also make your garage quieter; they give you the option to use the garage year-round as a work or recreation space; and they reduce the strain on your car’s engine during cold weather starts.

2. Less Expensive Than You Think

Again, because we don’t replace garage doors often, and simply due to the size of the door (it’s big – it must be really expensive!), most people over-estimate the cost of buying and installing a new door. Prices can vary, but your new door, even one that’s insulated, is probably more affordable than you think and can be installed in a day or less.

3. Smooth Functioning

New garage doors are well-balanced so that it takes very little effort to open and close them. Homeowners who have needed to replace their garage door openers often don’t realize it’s because the door is old and doesn’t move smoothly. That puts extra strain on the opener and reduces its life. So a new door will either save your back, or your garage door opener.

4. More Curb Appeal

Garage doors are the largest single feature on your home and can account for up to 40% of its look. In other words, installing a new door can be like re-doing a large part of the front of your home. Not only does that increase your home’s curb appeal, but, if you ever sell your home, you can bet that the old rusting door that you’ve been nursing for 20 years will be a huge turn-off for buyers.

If you add the money you can save from reduced energy costs and the increase in home value that a new door can bring, it far outweighs the cost of the door – which, as you now know, is lower than you think.