When it comes to remodeling your home, be sure to consider the advantages gained by replacing your present garage door and opener. A new garage door and opener will do much to help rejuvenate your home and is an investment that will pay off in both the short and long run.

More Safety Features

One huge advantage gained by replacing an outdated garage door and opener is an increase in overall safety. Newer doors and openers offer several safety features that you simply cannot find in older equipment.

For example, if your garage door opener was manufactured before the 1990s, it likely doesn't have either a door reversing mechanism or photoelectric eye sensors. Both of these were made mandatory in the early 1990s in the United States and greatly increase safety for household members.

The door reversing mechanism senses obstructions during closing, including humans and animals, and causes the door to automatically reverse. Doing so can prevent tragic crushing accidents that can severely injure or kill.

Photoelectric eye sensors are also essential to safety by detecting movement in the path of the lowering door. As with the door reversing mechanism, triggered photoelectric eye sensors will also trigger the opener to stop and reverse the course of the door.

Better Insulating Characteristics

Another advantage found by getting rid of your old garage door is that newer doors are often better insulated. Older doors are often drafty, and outside air can easily leak through the space left by missing or worn-out weather-stripping.

In addition, the doors themselves often contain foam and are constructed with cold and heat containment in mind, as opposed to old doors that may lack any built-in insulation. This increase in energy efficiency can help make up for the replacement costs incurred.

Increased Strength

If your existing garage door has been in place for a while, you will benefit by replacing it with a newer, stronger model. Older doors weaken over time due to the effects of wind, rain and sunlight, and wooden doors are especially vulnerable. Rot and insects can do major damage to wooden doors, and if your present door is made from wood, it may already be affected.

Newer doors are made from materials that are not only more resilient to the environment, they are lighter in weight. This results in less stress upon the garage door opener, rails and springs.

Decreased Noise

Old garage doors become noisy over time as their hardware becomes twisted and misaligned, resulting in loud squeaks and groans. In addition, old openers and their drive systems are also louder; for example, an old chain drive may clatter and vibrate.

On the other hand, a new garage door and opener will provide you with much quieter, smoother operation. New hinges, rails and rollers will enable your door to effortlessly glide up and down during opening and closing. In addition, a new drive system that relies on quieter belt or screw technology will eliminate much of the loud clatter experienced with chain drives.

Improved Curb Appeal

The installation of a new garage door will also bring dramatic improvements in your home's curb appeal. By replacing dated doors, you can freshen up your home's looks and gain positive attention from onlookers.

New doors come in a variety of styles and finishes, too. For example, faux-woodgrain doors give an authentic crafted look without the high expense and maintenance requirements of a wooden door.

You can also tap into more contemporary styling with a new door. Currently, carriage house garage doors are en vogue, and you can recreate this look with a new door for your home.

If you have questions about garage door installation, be sure to contact Central Valley Overhead Door for assistance. Their professional team of technicians and staff can help you find the best door and opener system for your home.

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