When you drive past your home, what is the first thing that you notice about your place? If your garage door faces the street, those panels might make up a decent percentage of your home's exterior façade. Unfortunately, if your garage door was plain in the first place or has sustained damage over the years, it might make your home look unkempt or dated. Fortunately, you might be able to transform that entryway by making a few changes. Here are two great ways to give your garage door a makeover:

1: Give It A Fresh Coat of Paint

If you have a traditional metal garage door, then you know how hard the weather can be on those panels. Sand and dirt can smack against your garage door during windstorms, slowly eroding away the paint that protects the underlying metal. Unfortunately, once metal has been exposed, it is only a matter of time until the area rusts. Fortunately, you might be able to resurrect that garage door and protect it from further damage by grabbing a little exterior paint and a few rollers.

Believe it or not, you can paint your garage door just like the rest of your house. Follow these steps to ensure a professional looking paint job:

  • Clean: If you paint over dirt or grime, the paint might flake away later. Before you get started, wash and rinse your garage door to remove any loose sediment. After you are finished, dry the door thoroughly with a clean towel. 
  • Sand: Using a piece of fine-grit sandpaper, sand areas where paint has flaked or bubbled. If you have time, go over the entire exterior with sandpaper. The tiny divots that the sandpaper creates will help the paint to stick to the door.
  • Prime: After the door has been sanded, paint the entire exterior with a primer designed to treat metal surfaces. 
  • Paint: Once your door is primed, it is time to paint. Use a fine bristled brush to paint the recessed parts of the garage door before you tackle the larger, flatter areas with rollers. As you brush on the paint, be careful not to let paint gather between the panels, or they might stick together.

To keep dirt and leaves from sticking to your freshly painted garage door, check the weather before you start your project. Try to avoid rainy or windy days that might compromise your results.

2: Add Faux Windows

Does your garage door look blank and boring? If that older garage door doesn't blend into the rest of your exterior design or simply looks like a cheap model, you should consider adding a few faux windows.

Unlike real garage door windows, which can be difficult and time-intensive to install, faux windows are essentially panels that can be screwed directly to the outside of your garage door. These panels contain darkly tinted glass where natural glass would be, which hides the fact that the windows actually cover a solid garage door. Faux garage door windows are also made to fit the exact measurements of most standard garage door panels, which means you won't have to worry about them looking out of place. The panel sections of faux windows can also be painted just like the rest of your garage door, should you need to make any color changes in the future.

If you are worried about the cost of installing faux windows, you shouldn't be. A window kit for a single-car garage typically costs around $150, which means that you can completely transform the look of your double-car garage for as little as $300.

You never know. A fresh, updated garage door might make your home the envy of the entire neighborhood. 

For more information or professional assistance, contact local garage door companies, such as A AAA Allstate Door Company.

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