Selecting the Best Garage Door

November 10th, 2008 — Aesthetics, Curb Appeal, Design, Doors, Garage, Handy Man, Outside 

garage-doorToday, we have so many options when it comes to picking a garage door that it can be a bit overwhelming. However, there are a few guidelines and tips you can use to make the selection process a lot easier. Let’s take a look at the four main types of doors, as well as their benefits and downsides.

1. Roller Doors -

If your space is at a premium in your garage, or you don’t want to have to install tracks for the door this is the best option. The door will simply roll up into a big ball when it goes up. This means that the material used is a little more flexible than the average door, so it may not be as durable as other kinds. However, if you’re looking for an easy installation and you don’t have a lot of space, this is a great choice. This type of door works well with most garage door openers, especially the ones that are mounted on the wall above the door, instead of in the middle of the garage ceiling.

2. Sectional Doors -

This is a hybrid between the roller door and a standard door. It’s made of several sections that are hinged together and the material is usually quite rigid and durable. This type of door became very popular in higher end housing communities where it was important to match the style of the door to the style of the house. These doors come in many different colors and materials. They will be raised like a traditional garage door, so you will need to install tracking for it. These take up quite a bit of headroom in your garage and will require an opener that is placed in the center of the garage ceiling. This type of door will work best in garages where there is a lot of headroom and space.

3. Tilting Doors -

These are not as popular as they once were, but you can still find them. If you have a Craftsman style or other type of older home and you want to retain that “old” feel, this is a very good choice. They don’t use a lot of headroom and are pretty easy to install. They will require tracks however and normally, this type of door will not work with an opener. Practically any kind of material can be used for this type of door and you’ll be able to match it to your home’s exterior quite well.

4. Flexi Doors -

These are sold under various brand names, but the general concept is that they are made of flexible material and fit onto a curved track. These work well in garages where there is not a lot of headroom, or in garages that had older style doors that needed to be replaced. They are available in a variety of different materials and are usually pretty durable. Overall, this is probably the best door for most homes and it’s the easiest to maintain.

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Review of Trim Carpentry and Built-Ins

July 11th, 2008 — Book Review, Trim, carpentry 

Taunton is a well known DIY publisher and their latest book, Trim Carpentry and Built-Ins is the perfect read for any DIY’er or owner of an older home. You’ll find just about everything you could ever want to know about trim - how to make it, how to take care of it and how to add more into your home. As the title suggests, built-ins are covered and there is some great advice in there for homeowners with Craftsman style interiors or even just a few built-ins.

Although the book is relatively small, don’t let its size fool you. There is a lot of information packed into its 166 pages. You’ll find plenty of diagrams and illustrations to make the projects easier and overall the visual presentation is very impressive. Too many DIY books don’t include enough of these, but chances are you won’t be disappointed with this one.

Each chapter in the book deals with a specific type of trim or built-in. You’ll start off however with project planning and this is an invaluable resource that will help any aspiring carpenter get their project laid out. You’ll be able to map out absolutely everything you’ll need to do and there are some great time saving tips in this section as well. The book even shows you how to draw your own designs and work from these plans, making it well worth the cover price.

Next, you’ll be moving on to the different types of materials that trim can be made of. This is an interesting discussion and you’ll learn a lot about the differences and which materials should be used for specific trim projects. If you’re entirely new to trim, this is a very helpful chapter. However, even seasoned pros can get something out of it.

Windows are also covered and this is a fantastic chapter if you are trying to restore an older home and want to be able to mimic the trim and keep that old feel even though you are using new materials. You’ll learn a lot about the process of designing, making and adding trim to your windows, both inside and out.

The chapters on baseboards and crown molding are also very useful and you’ll get some really great time saving tips that can be used on your next project. If you find this type of carpentry difficult, and many do, you’ll find out exactly what techniques you need to be using to pull off the job without a hitch. The section on wainscoting is incredibly useful if you are looking for a unique way to finish off a room and give its own unique character.

The next few sections deal exclusively with built-ins and you’ll learn not only which materials are best suited for certain projects, but also how to build a basic bookshelf that is much safer than a freestanding model as well as how to make your own cabinets. Overall, this is a book that is well worth the read.

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