How a garage door can improve the appearance of your home's exterior

(ARA) - With warm weather months here, it's the perfect season for the annual ritual of performing a spruce up around your home. Planting gardens, improving the look of your lawn and maybe applying a fresh coat of paint to the window trims are on your to-do list. An appealing exterior offers an invaluable first impression to neighbors, friends, and - if you're trying to sell, which many do prior to the beginning of school in the fall - perspective buyers.

In fact, small-scale exterior projects are the most profitable during resale, according to the 2009-10 Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report by the National Association of Realtors (NAR). "Once again, this year's [report] highlights the importance of a home's first impression," says NAR President Vicki Cox Golder.

One exterior feature that greatly contributes to this first impression is the garage door, and updating it can drastically improve your home's "curb appeal." If you've looked into replacing a garage door, you know that it can be an overwhelming task with so many styles and materials from which to choose. It's important that your choice complements the architecture of your home as well as your lifestyle. In other words, you don't want a door that sticks out like a sore thumb or one that requires more maintenance than you'd prefer.

So how do you make sure that you pick the right garage door? Follow these simple steps: pick a material, choose a style and find a good dealer.

When selecting a material, decide what material best fits your home and lifestyle, whether it be the natural beauty of wood, the durability and low maintenance of steel or the environmental friendliness of wood composite. Wood doors offer a classic, handcrafted look that won't go out of style but will require more frequent upkeep. Steel doors need the least amount of maintenance and come in three types of construction - single, double and triple layer. The more layers in a steel door, the more energy efficient and noise reducing it is. Wood composite doors, newer to the market, are made of a minimum of 80 percent recycled fiber and combine the strength and security of steel doors with the beauty of wooden doors. Wood composite doors won't rust, rot, crack or split and are the "greenest" option.

Once you've selected the material, it's time to choose a style. Doors are available to match any architectural style and there are plenty of easy-to-use online tools to assist in picking a style. Try the Door Designer at Amarr Garage Doors (www.amarr.com) to help find the perfect door to match the style of your home.

Once you've chosen a design, you'll need to select a color and any decorative hardware desired to enhance the door's beauty. Steel doors often come in pre-painted colors, but they also can be customized with exterior latex paint. Wood doors generally come in their natural finish and can be easily stained or painted. Wood composite doors are sold painted or primed and ready to stain or paint. Depending on the style you choose, you may also have the option to add decorative hardware or decorative windows.

Finally, it's important to find a reputable dealer who can provide pricing for the correct door size needed and installation and removal of the old door if you're purchasing a replacement door. Garage doors are sold sized to specifically fit your garage door opening. An important, but often neglected step, is enlisting a professional dealer to measure your door to ensure that it will be correctly sized. Make sure that your local dealer is authorized, fully insured and has a good local reputation. Never try to repair or install a garage door yourself - it can be extremely dangerous.

Investing in a new garage door is a sure way to improve the look of your home's exterior, as well as improve energy efficiency and protection. You can also take comfort in knowing that this purchase will add value to your home and will be an important asset should you decide to sell.

Could you use a new garage door? If the answer is yes, following these simple steps of choosing a material first, then a style and finally a qualified dealer, makes selecting the best garage door for your home easier than ever.

Courtesy of ARAcontent