6 Easy Garage Cleaning Tips for the Overwhelmed

Posted October 14, 2016 by Amarr Garage Doors

Facing down a jam-packed garage? If you’re feeling defeated before you’ve even begun, this garage cleaning tip guide is for you. By breaking a mountain of a task into bite-size pieces, you can bring your out-of-control-messy garage into focus. We offer baby steps to getting started, smart storage tips and more. Before you know it, you will have transformed a chaotic, stressful space into a functional, organized storage area.

organized garage with cabinets and shelving systems

Tip 1: Be realistic

If you stop thinking about cleaning out the garage as a big task that must be completed in one go, it takes a lot of the pressure off. Each step you take to clean out your garage makes it measurably better than where you started. This is why tossing perfection as a goal out the window. If it’s better than before, that’s a win. Also, by breaking your tasks down into manageable chunks, you eventually can have a clean, clear garage like this one, while feeling a great sense of accomplishment.

Tip 2: Survey Your Space

Take a step back and truly look at what you have and what you want to achieve. Don’t worry about sorting or removing anything yet. Simply have a good look around and note what you see. You might want to make a list, take some photographs, or both. Do whatever helps you feel more organized and in control of the process.

Tip 3: Create a Local Resource List

Look over the notes or photos you made during your survey, and make a list of the types of items you plan to get rid of. Once you know what you have, you can begin to figure out where it will all go. Perhaps you need to rent a refuse container to collect trash, find a consignment store to drop off clothes or schedule a pickup of donations for a local charitable organization. Having these details charted out in advance will make the rest of the process feel more organized. Or you can always hire a helper to help you complete your project more quickly.

Tip 4: Invest in a Proper Storage Setup

If you can, invest in some storage cabinets and wall-mounted storage units. This will make a huge difference in how accessible your stored items are and help protect them over time. It’s also a good idea to begin transferring your stored items from old cardboard boxes into sturdier containers meant for long-term storage. Plastic bins work well for hard items (like children’s toys and holiday lights), but textiles and papers are best kept in archival containers designed for this purpose.

garage storage cabinets and ceiling storage

The Best Garage Storage Units to Consider:

Overhead. If you have a lot to store and space is tight, consider using overhead space to stow away some of your least-frequently used items (like holiday decor) in lidded bins. Overhead storage racks need to be securely mounted for safety, so it’s best to have a pro put them in.
Wall-mounted. Keeping gear and bins off the floor is one of the best ways to prevent moisture damage and save floor space.
Locked cabinets. These are essential for safely storing materials like antifreeze, motor oil, pesticides and other chemicals that could harm children or pets if ingested.

Tip 5: Move Frequently Used Gear Near the Entrance

If you ride bikes and play ball every weekend, it doesn’t make sense to have to trek to the back of the garage to retrieve your gear each time you need it. Keep these items along a wall close to the entrance and outfit it with storage that fits the purpose For example, bike hooks for bikes, wire mesh baskets for balls, shelves for gardening supplies, etc.

New York garage with organization cabinets and rack sysems

Tip 6: Keep It Going

The key to keeping your garage organized and clutter-free long-term is to view it as an important, useful space; not a dumping ground for random items. The garage, along with other areas of your home, can be easily sustained if you follow an easy yearly home maintenance guideline. Clutter tends to breed more clutter! Keep that in mind next time you are tempted to stash away a few more “good” cardboard boxes, keep that Christmas present you hate (but are afraid to get rid of) or hold onto that broken blender you might one day fix.

Once you get your garage nice and organized, determining if your garage doors are up to par or could use some TLC to protect or showcase your hard work is a logical next step!

Check Out Before and After Photos

Original Post by Laura Gaskill; Images Provided by Houzz

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Not Just for Cars: 3 Types of Garage Doors for the Home

Posted August 12, 2016 by Amarr Garage Doors

By Killy Scheer, Houzz

We generally think about garage doors from the outside, but many homeowners have bought a little more space by turning garages into rooms, and a host of creative designers and architects have either transformed existing garages or introduced the garage door aesthetic to traditional rooms. If you’re thinking of taking the plunge and investing in a garage door for a nontraditional use, invest in an insulated door. In addition to keeping the cold out, insulated doors can help mitigate noise.

6 Incredible Garage Conversions

Pros:

Light
Space-saving without swings
Increased value (if you’re converting a garage, updating the door tastefully can boost your home’s value by enhancing curb appeal, for starters. But if you’re insulating the garage, you can bet that you’re adding equity!)

Cons:

Added expense for nontraditional opening
Added expense to ensure insulation
Opportunity for bugs, dust, leaves, etc., to fly in

See more modern exterior designs

Single panel up-and-over doors. As the name implies, up-and-over garage doors tilt outward, then lift up. When open, these doors align with the ceiling. While the swing-out feature requires extra space outside for clearance, the panel may provide a little awning above, as in this photo, which is a nice feature for those days when you want sun, but could use a little mitigation.

Browse Awnings & Shade Sails

Modern Living Room contemporary-living-room

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Double-height spaces benefit tremendously from garage doors; traditional windows are often too low to help with cross breeze in high spaces, and clerestory windows don’t always open, making open-plan upstairs areas a little stuffy. The large scale of the garage doors, combined with the height they reach, makes them a great solution to keep air flowing through an entire house.

Sectional doors. The most common type of garage door is the sectional, which is constructed of panels that slide up and overhead. Sectional doors have two distinct advantages over more monolithic single-panel doors: they don’t require any space outside the garage to open and each panel has its own connection to the door track, increasing sturdiness.

Contemporary Living Room contemporary-living-room

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Dueling sectional garage doors open this space up tremendously and would foster an impressive cross breeze.

Modern Living Room industrial-living-room

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Glass doors. Glass garage doors have become much more common in residential applications. Typically, the doors are constructed in a paneled design with a grid pattern separating the panes of glass. The grids can be fabricated from wood or metal, similar to window frames. The glass on these doors is designed to be strong and tamper-resistant, with several opacity options from which to choose, including clear, frosted and tinted colors. There are also solar treatments that encourage thermal heat gain.

Glass is the preferred material for those converting garages into rooms or studios, and certainly for those installing garage doors in unconventional spaces because of their clean, modern aesthetic and the fact that they act as an enormous window when closed, bringing in all kinds of natural light.

Find Amarr in Houzz’s Directory of Garage Door Manufacturers

Traditional Garage And Shed traditional-shed

See more traditional shed designs

While garage doors are great for looking out from within, don’t forget the view from outside looking in! How cozy does this wine country dining room and kitchen look?

Studio and Office contemporary-home-office

Photo by User. See more contemporary home office designs

This Yountville, Calif., architecture home office is sure to inspire almost anyone.

How would you use a garage door in your home? Let us know in the comments below!

Entrematic Celebrates 85 Door Centers

Posted July 29, 2016 by Amarr Garage Doors

Entrematic celebrated our coast-to-coast service with the opening of our 85^th Door Center in Kansas City, Kansas throughout the week of July 25, 2016.

The Kansas City Door Center held their first ever Open House on July 26, 2016 and had over 30 garage door dealers from the area attend the event. In addition to the dealers, Entrematic Team Members from Marketing, IT, Sales, Operations, and Customer Service also attended, as well as representatives from LiftMaster, Linear, Janus and Cookson.

Attendees at the open house enjoyed a BBQ lunch from Zarda BBQ, a Kansas City favorite. The Door Center also served a delicious cake to celebrate our 85 Door Centers and coast-to-coast service!

Check out the photos from some of the Entrematic celebrations below!

Dealers learned more about Amarr garage doors at our Open House in Kansas City on July 26, 2016.

Kansas City Team Members pose with their Open House cake. Pictured from Left to Right: John Henderson, District Service Manager; Shannon Brown, General Manager; Dewan White, Warehouse; Drew Reno, Sales Manager; Luke Whittemore, Service Manager.

Our Edmonton Door Center Team Members took time to pose with their commemorative gifts and cake. Pictured from Left to Right: Brad Vestby, Office Assistant; Mike Deslauriers, Warehouse; Rob White, Warehouse; Cathy Coppick, Office Assistant; Darlene Holden, General Manager.

From one corner of the continent to another, Team Members at our Tampa Door Center also celebrated with their commemorative gifts and cake. Pictured from Left to Right: Josh Urbanek, Team Leader; Penni Engleman, Office Assistant; Michael Leonardis, Warehouse; Jose Torres, Management Trainee; Robert Gibson, Warehouse; Robert Weil, Service Manager.

Entrematic’s Lawrence, Kansas manufacturing facility celebrated by hosting a cookout. Production managers grilled up hamburgers and hot dogs for approximately 800 Team Members!

Entrematic’s Winston-Salem, North Carolina Support Center also celebrated the opening of the 85th Door Center with a cake large enough to feed all 90 of their Team Members!

WSSC Team Members also received gifts, and the atrium area was decked out for the celebration.

Thank you to everyone who attended these events and celebrated with us!

A New Look for the Overlooked Garage Door

Posted July 18, 2016 by Amarr Garage Doors

By Natalie Myers, Houzz

Sheepishly, we admit the garage door is one of the last things we think about when it comes to home updating projects. If it’s not broken, why fix it? Which leaves us with standard inexpensive doors that look exactly like the one the neighbors have. But there is a world of modern garage doors that not only increase your curb appeal, but may inspire you to use your garage as another living space.

Photo by Jeffrey Gordon Smith Landscape Architecture. See more contemporary exterior designs

The first image of the modern garage door that comes to mind is the frosted-glass-and-aluminum type. It fits into standard garage openings, so it’s an easy way to make your home stand out and look more modern without requiring much else be done to the landscaping or driveway.

Photo by Ian Moore Architects. See more industrial garage designs

This style garage door is not only for the suburbs. It can looks thoroughly urban in a small and narrow city dwelling. The rows and columns of glass panels will have to be adjusted for the atypically tall and narrow opening. When there is a will there is way, and this designer made it work.

jewell - exterior from street modern-exterior

Photo by Architects Magnus. See more modern exterior designs

The nighttime glow inside this garage is obscured by frosted glass and a layer of wood slats, creating a nice interplay of hide and reveal.

Fulcrum Structural Engineering contemporary-exterior

Photo by Fulcrum Structural Engineering. See more contemporary exterior designs

Glass and aluminum garage doors not for you? This gorgeous wood garage door camouflages with the rest of house’s wood facade and feels luxurious. Also, the horizontal wood application on this garage door gets the royal treatment with a wood trellis overhang. The shade provided by the trellis would allow the driveway to serve double duty as an outdoor social space.

Photo by HP Rovinelli Architects. See more transitional garage designs

More wood garage doors, this time the wood is applied vertically to integrate with the home’s wood columns.

Photo by PLACE architect ltd.. See more industrial dining room designs

Of course, garage doors need not only be used on garages. In this modular prefab home, a garage door serves as a floor-to-ceiling window that can be raised to create an al fresco dining experience.

Big or small, new construction or remodel, there are multiple ways to dress up your garage doors and make an architectural statement. Do you have an unusual garage door? Tell us about it in the comments!

Entrematic Celebrates 4th of July

Posted July 1, 2016 by Amarr Garage Doors

To kick off 4th of July weekend here in the United States, Entrematic had a cookout luncheon at the Winston-Salem Support Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina! Team Members enjoyed delicious hot dogs in our red, white, and blue kitchen, followed by a rousing game of water balloon toss. Check out the photos from the event below!

Team Members lined up to load their plates for the Independence Day lunch.

Hot dogs, condiments, chips, and cookies were all available.

The hot dogs were cooked by our master chefs, Steve Crawford (CIO) and Jeff Mick (President).

Each pair tossed the balloon back and forth, widening the gap each time, being careful not to burst the balloon!

After lunch, Team Members lined up to play a game of water balloon toss. Each pair tossed the balloon back and forth, widening the gap each time, being careful not to burst the balloon!

Happy 4th of July from all of us at Entrematic!

A Historic Garage Expands for Storage and Parties

Posted June 17, 2016 by Amarr Garage Doors

By Mitchell Parker, Houzz

Like a lot of major renovation projects, Mark and Becky Uranga’s began with the desire to fix just one small thing. They wanted to install electric garage doors in their historic Boise, Idaho, garage, which had carriage-style doors they had to open by hand. But to install the new doors, they had to raise the roof a bit to make room. While they were at it, they saw the potential to turn the 1908 structure into something really special. Before they knew it, their small project became a significant update and included an extension of the garage for better storage and the occasional square-dancing keg party.

A Historic Garage Grows for Storage and Parties

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BEFORE: The Urangas think the garage, shown here just after work started, was once a caretaker’s house, because they discovered a chimney flue inside. There are also rumors that the structure and surrounding houses were once used to run a moonshine processing and distribution ring during Prohibition and were connected by secret underground tunnels. So far, the couple hasn’t found any hidden passageways.

The original doors were just about hanging off, and the structure was far from weathertight. “Any cat in the neighborhood could hole up in that garage if they needed to,” says architect Amy Cook, who helped the Urangas design the update and work with the local historic preservation society on the permitting process.

Historic Garage Remodel craftsman-garage

Photo by King Building & Remodeling LLC. See more craftsman garage designs

AFTER: Cook and contractor Jon King raised the roof and extended the back of the structure to double its size. The Urangas now use the extra space to store lawnmowers, bikes, skis, strollers and gardening supplies, and for entertaining.

The couple got their new electric doors. Because the opening wasn’t a standard size, King came up with the solution of adding transom windows to make the doors fit. “It gives a contemporary feel without looking anachronistic at all,” Cook says.

Photo by King Building & Remodeling LLC. See more craftsman garage designs

A hayloft acts as storage for Mark’s boats and rafts. A pulley swings out to allow the couple to get things up to and down from the crawl space.

Photo by King Building & Remodeling LLC. See more rustic shed designs

The extended portion of the garage opens to the backyard. The couple uses the extension for storage and for parties. In fact, the barn-like setting was perfect for a friend’s recent wedding. The Urangas turned the space into a party spot and had a square dance caller come in.

The couple recycled the original carriage doors and hung them barn-door-style at the rear. The walls stayed exactly the same as the day they were put up, but Cook changed out the roof and added new doors and windows.

The historic designation also limited the couple and architect to using only high-quality materials, which makes the garage much more appealing but also added to the cost. All the windows had to be wood framed. Vinyl siding wasn’t allowed. “It needed to look like it could have been there all along,” Cook says.

Because of the garage’s age, the couple had to completely upgrade the utilities feeding the structure, which also added significantly to the cost. All the electrical was replaced, as was the drainage. The foundation had to be hand dug and put onto piers to salvage the roots of the large white oak tree. The Urangas estimate they spent about $120,000 on this project.

See more before photos designs

BEFORE: The team brought in a skilled masonry expert to remove the back stone wall, preserving the rocks to reuse elsewhere.

Photo by King Building & Remodeling LLC. See more craftsman shed designs

AFTER: At the back of the garage, you can see the recycled stone used as exterior wainscoting.

Entrematic Showcases New Products at IDA EXPO 2016

Posted May 11, 2016 by Amarr Garage Doors

Entrematic’s booth at IDA EXPO 2016.

IDA EXPO 2016 was held in Las Vegas, NV April 28-30 and Entrematic was present and ready to show off new products and new product concepts! Present at the Entrematic booth were Amarr, Ditec and Dynaco entrance automation products.

Here are some of the highlights from the Entrematic booth!

Amarr Vista VI1000 new Copper anodize finish with bronze tinted glass
Amarr Carriage Court CC4000 – new Arcadia design, one of four new designs to be launched Summer 2016
Amarr Color Zone custom color concept for Amarr Classica collection garage doors
Amarr Lincoln LI3000 featuring modern window placement
Amarr 3582/Horizon HO1000 Aluminum MultiView new product concept Aluminum Full View door with more glass views per section
Amarr Rapid Install Vertical Lift system now available for steel commercial doors
Amarr 3552 heavy-duty Aluminum Full View door with polycarbonate panels
Amarr 2742 energy efficient 2″ polyurethane insulated steel door with pass through door and stainless steel hardware
Amarr 2042 energy efficient 2″ polyurethane insulated steel door with Amarr SuperFlex impact resistant bottom panels

Entrematic Team Members stand by the part of the booth dedicated to our 85 Door Center celebration.

To kick off IDA, Entrematic and GTO Access Systems (Linear) hosted an Amarr Dealer Appreciation event at the Ghostbar at the Palms hotel. The theme was “85 Door Centers Coast to Coast Service” and more than 200 dealers attended!

From left to right: Juan Vargues Entrematic President, Janee Weber Alpha Overhead Door, Richard Brenner Entrematic Vice Chairman, Brad Dodson Delden.

Thank you to all the garage door dealers who supported Entrematic at IDA!

Making a Positive Impact through Sustainability

Posted April 22, 2016 by Amarr Garage Doors

Sustainability is an important part of any manufacturer’s strategy. Because we care about planet Earth, we are committed to energy-efficient and sustainable manufacturing processes and products. To us, sustainability means making sure our processes are ecologically responsible and creating energy-efficient products to benefit homeowners. For example, our Amarr commercial and residential steel doors are made with up to 90% recycled content, and the polystyrene foam insulation used in certain Amarr models is CFC-free.

Entrematic’s commitment to sustainability benefits the well-being of our planet.

It’s critical to emphasize the significant positive effect that sustainable building materials can have on your building projects. This building project uses a combination of Amarr sectional insulated commercial doors and Amarr aluminum full view doors that attained LEED Gold status.

The Salt Lake County Fleet Management facility is a LEED Gold-certified building in Midvale, Utah. Photo (c) Kevin Blalock & Partners.

Entrematic partnered with Frontier Overhead Door and Kevin Blalock & Partners, Architects, to develop an energy-efficient door solution for the Salt Lake County Fleet Management facility in Midvale, Utah.

Architect Kevin Blalock’s vision was to create a “Jiffy Lube on steroids” for the fleet maintenance mechanics. “This is their workspace and their playground,” stated Blalock.

Amarr commercial doors helped this building score LEED points in Daylight and Quality Views categories.

The building includes sectional overhead doors that use a combination of durable Amarr 2042 triple-layer polyurethane insulated steel sections, with Amarr 3552 aluminum full view sections with insulated glass in the middle of the door. The result? A sturdy, yet visually appealing commercial door.

The Amarr 2042 insulated sections ensure maximum energy efficiency, and the aluminum full view sections allow employees to clearly see maintenance vehicles entering and exiting, as well as contribute natural lighting to their workspace.

The aluminum full view sections allow natural light to enter the interior workspace.

The Salt Lake County Fleet Management facility earned Most Outstanding Project from Utah Construction & Design.

We look forward to a greener future. Visit our Case Study Page to see more sustainable projects!

Dodging for Dollars: Entrematic Plays Dodgeball to Raise Money for Humane Society

Posted April 12, 2016 by Amarr Garage Doors

Entrematic Team Members from the Lawrence, Kansas manufacturing facility recently participated in the first annual dodgeball tournament benefiting the Lawrence, Kansas Humane Society! Playing as Team “Carriage House of Pain,” the team assisted in raising over $3,500 for the Humane Society to benefit homeless cats and dogs.

The event, which took place at Crown Toyota of Lawrence, was the first of its kind in the area, and was completely full with registered team participants.

Take a look at the photos from the event!

The Lawrence, Kansas Humane Society brought along adoptable furry friends to the dodgeball game!

Sarah Workman, Entrematic People Department Generalist, is all smiles with Sydney, a dog from the Humane Society.

Carriage House of Pain Team Members are ready to bring the pain! From Left to Right: Tim Watson, Chelsey Scanland, August Rudisell, Jennifer Akins, Debbie Sanchez, Sarah Cowan, April Howard, and Jackie Nguyen. (Not pictured: Donald Brock)

Amarr Dealers Gather in Orlando for the Fourth Annual Amarr Dealer Education Summit

Posted April 8, 2016 by Amarr Garage Doors

Entrematic recently hosted over 100 Amarr garage door dealers for this year’s Amarr Dealer Education Summit event! The event, which took place in sunny Orlando, Florida, lasted three days and included education sessions on knowledge of the garage door industry, new and upcoming Amarr products, socialization with Entrematic management, and dealer camaraderie. Dealers must reach a minimum purchase level with Entrematic in order to be invited to the Dealer Education Summit, and the events are held every other year.

Some of the topics discussed at the event include the state of the garage door industry, Amarr residential and commercial product line changes, architect sales efforts, and internet marketing. Dealer attendees were also able to share their feedback and input with Entrematic.

Event attendees during our education sessions.

Attendees participate in a discussion led by Val Sigmon, VP of Commercial & National Accounts.

It wasn’t all work and no play, however attendees bowled, played golf, and even took a stroll down Main Street USA for a behind-the-scenes tour of Disney World!

Some of the Amarr Dealer Education Summit attendees in Disney World.

Attendees enjoy a dinner event their first night in Orlando.

Attendees get competitive with a rousing game of bowling.

The attendees had a great time and enjoyed the event. Entrematic was thrilled to be able to host them. The Amarr dealers in attendance were able to learn new information and participate in discussions about both Entrematic and the industry, and are looking forward to the next event!