5 Exterior Home Design Trends for 2021

Is one of your New Year’s resolutions to improve the curb appeal of your home? Maybe you’re planning to put your house on the market and need to make a few upgrades before listing it. Or perhaps a new garage door has been on your family’s “want it” list for long enough that it’s time to finally pull the trigger and make it happen

Whatever the reason, you’ll want to make sure that any changes you make are on trend. Now that 2021 is underway, here’s a peek at five exterior design trends we’ll all be seeing a lot of in the coming months.

Natural Light

Natural light is very trendy right now, and one of the best ways to enhance the natural light inside a home is to add windows. Of course, adding windows to a house is a big project that you may not be able to take on. Easier options include removing shutters to highlight existing windows or installing a full-view glass garage door.

Back to Nature

Wooden garage doors will continue to increase in popularity as we enter 2021 and more homeowners choose this natural alternative to metal and plastic. There are many different wood options to choose from, such as timber and oak, and plenty of stains to find the perfect look for your home. The wood goes through special processing to enhance durability and practicality.

Painting Brick

Homeowners are finally coming around to the conclusion that there’s nothing wrong with painting brick. In fact, a white coat of paint can really modernize the look of a brick exterior and enhance curb appeal. If you’ve been itching to try this but haven’t had the confidence to move forward, 2021 is the year to go for it.

Mixing Brown and Black

Much like painting brick, it was once considered a design faux pas to combine black and brown. But 2021 is all about stepping outside the box. It’s even okay to mix black with navy blue if that’s more your style. If you’re going to try combining these trending exterior house colors, just be sure to choose shades that contrast well enough that it looks intentional.

Statement Garage Doors

Garage doors are such a prominent part of a home’s exterior that homeowners are deciding basic and traditional just won’t cut it. Experts are predicting that 2021 will be the year of statement garage doors. Don’t be afraid to venture outside your comfort zone when looking at garage door colors and designs. You may be surprised to find that you even prefer a bolder look.

No matter where your design tastes bring you in 2021, Champion Overhead Door is here to help you with everything from garage door color ideas to installation. We carry doors built by topline brands like C.H.I. Overhead Doors, Wayne Dalton and Amarr Garage Doors so you can feel confident that you’re getting the best in quality design. Contact Champion Overhead Door today to learn more about our commercial and residential garage door services.

Everything You Need to Know About Garage Snow Removal

There are three certainties in life: death, taxes and endless New England winters. Unfortunately, there’s not much we can do about the first two, but we do have some valuable insights on how to make it through winter with your garage door intact. Trust us, the last thing you want is to be running late to work one morning only to discover that your garage door is frozen shut

A few weeks ago, we shared our expert advice on how to winterize a garage. Today, we’re going to shift the focus to garage door winter maintenance. It’s actually pretty easy to take care of your garage door during the winter, as long as you know how to best approach ice and snow removal. Here’s what we recommend to our residential and commercial customers each winter.

Remove ice from the threshold. Have you ever found your garage door frozen shut? It’s probably because you let ice accumulate along the threshold. This is more than just an inconvenience—it can also damage the garage door. When ice forms on the threshold, the opener must work extra hard, which can lead to alignment problems or potentially even overheating of the mechanism. To prevent this from happening, be sure to clear any ice before closing your garage door.

Shovel away all snow. Along the same lines as removing ice from the threshold, you want to avoid closing your garage door if there is any snow in its path. This will trigger the automatic reverse mechanism so that the door won’t be able to close. In the event that the door does close, there’s a chance it will freeze shut, or that the debris that accumulates in the snow will damage it.

Plow with care. Whether you hire a professional for snow removal or you plow the driveway yourself, be sure to leave space in front of the garage door. Snow plows can be challenging to maneuver, so it’s important to take extra care when plowing near the garage. Each winter, garage doors are damaged by snow plows. The holidays are crazy enough without having to worry about a sudden garage door replacement!

Consider a weather-resistant garage door. Here in New England, we simply do not have the luxury of mild winters. While homeowners in milder climates can get away with just any garage door material, folks in New England often fare better with a weather-resistant option built to withstand months of snow and ice. These doors tend to last longer with fewer issues, so they are generally worth any additional upfront cost. At Champion Overhead Door, we carry products from topline brands like C.H.I. Overhead Door, Wayne Dalton and Amarr. We’re happy to go over weather-resistant garage door options with you anytime.

Hopefully by following the recommendations outlined above, you won’t experience any problems with your garage door this winter. But if you do, Champion Overhead Door is here for you. We even offer 24-hour emergency service should you find yourself in a real bind. Contact us at 802-251-0900 for general inquiries, or at 802-579-8301 for more information about our emergency service.

6 Festive Garage Door Décor Ideas for the Holidays

I think we can all agree that 2020 has been less than ideal—to say the least. With winter descending upon us, we could all use some extra holiday cheer this season. No matter how you celebrate, here are some of our favorite garage door décor ideas to get you feeling merry and bright.

Cover your garage door with a mural. Are you a “go big or go home” kind of person? Well, then this is the option for you. Make a statement this holiday season by covering your entire garage door with a garage door mural. We love this gorgeous holiday mural from Wayfair for a few reasons: 1) it won’t interfere with the functionality of the garage door, 2) it uses a hook attachment that goes over the garage door so that it won’t cause any damage and 3) it’s reusable.

Apply vinyl stickers or magnets. Depending on the material of your garage door, weather-resistant stickers or magnets can be a cheap, fun way to get into the holiday spirit—no crazy tools required! Magnetic garage door decorations, like this festive collection from Amazon, are ideal for the door itself. Just be sure to test the door first to see if magnets will even stick to it. If your garage door has windows, vinyl stickers are a great option. Check the packaging to make sure you’re buying reusable décor so you can enjoy it for years to come.

String holiday lights. If you’re aiming to be the brightest house on the block this December, don’t forget the garage door! Hanging holiday lights to frame your garage door is a brilliant way to check the box for garage door holiday decorations.

Put up a holiday wreath. Sometimes less is more. Those who prefer an elegant and tasteful holiday display can’t go wrong with a simple holiday wreath. Hanging a wreath on the garage door itself would interfere with the functionality, so consider instead having one prominent wreath featured above the center of the garage or two smaller wreaths framing the sides of the door.

Hang garland. Holiday garland is a classic way to transform the outside of your home for the holidays. This decorative greenery is commonly found on fences, lampposts, front doors and—yes—even around garages! Frame your garage door with a simple holiday garland, or consider adding red bows and white lights to glam it up.

Use a projector. Festive holiday décor without having to get out the ladder and hang anything? Sign us up! With a Christmas light projector, you can shine lights directly onto your garage door with little effort. Change the setting every night of the week to enjoy a variety of bright displays that will get the whole neighborhood into the holiday spirit.

Do you have something fun planned for your garage door this holiday season? Our team here at Champion Overhead Door would love to see it! We’ll be posting our favorite displays during the month of December. Share a picture with us on our Facebook for a chance to be featured on our page.

7 Items You Should Never Store in a Garage

When you think of a garage, what’s one of the first things that comes to mind? Storage. A garage is commonly used as a convenient storage space for a variety of different items. There’s a lot of talk out there about what to store in your garage and how to best utilize this space, but the fact of the matter is that a garage is not the best environment for just anything.

Here are seven items to avoid storing in your garage.

Firewood

You might think that storing firewood in your garage is the ideal place for it; easy enough for you to grab some without even having to venture outside on those cold, snowy nights. But it’s important not to give in to this temptation! Not only is storing firewood in your garage a potential fire hazard, it’s also a great way to attract pests that can ultimately make their way into your home. Your best bet is to stack firewood on an elevated rack outdoors, being sure to cover it with a tarp to prevent moisture.

Propane Tanks

If you’ve been wondering where to store propane tanks at home, the answer is: outdoors! The garage is a convenient storage space for many barbecue items, but propane shouldn’t be one of them. Even the slightest leak could result in an explosion, so it’s always better to err on the side of caution.

Canned Food

SA garage seems like a reasonable spot to store the overflow of canned goods that won’t fit inside the pantry or cupboards, but unfortunately doing so goes against all sorts of health guidelines. For example, the USDA recommends storing canned foods in a cool, dry location, of which a garage is often neither. If it’s not the dampness causing the cans to rust, there’s a good chance that the temperature of the garage is high enough to spoil the contents inside.

How to Winterize Your Garage

Now that November is here, winter is just around the corner. It’s hard to ever feel fully prepared for the onslaught of snow, ice, slush and freezing temperatures, but the more you plan ahead, the easier it is to deal with when it arrives. There are many areas of your home that need to be prepped for winter, and winterizing your garage shoould always be on the list!

In today’s blog post, we’ll share our top recommendations for how to winterize a garage.

Weatherize doors and windows. One of the easiest ways to keep cold air out of your garage is to replace any cracked weather-stripping, making sure that a tight seal forms when entry doors are closed. We also recommend scraping cracked caulking from your windows and re-filling any gaps. Once these tasks are complete, check your work by holding the flame from a lighter or match near the seals. If the flame moves, that means air is still coming in.

Insulate your garage walls. This certainly isn’t necessary for every homeowner, but if you plan to use your garage as a workspace this winter, you’ll be glad you did it. By adding insulation to your garage walls, you can create a controlled environment that’ll stay mild on its own or even warmer with the use of a space heater. As an added bonus, insulating your garage walls can help you save on utility bills and even prevent pipes from freezing.

Refinish your garage floor. A smooth garage floor can be dangerous combined with all the moisture that accumulates on the bottoms of your shoes during the winter. It’s a prime condition for slipping and falling. One way to prevent this is to refinish your garage floor with a no-slip coating of epoxy or liquid stone. This is especially recommended if there are elderly people or young children living in the home.

Winterize garage items. Different categories of items that you store in the garage require their own unique preparation for winter. Be sure not to overlook this. Liquids and chemicals should be kept at a certain temperature so that they don’t freeze. Metal tools should be protected from moisture so that they don’t rust. Taking the time to do this in the beginning of the season will be beneficial in the long-run.

Inspect your garage door. Now is a good time to inspect your garage door for any obvious signs of damage or wear and tear. It’s always smart to have those issues resolved before the snow comes. If you’re insulating your garage walls, you can also insulate the garage door while you’re at it. Don’t feel comfortable inspecting your garage door yourself? No problem! At Champion Overhead Door, we’re standing by ready to assist with any garage door services you may need as you prepare for winter. Contact us today to learn more about the residential and commercial services we provide to customers in parts of Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts.