Your garage is essential to your home, and you want to use it year-round. The problem is they’re often at the mercy of the elements. They’re cold and possibly damp in the winter, and in the summer, they’re hot and stuffy. Here are some ways to make your garage door protection much more pleasant to use year-round and help keep it in better condition too.
Making Your Garage Usable Year Round
In the past, your garage would just have been for storing your car, and that’s it. As such, garages were often treated as an afterthought. There was no thought to making them a pleasant space, so they were often just gray boxes you shut the door on and forgot about. These days though, your garage is much more than just car storage.
Homeowners use their garages for all kinds of things. Some like to use them as workshops for their hobbies. Others like to use them as extra storage for their belongings. Others want to make them extra living space, whether another TV room or a den for the kids to play in. It makes sense, as you have all that extra space, and you’re not using it for anything else.
The problem is that the garage wasn’t designed for everyday living, so the elements impact them. With drastic changes in temperature, drafts, and more, they’re not great to stay in for long. That’s why you’ll want to have them updated and protected from the seasonal temperatures and weather. Here are our top garage door protection tips for year-round, seasonal use.
1. Install a New Door
In many cases, you may need a new garage door. Do you know how old that garage door is? It may be time for it to be replaced. All garage doors have an average lifespan, and after so many years of use, they’re not going to work as well as they used to. Many homeowners will worry about the cost of replacing it, but it will often pay for itself over time.
A new garage door will better insulate the garage, lowering energy bills. Plus, the new door will suffer fewer breakdowns and damage so that you won’t be spending as much on repairs. As such, check the age and condition of your garage door and see if it’s time it gets replaced.
2. Add or Replace the Weather Stripping
The weather stripping on your garage door is the rubber seal that runs along the bottom edge. This keeps hot or cold air out of your garage and pests, leaves, and other debris. As such, it must be in good condition to do its job. Check your weather stripping. Has it broken or cracked in places, or is it coming off?
You’ll need to replace it to protect your garage from the elements. You may need to trim the seal to fit your door, but that’s very simple. The good news is that you can easily do this yourself. You’ll be able to pick up a weather stripping kit at your local hardware store with all the instructions you need to install.
3. Install New Windows and Doors
If you have windows and doors in your garage, they will greatly affect the temperature and atmosphere. Like the garage door, if they’re getting on in age or have taken any damage, you’ll see that they aren’t keeping the elements out like they used to. Remember that these windows and doors are often subjected to extreme temperatures without the same maintenance given to other windows and doors in the home.
As such, they may well have started to wear out. Inspect your garage windows and doors, and see whether they require repair. In many cases, those windows won’t have been replaced since the garage was built. As such, you’ll want to look into getting them replaced.
Similarly to your garage door, the replacement will be an investment, but it will be well worth the money. With better windows and doors installed, you’ll be able to protect the garage against more extreme temperatures, drafts, and more. Again, that’s going to help you keep those energy costs down.
4. Install Insulation
This is one of the best ways to keep the temperature comfortable in your garage and make it a usable space. You may not even realize that your garage needs insulation, but it does, just like the rest of your home. If you don’t have insulation in the garage, you’ll see that it gets very cold in the winter and hot in the summer.
When you install the insulation, you’ll find that the temperature is much more reasonable all year. You’ll need to have the walls and roof insulated, but don’t forget about the garage door itself. This can be insulated too, and insulating the door will help correct the temperature inside. If you install a new garage door, you’ll see that some doors already have insulation.
Contact Your Local Professional
Ready to make your garage a living space that you can use all year round? If so, it’s always best to call a professional to help you with this project. They’ll ensure the job is done first, so you’ll have a garage ready to use. Some jobs, such as replacing the weather stripping, can be done yourself, but others are more technical in nature. These are just a few seasonal garage door protection tips. Start planning your garage renovations now, and you’ll be able to use it as living space all year round.
Key Garage Door Protection Tips and Takeaways
These are some of the best garage door protection tips for every season to maximize the protection of your garage and keep your home secure. If your garage needs maintenance or repairs, Your Garage Door Guys is ready to help! We are available in Los Angeles and Ventura counties.