As the function and position of the garage has evolved, so has its importance in a home's design. Garage doors are usually the largest detached piece that is visible from the outside of a house.

They are capable of either improving a home's overall appearance or just serving as another neutral wall space. For this reason it is important that their appearance be taken into consideration when replacing them or when building a new one. Here are some tips for selecting a new door.

Seek harmony

While the ultimate goal might be to identify garage doors that will enhance the appearance of one's home, that perfect look won't be much appreciated if the doors are not also functional. So the most attractive result will be the one the best combines style and function.

When considering the functionality of a door, start by asking yourself about how the room is used. Do the doors need to move sideways, or lift up? Does the room need natural light? What type of traffic patterns does the door need to be able to accommodate?

How important is security? When looking at specific style elements, such as shutters, ask yourself how you envision those working and how much space will be required.

Seek compatibility

The best looking Garage doors are going to serve to highlight the rest of the house and let the other architectural elements shine. Its style should complement the rest and not fight with it. Take a survey of the overall look of the house - is it grandiose or light and airy?

Rustic or refined? Reflective of a particular building style? Are there certain recurring shapes or patterns such as curves or linear indentations that can be carried through the architecture? Often use of color or decorative hardware can be used to bring together the elements of the house with the doors.

Seek foundation

Contemporary garage doors can be built from a variety of materials from traditional wood to steel to composites. Each type of material has a unique look as well as functionality.

To help give you an idea of what material will be best used for the door, start by looking at what materials are used in the design of the home, both the major and minor facets. Then look at how these elements been assembled. You may find some unique design elements in your home that can be reflected in garage doors.

Pushing the button and having your garage door open before your eyes is something you do every day, and probably something you rarely think about. In fact, just like most appliances, the mechanisms that make this process work often draw little attention. Little attention, that is, until they stop working. Proper maintenance is the key to a long life of the opener.

Maintaining your opener requires little technical skill or knowledge, but just some time and dedication. The first step is lubrication. All moving parts, including rollers, hinges roller tracks, and latches, need to be lubricated. Start by cleaning them using a spray-on solvent. If you have an extension spring opener, spray down the pulleys.

On torsion-spring openers, pay attention to the bearings. The wipe everything off and apply a light lubricant to the parts. Some garage door openers have chains or drive screws that operate the opening mechanism. In these situations, apply lubricant to the entire length of the chain.

Inspect your system for stuck hinges and rollers or any parts that have excessive rust. These problems should be dealt with before applying lubricant. Soak stuck parts with kerosene, using a toothbrush to work the kerosene into any cracks.

Be careful when using kerosene, as it is highly combustible. Use steel wool to remove rust and wipe down the parts. Once the parts are clean and no longer stuck, apply lubricant. While you inspect the system for stuck hinges or rollers, also look for screws or bolts that need tightening, and tighten as needed.

After lubricating the mechanisms, take the time to check the weather stripping along the edges of the garage door. All weather stripping needs to be tight against the sides. Replace any that is starting to pull away. If you do not have any weather stripping, consider installing some.

Painting or staining any wood parts is an important maintenance step. If the wood has already been painted or stained, check the finish for signs of chipping or other wear and tear, and apply a new coat as needed. Unfinished wood has a tendency to warp, and this puts unneeded strain on the opener, which can shorten its life.

Always paint and stain both sides of the wood. While the exterior of the wood is more prone to damage from the elements, the interior can also warp and bend if not properly finished.

Taking care of your garage door and the opener does not require a lot of know-how, a huge time commitment, or a lot of money. By keeping everything in good repair, well lubricated, and clean, you will get many years of use out of your opener, providing hassle-free entry each and every time you return home.