Modern American homes no longer feature facades with pillars
and porches, but broad expanses of a garage door. Curb appeal is not just the
landscape these days, but the condition of the garage door. Many homeowners use
this entrance, though fewer visitors will enter though this door.
To make the home more inviting, keep it clean. Corners of
garage doors are often shaded and can attract spider webs. Rain can splatter
dust and dirt up from the ground. Just as one thinks to spring clean the inside
of the house. Remember to spring clean the outside and most importantly the
garage door. Often when one is working in the garage in the spring and summer
the door is open and the face of the house is out of sight. Out of sight can
lead it to be out of mind as well, but insects can leave dirt that could stain
and be harder to remove when ignored for long periods of time. Also the lowered
door will trap cool air and moisture which encourages bugs to creep in.
Sweeping this space regularly will help to keep critters at bay.
Also don't neglect the cobwebs that might spread in the
rails. If the rails are being swept really often to keep the cobwebs at bay
perhaps a little lubricant might be useful to keep things moving smoothly. If
the garage door has not been inspected or maintained well, one could schedule a
garage door service to inspect the whole system.
Once the structure is sound and clean take a step back from
the house. Walk across the street even and look at the whole house and see how
the garage door fits into the home. Did the trim of the house get repainted but
the door was neglected. Could the wood trim surrounding the door be refreshed.
Remember that modern garage doors may not be made or wood, but a plastic dyed then
molded. The paint might have faded or stained as opposed to the plastic which
should have resisted staining.
If the door needs to be painted or replaced, contact a
garage door service for help. An owner can and should ask for advice regarding
materials and methods of painting the door, even if the owners want to do it
themselves. Professionals will often offer friendly advice for small tasks in
order to set up a good reputation when the bigger tasks come along.
Consider how the landscaping compliments the door. Could some flower pots on either side of the
door or doors continue the green-scaping
already started in the lawn. Eagles used
to be ever present decorations on a home. Today's homeowners are opting for
large stars. Some homeowners have chosen five pointed stars painted with a flag
motif, others might prefer shiny, silver 6 pointed stars. Someone who travels a
lot may prefer a 8 pointed compass rose. Whatever your choice it can help add
decoration to brighten any home.
Most important is keeping the front of the house, including
the garage door, fresh and clean.