by Overhead Door | Jun 19, 2024 | Security
Your garage is more than just a place to store your car or tools; it’s an extension of your home and often houses valuable items. Unfortunately, garages can also be prime targets for thieves. Keeping your garage secure is crucial whether you use it for storage, DIY projects, or parking your vehicle.
Here are some effective strategies to safeguard your garage from unwanted intrusions:
1. Upgrade to a Stronger Garage Door
Although very unlikely, an intruder could enter your garage by penetrating your garage door with a crowbar or other object. A garage door made of solid wood or thick insulated steel will offer you the most protection from this type of break-in.
It is also important that your garage door is in good condition. A garage door with a bent panel or any other sign that it is off its track could signal an opportunity for thieves. Most local garage door companies have showrooms, so you can actually see and feel the material before you buy.
Are you not sure how much a new garage door costs? If you provide the material you are looking for and have the measurements of your garage door opening, you can get an exact quote today to replace your door.
2. Install Smart Locks or a Smart Garage Door Opener
Smart door lock systems aren’t just for front doors. Did you know you can get a smart garage door system? These garage door openers are equipped with smart built-in technology that connects to your iPhone or Android phone and allows you to open, close, or limit access to your garage door from anywhere. You can even get notifications when someone is opening your door. Smart garage door openers can also integrate with your home security system so you can monitor and secure your entire house from one app.
3. Secure/Cover Windows
Thieves usually don’t go in if they can’t see anything to steal. If your garage has windows, use frosted glass or a tint to prevent thieves from seeing into your garage in the first place.
You should be careful about putting anything thick inside your garage door windows, like boards or curtains. This can add weight to the door or catch something when it is being operated. Some homeowners will also DIY windows by cutting their garage door panels themselves. This could impact the integrity of the steel and make it easier for a thief to break in. This is one reason it’s recommended to hire a professional when adding windows to your garage door.
4. Install Motion-Activated Lights
Thieves prefer darkness, so installing motion-sensor lights around your garage can be a deterrent. These sudden bursts of light can startle intruders and alert you or your neighbors. But if a burglar knows and wants whatever is in your garage, lighting alone isn’t an effective strategy to stop an unwanted guest from entering.
5. Keep Your Garage Organized and Utilize High Storage
Keeping your garage organized and utilizing storage may not stop a thief from entering, but it can minimize the likelihood that they will get away with valuable stuff.
One of the main items thieves look for in a garage is expensive tools and equipment, which should be locked in cabinets or secured with chains and padlocks
If most of the items in your garage are stored in locked cabinets or on high shelving, it will be very difficult for a thief to access them and get away with your belongings quickly.
If you don’t have room for locked cabinets, ceiling storage racks and mounts are great for making more space in your garage and keeping everything out of reach for an intruder.
6. Keep Your Garage Door Closed
You wouldn’t leave your front door wide open for hours, but it’s not uncommon for homeowners to leave their garage door open for long periods of time.
As we’ve mentioned, thieves will typically scout out a home before they make a move. Not only are you giving them a peak at what you store in your garage, but they may notice you leave your garage door open at specific times of the day, allowing them to plan a robbery.
If you don’t need to keep your garage door open, keep it closed. This is not only a good security measure but will also help keep your garage door clean of debris, like blowing leaves, and help maintain the temperature of your garage.
7. Use Security Cameras
Many burglars will still act even if there is a security camera, but installing a security camera inside and outside your garage can act as a deterrent for some, and more importantly, will record footage that provides valuable evidence in case of a break-in.
Most burglars can see a camera outside your garage, but they may not expect one inside and, in some cases, may remove their face covering once inside. This is why having a camera inside the garage could also be a good idea.
8. Be Cautious with Garage Remote Controls
Many people clip their garage door remote to their car visors, but forgetting to lock your car gives a thief easy access to your garage. Consider using a keychain remote or keeping the remote hidden in your home.
The easiest solution is to make it a habit to make sure your car is locked.
9. Install a Garage Door Lock
Some garage doors are manufactured with a locking mechanism, but if you don’t have a way to lock your garage door from the inside, you may want to look into getting a sliding side lock. Sliding side locks are similar to deadbolt locks you would use on a regular door but are mounted to your garage door frame, and the locking mechanism slides through the metal track to secure your door.
If you have a garage door opener, and it’s connected correctly, then opening your door manually from the outside shouldn’t be possible. If you don’t have a garage door opener or your opener is disconnected, you should have some way to lock your door. Even if you have a garage door opener, having a lock can add an extra layer of security to your door.
10. Get Regular Maintenance and Checks
Regularly inspect your garage door, locks, and security systems for any signs of wear or tampering, and promptly address any issues. If you are unsure how to do this, hire a professional garage door repair company.
They can also recommend security solutions for your garage door system.
Implement These Strategies and Educate
Implementing these strategies can significantly enhance the security of your garage and protect your belongings from theft. It’s also important to ensure everyone in your household understands the importance of garage security. Teach them how to properly use and secure garage doors and entry points, and make it a habit to close the garage door.
Investing in security measures can save you from the stress and inconvenience of dealing with a break-in later. Stay vigilant and prioritize the safety of your home and garage.
by Overhead Door | Jan 19, 2024 | Buying Guide, Cost, Materials, Price, Safety, Security
Choosing the right garage door is a big decision that can greatly impact the functionality and curb appeal of your home. In cities in the West Texas region, like Lubbock, where the climate can be extreme, it’s crucial to consider factors like durability, insulation, and style. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you make an informed decision when selecting a garage door for your Lubbock home.
1. Climate Considerations:
Lubbock experiences a range of extreme weather conditions, including hot summers and cold winters. Look for a garage door with good insulation properties to regulate the temperature inside your garage, especially if you use your garage for storage, a workshop, or use it to park your cars. This not only helps in maintaining a comfortable environment but can also contribute to energy efficiency and noise reduction.
It’s also important to have a good seal around the edges of your garage door. Our strong winds kick up a lot of dust throughout the year, so make sure you ask your garage door installer about weather seal options around your door to help keep the dirt and dust out of your garage space.
2. Material Matters:
Different materials offer varying levels of durability, maintenance requirements, and aesthetics. Common garage door materials include:
- Steel: Durable and low-maintenance, suitable for extreme weather conditions.
- Wood: Adds a classic, rustic look but may require more maintenance.
- Aluminum: Lightweight and resistant to corrosion, ideal for humid conditions.
- Fiberglass: Resistant to saltwater corrosion, making it suitable for Lubbock’s unique climate.
Steel garage doors are the preferred option in Lubbock and the West Texas region and the reason is because of their durability. Steel garage doors are also the most readily available garage door material. Most local garage door companies have steel garage doors in stock and can schedule installation within a few weeks of a request.
This is not to say other garage door materials aren’t durable, they just may require more maintenance. Wood garage doors are extremely durable and constructed very well, but there is quite a bit of maintenance involved if you want to keep them in good shape.
3. Insulation Options:
Given the temperature extremes in Lubbock, opting for an insulated garage door is a good choice. This helps in maintaining a more stable temperature inside the garage, preventing it from becoming too hot in the summer or too cold in the winter. Also, because of the steel-insulation-steel layered construction of the door, it makes it stronger than a non-insulated option. The insulation can act as a buffer for dents and dings. The insulation also does a good job of keeping the steel panels, which makes a quieter experience when you are opening or closing your garage door.
4. Style and Design:
Most homes in Lubbock have a fairly basic ranch-style design so adding a garage door with a little more style can spruce up your homes exterior. Most people opt for traditional steel garage door designs but the garage doors that make a statement are the faux-wood garage doors made of steel or fiberglass. These garage doors look like they are wood, but are made of a low-maintenance material like steel.
It’s also important to consider the color, windows, and hardware to enhance the visual appeal of your Lubbock home.
Most garage doors in Lubbock are white, almond, tan, or a darker tan color like taupe. These are pretty standard garage door colors but they work in West Texas because we get a lot of dust. These lighter color options don’t show the dust as much as darker colors, it’s why we don’t see a lot of black cars in Lubbock — if you do they are usually on dealership lots or in carwash lines.
Windows on garage doors serve two main purposes. They jazz up the garage door and they help get more light in the garage during the day. If you want windows on a new garage door you are getting installed, make sure you let your garage door company know before installation. For us, it’s easier to add windows in our shop before the garage door is up.
But if you have an existing garage door and want to add windows to it, we can cut the sections and add the windows for you. It’s important to get a professional to do this, cutting the steel on a garage door panel can be dangerous but it can also impact the structural integrity of your door. Give us a call or fill out a form if you want to add windows to your existing garage door.
5. Wind Resistance:
Lubbock is known for its strong winds. Select a garage door with high wind resistance to ensure it can withstand severe weather conditions. Some areas of the country have very strict local building codes and standards for wind load resistance. These include coastal areas like Florida and along the Gulf Coast of Texas where hurricanes are the primary concern.
If you live in the designated catastrophe areas outlined by this map from TDI (Texas Department of Insurance) then this is something you will need to consider when purchasing a new garage door. Fortunately, in West Texas, we don’t need to worry about wind-load-specific building codes when it comes to garage doors but it’s important to have a durable garage door with an exterior that can withstand dirt and debris from strong winds.
The reason we don’t need to worry about wind-load requirements is that the chances of having a catastrophic wind event are rare in our region. Wind-rated garage doors are reinforced with horizontal struts, which are designed to help withstand constant heavy flying debris during weather events like hurricanes. During a hurricane, if the garage door is penetrated or completely damaged by debris or strong winds, it can create a build-up of pressure in the garage and even worse can build up in your house. This build-up of pressure could cause a complete blowout of the structure — resulting in a partially damaged or complete damage to a house. So if you aren’t planning on moving to the Texas coast, then you don’t need to worry about wind load requirements but like we said, it’s a good idea to consider how our windy weather could impact the exterior surface of your garage door.
6. Security and Safety Features:
Unfortunately, “Lubbock has one of the highest crime rates in America compared to all communities of all sizes” according to Lubbock crime data from Neighborhood Scout. A secure garage door is essential for the safety of your Lubbock home. Invest in a door with reliable locking mechanisms and consider additional security features such as smart technology for remote monitoring and control.
Garage door security has been a big focus for manufacturers in the last several years — now security is built-in to the products they make. If you have an older garage door opener unit, it might be time to upgrade to a newer model – especially one that is compatible with home security apps.
Since the garage door is typically the largest moving object in the home, safety is another important thing to consider. Don’t just upgrade your garage door, but upgrade your entire garage door system. The safety feature of that system is the safety sensors, usually located at the bottom of your garage door. These shoot an infrared beam that will detect motion and stop your garage door if it notices something is in its way. Most homeowners don’t know this, but safety sensors are required by federal law and manufacturers are required to have some safety features built-in to the garage door operator unit. (see the 2018 updated Safety Standard for Automatic Residential Garage Door Operators for reference)
7. Professional Installation:
While choosing the right garage door is crucial, proper installation is equally important. Hire a professional installer with experience in handling the specific challenges posed by Lubbock’s weather. Garage Doors are not easy to install. They are heavy and come with a lot of parts. We appreciate the thrifty DIY homeowner, we do a lot of DIY on our own homes, but there are just some things that should be left to the professionals. We receive more stories of DIY garage door installation gone wrong than we want to hear, all of which could have been avoided if the homeowners called a professional in the first place.
There are many garage door companies in Lubbock, some are great, and others we wouldn’t recommend. What it comes down to is experience and service. There is a shortage of experienced garage door installers all across the country but we are fortunate to have a team of very experienced and highly trained installers and office staff who truly understand our products and the services we provide. We also try our very best to solve any issue before recommending a replacement of a garage door, garage door opener, or any part.
8. Budget Considerations:
Set a realistic budget for your garage door project. Consider the long-term costs, including maintenance and energy efficiency, when making your decision. Replacing your garage door isn’t cheap — you can expect to pay anywhere from $600 to $1200 per door and sometimes more. This depends on the material you choose and other options like size and style —even color options can impact the price. Here’s a short article and video if you want to know more about the factors that impact the price of a garage door.
Consider All Your Options
Selecting the right garage door for your Lubbock home involves careful consideration of climate, materials, insulation, style, and security features. By taking these factors into account, you can ensure that your garage door not only enhances the curb appeal of your Lubbock home but also withstands the challenging weather conditions of the region.
