Category: Blog

A lot of consideration goes into buying a new home, as it should do. After all, this is perhaps the biggest purchase you’ll make in your life. House hunters view every room, imagining what it would be like to live there and making sure that everything meets their standards. But the same amount of attention is not usually given to the garage.

Is having a garage a priority for you? Don’t just inspect and ask questions about the house, look around the garage and consider whether it meets your needs.

How important is the garage?

The first thing to decide is how much of a priority the garage is to you. Is it a must-have for your new home or would you be willing to sacrifice it for an otherwise perfect house? If the garage is a must-have, then consider what you’ll be using it for and what you require of it. Does it need to be a certain size? If you plan on parking a car in your new garage, then make sure it will be big enough for this purpose.

Detached or attached

Is it important to you whether your garage is attached to your house or detached? There are pros and cons to each, so think about what you’ll be using your garage for and how often you’ll use it to decide which is better for you and how important this is. If you want to use your garage as a workshop or a kids’ playroom, for example, then it would be more convenient if you can access the garage directly from your home.

Do you need the extra storage?

When looking around the interior of the house, pay attention to how many closets there are and how much storage space there is, in general. Is there an attic, basement, or spare room where you could store a lot of extra belongings? This could help you determine how much storage space you would need inside your garage.

Is there space to build or extend a garage?

Take a look at the space available at each property you look around. If you’ve found a property you like but it doesn’t have a garage, is there enough room for you to build one. Also, consider whether or not this would be within your budget. Or, if you’ve found a house you like but the garage is on the small side, is there enough space to extend it or add a second garage?

It’s important to consider every factor carefully when deciding which house to buy, as this is a long-term investment. If you need help when planning an extension or a new garage, and the new garage door to go with it, then contact Carolina Garage Door.

Lighting serves various purposes in and around your home. It’s not just for practicality, but also for safety, security, and aesthetic purposes. When it comes to selecting lighting for your garage, you should think about both the interior and exterior. Here are some lighting essentials you might need to consider for your garage.

Indoor lights

Lighting is essential inside any garage, especially if you spend time in there working on your car or at a workbench, for example. If your garage doesn’t have any windows, then this lighting may be necessary at all times of the day. Even if you don’t spend much time inside your garage, lighting is still needed to allow you to find stored items in there and not trip over any clutter on the ground.

The type of lighting you install and the number of lighting fixtures will depend largely on how you use your garage, as well as personal preferences. Fluorescent lighting is usually the most popular choice for residential garages, although LED lighting is also gaining popularity. If you spend a lot of time in your garage, then you might want to prioritize energy-efficient lighting to help you cut down on your electricity bills.

If you do spend time at a workbench, then you might want to install additional lighting over this area. Or you could simply add a desk lamp to your workbench, or one that clamps onto the bench.

Security lights

Many homeowners install motion-activated lighting outside their garage door to help boost security. The garage can often be the most vulnerable entry point in your house, so it’s important to deter potential thieves from breaking in and potentially stealing or damaging your property and belongings.

Motion-activated lights switch on as soon as someone enters a certain range. This may attract attention from neighbors and people passing by, making it more likely that any potential opportunists could be caught. This is often enough to deter that person from attempting to break-in.

Landscaping lights

Lighting outside your garage and around your garage door can also serve decorative and aesthetic purposes, not just practical ones. You can use landscape lighting to highlight certain aspects of your home and garage design. You might want to highlight the garage door itself if you are particularly proud of the design and quality.

Uplighting the walls to either side of your garage door helps to accent them and add texture to the appearance of the front of your home. You could also use path lights to highlight the way to your garage and to show off any plants or shrubs planted in the area.

Whether you need a new garage door or are just upgrading your garage with lighting and other accessories, we can guide you toward the best choices. If you need garage door installation, repair, or maintenance around Winston Salem, Greensboro, Kernersville, and High Point then contact Carolina Garage Door today.

It’s almost summertime! And just like harsh winters can wreak havoc on your garage door, so can hot summers. To keep your garage door in good condition all year round and to avoid any surprise repairs, here are some tips to help you prepare your garage door for summer.

Check the finish

Cold weather, ice, snow, and hail may have caused some superficial damage to the finish of your garage door over winter. Check for worn areas and scratches on the surface of your garage door. You may need to repaint or refinish your door if it suffered from any extreme weather. If your garage door is often in direct sunlight, you might consider a paint or finish with UV protection. You should also properly clean the surface of your garage door to get rid of built-up dust and dirt that could damage the finish.

Check the weather-stripping and insulation

Weather-stripping and insulation will stop your garage from becoming too hot in the summer sun. Check around the weather-stripping to ensure it hasn’t become cracked or damaged, and replace it if necessary. Your garage door should also be properly insulated to control the temperature inside your garage. Consider upgrading your garage door if needed or purchasing a new garage door with insulation.

Test the sensors

Garage door sensors are a useful safety device that stops the garage door from closing if something is blocking its path. Unfortunately, bright sunlight can sometimes interfere with this process, preventing the safety system from working properly. If your garage door receives direct sunlight during the day, then you may be able to get around this problem by creating a shade for the sensors.

Lubricate moving parts

It’s important to keep moving parts well-lubricated to keep them functioning, in good condition, and to prevent wear and tear. Changes in temperature can cause hardware to expand and shrink slightly, which can leave parts vulnerable to wear and tear. So, make sure you lubricate all moving parts in time for the summer heat.

Book a garage door tune-up

As well as your own checks and maintenance, it’s a good idea to book a professional garage door tune-up in time for summer. A garage door technician will be able to inspect all the parts of your garage door, like the springs and cables, to make sure there is no damage and everything is functioning properly. If there are any problems, it is better for a professional to spot them now and fix them before they become more serious.

If you need garage door repair or maintenance in Winston Salem, Greensboro, Kernersville, or High Point, then contact Carolina Garage Door for our support and services.

The front surface of your garage door is always out in the open, making it subject to whatever weather you’re experiencing that day. Sun, wind, rain, snow, fog, and ice – your garage door has to put up with it all. All of this can weaken and even damage your garage door over time, especially during extreme weather conditions. But there are certain things you can do to protect your garage door from the elements.

Here are our tips for weatherproofing your garage door…

Make sure all the seals are intact

Garage doors should have seals and weatherstripping around them to help seal off any gaps that might let water, debris, and pests inside. These can deteriorate over time, so inspect all the seals around your garage to check if any of them need repairing or replacing. If you see any cracks in the weatherstripping or gaps between the door and the floor or walls around it, then contact a garage door technician to make sure your garage is properly sealed.

Add insulation

Whether it’s hot summers or cold winters, a properly insulated garage door can help to keep the inside of your garage at a comfortable temperature. This can help you save on heating and cooling costs inside, especially if your garage is attached to your home. If your garage door isn’t insulated, then you can add insulation or install a new garage door that is properly insulated.

Add a protective finish

Rain, snow, hail, and UV rays can all weaken or damage the surface of your garage door over time. The sun may cause the color of your garage door to fade while heavier weather like hail can cause scratches and dents. Plus, rain and humidity can cause metal doors to rust and wooden doors to rot or warp over time.

Your garage door should be sealed or finished appropriately to provide the level of protection it needs. The kind of finish you’ll need will depend on the material of the door and whether or not it is painted. This will help your garage door last longer in good condition. You can also paint the walls of your garage with a waterproof sealant to help keep mold and mildew out of your garage’s interior.

If you need help maintaining or repairing your garage door, or upgrading it to better withstand the weather, Carolina Garage Door are here to help. Get in touch for our garage door tune-up and installation services around Winston Salem, Greensboro, Kernersville, and High Point.

Your garage door takes up a large proportion of the front of your home, so you want to make sure it looks good. Part of this is keeping it clean all year round. Dust, dirt, and grime can build up on the front of your garage door, particularly in seasons with little rain. So, we’ve got some tips to help you keep your garage door clean and in good condition.

How to clean your garage door

When preparing to clean your garage door, you should fill a bowl or bucket with warm water and dish soap or any other kind of mild detergent. If you have a specialty car wash soap, then this would be preferred. You will also need a soft, non-abrasive sponge or cloth and your garden hose. In most cases, you can clean your garage door in just 4 simple steps:

1. Rinse the front of your garage door with the garden hose to wash away any surface dirt and dust.
2. Soak your non-abrasive sponge or cloth in the bucket of water and wring out the excess water. Wipe down the front of your garage door with the soapy sponge.
3. Spray your garage door again with the hose to rinse off any soap or detergent left behind.
4. Leave your garage door to dry thoroughly.

You should always avoid rough and abrasive materials when wiping down your garage door as these can scratch the finish of the door. Strong detergents can erode the finish, so always stick with mild soap or detergent. And you should not power wash your garage door as this can also be damaging to the paint or finish.

It’s a good idea to clean the inside of your garage door while you’re in cleaning mode. Even though this doesn’t add to the image of your home, keeping it clean will help to maintain its condition. While doing so, you should also check the hardware of your garage door, removing any debris from the tracks and lubricating moving parts.

Tackling stubborn stains

If there are still marks or stains left behind after cleaning your garage door, then you could try diluting bleach with water and using this solution to scrub away the stubborn stains. Still ensure that you use a soft cloth to avoid damaging the surface. And make sure you thoroughly rinse the solution off after cleaning to avoid damaging the finish.

If you need any help maintaining your garage door in Winston Salem, Greensboro, Kernersville, or High Point, then contact us for our professional garage door service.

Spring is here, and a lot of people are using this time to get their homes in order. It’s a lot nicer being cooped up in your home if it’s clean, tidy, and well organized. Giving your home a good spring clean will give you more space and make your home more comfortable, but make sure you don’t forget about your garage during this spring clean.

Garages can often be dumping grounds for everything you don’t use regularly. But not anymore. Giving your garage a thorough spring clean could transform it into another space you can spend time in. You could even repurpose it as a gym or playroom, for example.

Ready to get spring cleaning? Here’s how…

Start from scratch

You can’t clean around all the clutter, so the first step is to get it all out of the garage. Pile everything up on your driveway, in your yard, or in your house so you’re left with an empty garage (or as empty as it can be).

Scrub it clean

Now your garage is empty, it will be much easier to clean. Start by removing any larger bits of debris before vacuuming the entire space. Think about all the dust and cobwebs in the top corners as well as just vacuuming the floor. Dust off any surfaces such as workbenches and shelves. Then you can wipe surfaces clean with soap and water and wash down your garage floor.

Sort through your stuff

While the garage floor is drying, you can turn to that pile of things on your driveway. Chances are that you don’t need all of it, so sort through it and determine what can be thrown out or given away. Once you’ve decided what you’re going to keep, you can decide whether it still belongs in the garage or whether to find it another home.

Move back in

Now it’s time to move everything you need back into the garage. But you’re not going to pile it back in; you’re going to organize it so that you have a tidy garage with everything in its place. Use storage solutions like shelves, drawers, and wall hooks to organize everything properly. This will make your garage much more spacious and will make it easier to find things when you need them.

While spring cleaning your garage, it’s also a good idea to give your garage door a once over to check for any damage or faults. Now is the perfect time to book your annual garage door tune-up, so call Carolina Garage Door for all your repair and maintenance needs across Winston Salem, Greensboro, Kernersville, and High Point.

When you’re moving home, you have a lot of decisions to make when determining the criteria for your perfect house. One of these decisions is all about the garage – do you want your garage to be attached to the house or detached? To help you make your mind up, here are some of the advantages of each choice.

The pros of a detached garage

• No impact on home temperature – If you don’t spend much time in your garage, then you’re unlikely to be heating and cooling it to an ambient temperature. This means that the space will be cold in the winter and hot in the summer. Since your garage isn’t attached to your home, this will not affect the temperature inside your home, which otherwise could make heating and cooling less efficient.
• Less noise – Noise also won’t be transmitted through the walls between your home and garage with a detached garage. This means you can use noisy tools or instruments without disrupting the rest of your family.
• Easier to extend – If you plan to extend your garage, you will have more flexibility to do so with a detached garage since you will not be limited by the walls of your house.
• More secure – An attached garage provides an additional point of entry to your home. Your garage may be more vulnerable to break-ins compared to your home, but at least an intruder breaking into a detached garage won’t be able to get any further through it.

The pros of an attached garage

• Stay undercover – Going back and forth between your garage and your home won’t be a pleasant experience when it’s raining outside. With an attached garage, you don’t have to step foot outside, making it easier and more comfortable.
• Adds to the front of your home – An attached garage is a part of the façade of your house. This can boost your home’s curb appeal by making it look larger and complementing the overall design of the house.
• Cheaper to build – If you’re building a new garage from scratch for your home, then an attached garage will be the simpler and cheaper option. This is simply because it will be using at least one of the walls that already exists in your home, so less building work is required.

We hope this has helped you make your mind up. Both are good options so it will, ultimately, come down to your own personal preferences and needs. If you need a new garage door installed after moving home around Winston Salem, Greensboro, Kernersville, and High Point, then contact Carolina Garage Door for our professional services.

Your garage door cables are a vital component of the safety and functionality of your garage door. A snapped cable could lead to serious risk of injury, not to mention the cost of replacing the cable and repairing the resulting damage. So, it’s important that you keep them in good condition to prevent them from deteriorating too much. Here are some tips for maintaining your garage door cables.

Inspecting your garage door cables

Visually inspecting your garage door cables on a regular basis will ensure that you notice any damage or wear and tear to them. When inspecting your cables, you should check their condition both with the garage door open and closed. Look out for the build-up of dirt, grime, and debris on your cables. Check for signs of wear and tear such as fraying along the cables, rusting, and any bends or kinks in them.

If frayed cables are left and you continue to use your garage door, then they will continue to deteriorate and can eventually snap, which is a great danger. Another problem with the operation of your garage door may have caused the cables to become kinked or frayed, so it is important to call a professional to inspect your garage door so they can identify and repair any issues with it.

Maintaining your cables

There are certain maintenance tasks that can keep your garage door cables in good condition. Applying a spray lubricant to them can help to fight rust and oxidation. Just try not to use a too heavy lubricant as these can attract a lot of dust and dirt. You should also have a garage door technician check the balance of your door regularly to help prevent imbalances placing too much stress on the cable. This can cause the fraying and kinks that you want to avoid.

When to replace them

Your garage door cables should last several years, but it is important to have them replaced if they start to fray. You should also consider replacing rusting cables as the rusted areas will become weaker and may also lead to the cables breaking.

If your cables need repairing, maintaining, or replacing, then we advise calling a professional garage door technician as this can be a very dangerous job. The cables carry a lot of the load when lifting your garage door, so a mistake can cause the door to come crashing down hard. This is why it’s also important to have them replaced sooner rather than later.

If you need garage door maintenance or repair, whether it’s for your cables or something else, contact Carolina Garage Door. We provide garage door services for both residential and commercial garage doors around Winston Salem, Greensboro, Kernersville, and High Point.

You choose the perfect color to paint or stain your garage door. Then, over time, you notice it start to fade and no longer look its best. What causes this to happen? And how can you keep your garage door looking as good as new for years to come? Read on to find out…

What’s causing your garage door finish to fade?

The number one culprit when it comes to damage and degradation of your garage door is the weather. The sun, in particular, could be responsible for a faded finish. Because just like the sun’s UV rays are harmful to our skin, they can be harmful to other materials, too. Regular sun exposure causes colors to fade.

The heat from the sun can also do some damage, especially if your garage door is in direct sunlight for extended periods. The sun’s heat and rays can damage the top layer of the garage door and cause the paint to crack. Under ongoing extreme fluctuations of temperature, the garage door material itself can even start to crack and degrade, especially if its protective top coating has been worn down by the sun.

Wind, rain, snow, and hail can also cause your garage door finish to fade. It’s not only hail that can scratch your top coating, but also dirt and debris carried by strong winds. Prolonged exposure to moisture has its problems, too, including rusted metal and moldy wood.

How to prevent fading

There are a number of things you can do to help your garage door fight the elements and keep it looking good all year round. Firstly, figure out which way your garage door faces. If it faces southward or westward, then it will be getting the sun during the times of day it’s at its strongest. If this is the case, you should employ additional measures to protect it.

You could, for example, plant trees or install sun shades to keep the sun off your garage door. Another good idea is to finish your garage door with a paint or stain that is resistant to UV light. This will help to slow down the fading process and make your garage door last longer.

Make sure you inspect your garage door on a regular basis to check for fading, wear, and any damage. If you do notice that your finish has faded, then you can simply refinish it to give it back its original vibrancy.

If you’re in need of garage door repair or maintenance around Winston Salem, Greensboro, Kernersville, High Point, NC, then contact Carolina Garage Door to find out more about our professional garage door service.

When you picture a garage floor, the first image that comes to mind might be unfinished concrete. But it doesn’t have to be like this in your garage. Sure, you probably don’t want polished hardwood floors if you’re going to be working with tools and parking your car, but there are still a variety of flooring options that could improve the appearance of your garage and even make it more comfortable.

Let’s look at some garage flooring options for you to consider…

Polished concrete

If you’re happy with your concrete flooring but still want to neaten it up and make it look nicer, then you can opt for a polished concrete floor. This makes it look sleeker and more appealing than unfinished concrete, and is still tough and durable.

Tile flooring

There are various kinds of tile flooring you could choose for your garage. A popular choice is interlocking tiles or jigsaw tiles. These are commonly made out of rubber or vinyl and easily connect together with interconnecting grooves on each side of the tile. This makes them easy to apply and dismantle, so you can remove and replace a single tile if it becomes damaged. You can create a solid-colored floor or mix and match to create patterned flooring.

Roll out mats

Large roll out mats, as the name suggests, simply roll out to cover your garage floor. These also come in a range of materials, such as vinyl, rubber, and various plastics. They can be textured to create a less slippery surface. These mats create a durable surface that’s still comfortable underfoot, although you can’t remove sections when repairs are needed, unlike tiles.

Paint

Another low maintenance option is to simply paint over the existing floor to give it a nicer aesthetic and to add a layer of protection. You can choose from a variety of paint colors to achieve the style you like. Make sure the floor is clean and free of cracks before undertaking this.

Epoxy flooring

Epoxy is another option that you can paint onto your existing floor, except it creates a slightly tougher surface compared to paint, making your garage floor more durable and resistant to moisture. Again, you can choose from various colors and styles.

A new garage door may be first on your list of garage renovations (since it offers such a good return on investment), but think next about your garage floor. Having supportive flooring underfoot can be especially important in commercial garage spaces where workers spend many hours per day. So, think about the perfect flooring to go with your commercial garage door.

And for a new overhead garage door or a garage door tune-up around Winston Salem, Greensboro, Kernersville, and High Point, contact Carolina Garage Door.