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.

How to Match Your Garage Door to Your Home

One of the first things people will notice when they pull up to your house is your garage, so as far as curb appeal goes, selecting the right garage door is important. This involves not only choosing from the many garage door styles and colors, but making sure that whatever you select matches your home.

There are a few key considerations to make when looking for that perfect match. First, you’ll want to match the garage door with the color of your house, then you’ll want to confirm that the garage door style is similar to the style of your home. Finally, you’ll need to pick a garage door that works with the surroundings.

In today’s blog post, we’ll explore each of one of these in more detail so that you can feel confident in matching your garage door to your home.

Matching the House Color

When talking exterior home colors, there are three main parts to consider: the field color (the color of the house), the trim (window frames, door frames) and the accent (entry door, shutters). It may be that depending on the placement of your garage door, you can go with the accent or trim color. Whichever one needs balancing. Of course, there’s always classic white, or trendy charcoal. And if you want to make your house look bigger, we recommend painting your garage door the same color as the house.

Matching the Style

Just as there are many different styles of homes, there are also many different styles of garage doors. The key here is to keep the styles consistent. For example, you wouldn’t typically see barn style garage doors on a contemporary house, but they would look perfect on a farmhouse style home. Contemporary minimalist architecture, on the other hand, lends itself nicely to a glass-paneled garage door or another smooth material—anything with clean lines. A garage door professional can give you an overview of all the garage door styles and help point you in the right direction.

Matching the Surroundings

When choosing from different styles of garage doors, it’s always smart to think about your surroundings. This includes everything from the vibe of your neighborhood to the climate. A bright pop of salmon might be perfect for a Florida home near the beach with palm trees to complement it, but you’d be less likely to see a color like that on a quaint New England dirt road. As for the environment, locations that experience extreme weather do well with insulated doors that are sturdy and durable, while homeowners in milder climates can get away with choosing lighter materials.

Are you ready to update your home with a new garage door? At Champion Overhead Door, we carry products from C.H.I. Overhead Door, General Doors, Amarr, Wayne Dalton and Haas Doors. No matter what style or color you have in mind, we can certainly help you find something that turns your vision into a reality. And if you need guidance sorting through the array of options, we’re happy to provide our professional opinions. Contact us today to learn more!