Pittsburgh Garage Doors

The type of garage door you have can actually play a role in how your garage is used. Certainly, putting a car there can be done even if no door is present, but as today's homeowners need to get the most out of their space, the modern garage has become more than just a mere parking spot. Many garages are now used not just for vehicle storage, but as a storage space for many other things. In some cases, the space gets used as a workshop, office, or even an extra bedroom or small apartment. If you are already using your garage to do something other than keep the snow off your car (or are thinking of using it in a less traditional manner in the future), finding the right garage door is essential.

Pittsburgh Garage Doors for a Storage Space
Next to vehicle storage, storing household items is probably the second most common task for a garage. While the type of door you use in this situation isn't entirely inconsequential, you have a lot of leeway here when compared to some other scenarios. Other than having a door that functions smoothly, a lock and a tight seal to keep water from seeping in are the only features you have to look for when comparing different models.

Pittsburgh Garage Doors for a Home Office or Workshop
If you are planning on converting the space in your garage into a place where you'll be spending a lot of time, the criteria for a good door are a little stricter. A Pittsburgh garage door is going to have to deal with a fair amount of cold weather, and if you're planning on having people in that space for long periods of time, that door better be able to keep some heat inside. Here, you need to look for a door with a decent R-value. A lower R-value means less insulation. While milder climates might only require an R-value of 3 or 4, for a Pittsburgh garage door that's meant to block out winter weather, an R-value of 10 should provide excellent insulation.

Converting a Garage to a Living Area
If you're planning to convert the space above a garage into a spare room, you can probably get away with simply installing a door with a good R-value. If you want to convert the whole thing into a living space, you must first decide how permanent you want this room to be. A garage conversion that is meant to go the distance should probably have the door removed altogether and the opening left sealed for good.

Types of Garage Doors
The most common, and usually the most economical, garage doors are made of steel. The least expensive models are formed from a single layer of steel and provide very little insulation. A double layer steel door is the same as a single layer model except that it has an insulate backing on the inside. Triple layer doors have an insulate layer sandwiched in between two layers of steel.

Wooden garage doors are less common than steel and are generally purchased more for looks than for function. They come in a wide variety of styles and shapes and can provide a beautiful accent to your home, but are less practical than their steel counterparts. Vinyl garage doors are a newer alternative to steel or wood. They never need to be painted and resist minor impacts, but some lower end vinyl doors might not be a good choice for Pittsburgh, as vinyl becomes very brittle in cold climates.

Prices of Garage Work
To install a new garage door, Pittsburgh residents should expect a bill between $1,000 and $2,000. Repairs range from $300 to $700. The national average cost of building a new garage is a little over $20,000, and the average for remodels is just over $10,000.