For many of us, summertime means going on vacations! Protecting your home from intruders is a crucial step in preparing for some time away. Here are foureasy steps you can take to secure your garage before you leave for vacation and give your family some peace of mind so you can enjoy some R&R.
#1: Secure Your Garage Door Opener
A good place to start with security is on the inside. Most homeowners don’t think about securing their garage door opener, but it is a great idea to protect your home while on vacation! Many garage door openers have a “vacation mode” setting, which disables garage door remotes and prevents the garage door from being opened from the outside. If your garage door opener does not have a “vacation mode” setting, an alternative is to unplug it. Consult your owner’s manual first.
#2: Lock Your Garage Door
Does your garage door have a lock? If so, fastening it while on vacation is another way to add security to your garage. Locks are not necessary if your garage door is operated by an electric opener. If your opener is older, check to see if your door can be opened from the outside. If so, installing a lock could be a good idea for extra home security and more peace of mind. Find an Amarr dealer near you to learn more about your options. Remember to disengage your lock before using the garage door opener. Otherwise, your locked garage door and your operating garage door opener will result in significant damage to your garage door.
#3: Install Motion Lights Around Your Garage
Motion lights are a great way to discourage intruders. Motion lights detect moving objects within a certain range and illuminate for a period of time when an object is detected. The lights protect both your home and your neighborhood, as burglars and other intruders are less likely to approach a home with motion lights or a well-lit neighborhood. Also, many types of motion lights allow you to turn the motion detector settings off, enabling you to use a switch to turn them on and off and giving you more flexibility of use while you’re at home.
#4: Invest in a Smart Garage Door Opener
Many homeowners are investing in items for “smart homes.” A smart garage door opener is just another tool to help secure an additional entrance to your home. For example, most smart garage door openers allow you to control and monitor your garage door and lights from your phone, from anywhere. Some apps also let you allow others access to your garage these users, such as dog walkers or babysitters, can even be set to access your garage at certain times only. A smart garage door opener gives you the most control over your garage and helps keep your home safe!
These tips can help you ease your worries about your home’s security, and let you have a happy vacation!
As a homeowner, you may be asking yourself, what remodeling projects would add the most value to the sale price of your home? Should I start with a bathroom remodel or go straight to the outside for a roof replacement? The answer is neither!
Your home improvement project with the highest return on investment (ROI) for 2022 is an upgrade to your garage doors!
We know, we know. You’re not the first one to see this as a big surprise. Remodeling Magazine’s publication of the 2022 Cost vs. Value Report showcases how important garage door replacement is in sprucing up curb appeal while also adding value to homes. For over 34 years, builders, consumers, and investors have relied on the extensive housing market research and real estate analytics completed through Zonda for the yearly release of their Cost vs. Value Report.
Studies show exterior improvements continue to trend upwards for the highest return on investment for your home with garage door replacement holding 1st place for the past 4 years.
Amarr Classica Full View
3 Reasons Why Homeowners Upgrade Their Garage Doors
Reason #1 to Upgrade Your Garage Doors: Energy Efficiency
Engineering and technological advancements have allowed the construction of garage doors to evolve over the years. With these advancements, new methods of manufacturing allow garage doors to be more energy efficient reducing the transfer of air from the outside of the garage to the inside of the home. Explore more about energy efficiency and how having new garage doors can help reduce heating and cooling bills while adding value to your home.
Reason #2 to Upgrade Your Garage Doors:Reduce Noise with Insulated Doors
Garage doors are more than just a few sections of steel or aluminum with some hardware and an operator. They are structurally sound, well-engineered doors that secure the largest opening in your home. Since garage doors are used so frequently and are often located under large living spaces in a home, they often times are very noisy and annoying when opening and closing. When combining insulated garage doors with quiet operating operators, you have the perfect garage door system for a high performing, quiet noise operation. Explore more about insulated garage door construction before replacing your garage doors.
Reason #3 to Upgrade Your Garage Doors: Enhance Your Home’s Architectural Style
Homeowners are amazed at the transformation their homes take once new garage doors are installed. Since every home has its own style, the right garage door can make a home’s personality come to life. From a simple one color, solid panel design to a more elaborate two-tone, Carriage Court style door, your garage door choices are limitless.
Amarr Carriage Court Collection: Tanglewood Design with Closed Arch in Wicker Tan/White
Before you buy your next garage door, make sure to view our easy 5 step process on how to choose the best garage door to fit your home’s style.
Ready to Upgrade Your Garage Doors?
Amarr garage doors are sold, distributed and installed through professional garage door dealers. Connect with a trusted Amarr Dealer to upgrade your garage doors and recoup 94% of your home’s value.
Garage doors protect and secure the largest opening in your home. Following simple yet effective garage door safety tips can increase the longevity of your garage doors; while keeping you and your loved ones safe! Since more than 70% of homeowners use their attached garage as the main entranceway into their home, making sure you practice garage door safety is a must. So, what can you do as a homeowner to stay safe? Following some easy safety tips from industry leaders such as IDA and DASMA, will help guide the way.
5 Easy But Effective Garage Door Safety Tips
Check Your Garage Door Cables: Your garage door cables are affected by everyday use. DASMA recommends the following to ensure they are in proper working order:
Visually inspect the cables that attach the spring system to the bottom brackets on both sides of the door. If these cables are frayed or worn, they are in danger of breaking, which can cause injury. Due to the dangers associated with high spring tension, these cables should be replaced only by a trained garage door technician. Watch Your Fingers: Since your garage door is most likely the largest and heaviest opening in your home, this DASMA tip is especially important:
Every year, many unsuspecting homeowners injure their fingers by placing them between the garage door sections to pull down on the door. According to DASMA Standard 116, if your door lacks pinch-resistant joints, you should have lift handles or suitable gripping points on the inside and outside of the door. Even if your door has a garage door opener, the garage door must occasionally be operated manually. Never place your fingers between the door sections. If you manually open or close the door, use the handles or the safe gripping points!
Don’t Chance It; Check It:. Your garage door opener should be equipped with a safety reverse system to ensure that the garage door is not able to close completely should something be under the door! In fact, DASMA standards require such a system:
Since 1993, all openers manufactured for the U.S. must include a second safety reversing feature such as photoelectric eyes. These are installed near the floor. Once the invisible beam is broken, the door reverses automatically. If your opener lacks a similar safety reversing feature, it’s time to get a new opener.
Listen for Squeaky Springs: Springs can make squeaky noise after multiple closures. They can also make grinding or scraping sounds. This does not necessarily mean the springs need replacing. First, spray lubricant designed for garage doors onto the springs. Should the noise continue, contact a professional Amarr garage door dealer near you for expert help!
Service Your Garage Doors Regularly: Maintenance on garage doors is no different than maintaining your AC unit or changing out the batteries in smoke detectors. A proper maintenance routine for your garage doors can make the difference in simply needing to repair a garage door versus having to replace your garage door completely.
Since May is garage door safety month, we encourage all garage door owners to explore more about garage door safety tips.
Dr. Maya Angelou said it best, “We all should know that diversity makes for a rich tapestry, and we must understand that all the threads of the tapestry are equal in value no matter what their color.”
This world has so many people from different walks of life with varying social and ethnic backgrounds. As an employer, Amarr strives to be a leader in the push to ensure ALL Team Members feel valued, appreciated and most of all, included. There’s more to being known as one of the best places to work. It’s more about why Team Members say it’s the best place they have ever worked. That is why this April, during diversity month, Amarr encourages our Team Members to celebrate diversity within our workplace and with friends and families in a number of ways.
6 Ways Amarr Encourages our Team Members to Celebrate Diversity Month
1. Celebrate Your Personal Diversity with Colleagues and Family. Take pride in who you are and where you come from by sharing empowering stories and memories. This can be done through simple phone calls or texts. Or take the reach further by sharing fun photos on Facebook or LinkedIn. We can always celebrate life more no matter if we are at work or at play.
Team Members at Amarr Mocksville Plant
2. Engage in Diversity Learning Opportunities. Now, more than ever, diversity and inclusion are driving forces throughout multiple organizations. From dedicated work place events to volunteer opportunities; the options are limitless. The beauty of volunteer opportunities is that diversity is not limited to our own physical traits, but other forms that we can embrace diversity through such as hobbies, cultural interests, work habits and more. Explore more about diversity and inclusion in volunteer organizations.
3. Support Minority and Women Owned Businesses. According to sbc.senate.gov, there are now more than 4 million minority owned companies in the United States. With those numbers, think about how many different minority owned companies you could support. From buying your coffee from a small town cafe to supporting large scaled companies through growth of their social media presence. Supporting minority owned businesses is easy and vital to the growth of our society as a whole; ; see why here.
4. Attend Local or Virtual Cultural Events. With so much diversity and inclusion in this world, finding events to attend is easy. From community chats and forums to online Zoom calls, connecting to others locally and even across the globe is easier than ever with today’s technology. Or if you prefer the local vibe, partake in community events such as music festivals or art shows so you can encourage each other in person.
5. Explore New Languages. When working alongside Team Members from all over the world, learning a new language can allow communication to flow more easily within departments. This cohesiveness also creates a successful, inclusive environment. No one says you have to be fluent. The point is the effort that you’re making to open up your mind and create a lasting connection within your team. Get the inside scoop on secrets to learning new languages.
6. Take Time to Recognize Diversity at School, Work and Within Our Communities. As a society in today’s world, we are fortunate to have endless channels we can use to communicate and share our thoughts and insights to make this a better place for us all to live and work. One leg of this journey includes supporting our schools and students in a more diverse way. Although we are not in the classroom ourselves, we can always share our ideas with leaders in the school system or at board meetings. The importance of diversity and cultural awareness in the classroom can be achieved by following these steps.
A diverse workplace is as equally important as diversity in our schools. In terms of age, race, religion, nationality, sexual orientations, gender, gender identity, and national origin brings diverse viewpoints and fresh perspectives to companies. With the creation of Amarr’s DEI Council, we are excited to embrace the fundamentals and vision of a successful DEI journey in our workplace. As part of our plan, we look forward to onboarding new Team Members who can find their place on our team while enjoying a happy work life balance at Amarr!
Amarr Team Members
Inclusion can also be extended to our communities and social aspects of our personal lives. Visiting new venues, listening to different music from other cultures and supporting varying religious events with friends are easy ways to support each other.
Amarr’s goal is to be a world-leading company that attracts diverse talent. We want all Team Members to feel safe while being able to be their true selves at the workplace. We want our Team Members to thrive in a work environment that promotes change, innovation and provides equal access and opportunity!
Whether you’re looking to educate yourself on replacing or repairing your current garage doors, searching for the perfect garage door to fit your style, or needing design ideas, the newly re-designed Amarr website is your garage door resource! Since 1951, Amarr has been a known leader in the manufacturing of residential and commercial garage doors. With innovation and quality engineering at the forefront of our designs, we strive to offer the best garage doors in the industry.
Often times, homeowners and even architects don’t know where to start when choosing a garage door. Amarr’s new site was designed to help you walk through the decision making process, get inspiration from others and more! Let’s explore a few features which make this site unique.
Feature 1: Design Your Garage Door in 4 Easy Steps
With so many design and color options available, designing your new garage doors can be overwhelming. With our simple, straight forward Door Designer Tool you can easily create the garage doors of your dreams. By simply entering in your Door Size, you can easily see available options on sample homes to show you how the garage doors would look. You can even upload a picture of your own home to help you visualize how the doors would appear on your home!
Feature 2: Find Inspiration while Enhancing Curb Appeal
(slide center circle left and right to see how it works)
Have some fun with our Before and After slider! This features gives you a better idea of how garage doors can truly change the exterior look of your home. Also learn how a garage door upgrade gives you a high ROI based off the latest Cost vs. Value Report.
Feature 3: Quickly Find an Amarr Dealer to Address Your Garage Door Questions
Finding a trustworthy, dependable dealer to address your garage door needs is as important as choosing the best garage door to complement your home. The question usually is, “how do I find a knowledgeable dealer who I can trust and best help assess the situation?” As a long-time garage door manufacturer, Amarr has built partnerships with dealers all over the country. To make finding a dealer easier, we created our Where to Buy feature. All you have to do is enter your zip code to find the closet, qualified Amarr dealer near you.
Feature 4: Have Fun Inspiring Others While “Shopping the Look” with Social Media!
What better way to share ideas, get inspiration and “shop the look” than with social media! Whether you are a once a day scroller or an avid hourly page refresher, you can participate in our newest social media feature. Simply #amarrgaragedoor when you post to possibly be featured in our online gallery. You can also explore a variety of looks and ideas while easily shopping our Amarr collections. Make sure to follow us onFacebookand LinkedIn for our latest updates, newest product launches and exciting industry news!
Feature 5: Understand Garage Doors Quickly and Easily!
“To repair or replace my garage door” is one of the most popular questions homeowners ask themselves when evaluating the condition of their garage doors. Often times, they don’t know where to start the process; or better yet, what to ask. With our newly re-designed Amarr website, we have created an easy-to-follow section to address these concerns. Amarr wants to help homeowners, just like you, better understand garage doors so you can make the most informed decision about the next steps needed to either replace or repair your garage doors.
Amarr.com is more than just a website to show homeowners, builders and architects residential and commercial garage doors. It’s a true garage door resource. You can not only learn more about garage doors but you can explore our wide selection of well-engineered garage doors. As well as available options such as insulated garage doors and energy efficient garage doors.
Amarr unveils our newest garage door designed to complement architectural home styles of all kinds. With sleek lines and a look of sophistication, you will be the talk of the neighborhood with the new Classica Flush garage door.
Amarr Classica Flush
Available in multiple sizes and colors, the Amarr Classica Flush garage door is a beautiful addition for new home builds or desired home upgrades.
Go Beyond the Look of the Garage Door with 3 Key Features
This garage door is more than a clean, elegant design for your home. It’s a well-engineered product offering energy efficiency and wind load protection for your largest investment – your home! As with many Amarr garage doors, special features are available to ensure you receive the highest quality door while still enjoying an aesthetically pleasing look.
The HCFC-free insulation increases the thermal efficiency of your garage door which helps to maintain a constant temperature in your garage. As a result, your home becomes more energy efficient.
A high R-value means increased thermal efficiency and a steady temperature in your garage throughout the winter and summer. By following the industry standards DASMA sets for residential and commercial garage door manufacturers, Amarr constructs garage doors which not only look beautiful but brings an added value to the functionality of your home.
Wind load garage doors are built specifically to withstand certain high-wind pressures with an interior wind load reinforcement system. This feature is available on most all Amarr garage doors, including our newest Amarr Classica Flush garage door.
Ready to be the talk of the neighborhood with your new Amarr Classica Flush garage door?
Amarr garage doors are sold, distributed and installed through professional garage door dealers. Connect with a trusted Amarr dealer to explore more about the Amarr Classica Flush garage door.
Amarr proudly helped the popular television show Military Makeover with Montel salute a veteran by providing a makeover for his family’s home. Staff Sgt. Burgess of Cape Coral, Florida was grievously wounded during military deployment in Afghanistan in 2011, causing numerous injuries, including the amputation of his right leg below the knee. His years long recovery is ongoing, and Staff Sgt. Burgess credits his family as his source of strength throughout the challenges.
Though things had to be done differently this season and more safety measures were in place due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the crew did a great job and completed the gorgeous home makeover for the Burgess family.
Amarr provided an Amarr Heritage HR3000 triple-layer insulated steel wind load approved garage door to the Burgess family. This door provides multiple benefit to the family home:
Improved curb appeal with the stylish long panel bead board design in True White with arched Thames window inserts and frosted glass,
Triple-layer insulated steel helps improve the energy efficiency of their home, and
Wind load approved technology protects their home against strong winds prevalent in Florida.
LiftMaster also provided a WLED garage door opener to provide an abundance of lighting in the garage space. This opener is also a smart opener, so the family can operate the garage door from their smartphones using LiftMaster’s myQ® technology.
To watch this inspiring season of Military Makeover and see the rest of the renovation, both inside and outside the home, tune into Lifetime TV or visit militarymakeover.tv for full episodes!
If you are pressed for space and looking for a way to improve your home, look no further than your garage. This flexible space can do much more than just hold your car, and sometimes the best thing to do is park by the curb and use your garage in other, more creative ways.
With the holiday season right around the corner, there has never been a better time to do a little home improvement, and the garage is a great place to start. Whether you convert the entire space and kick your cars to the curb or just use part of the garage, you can increase the living area inside your home and even increase its value, all for far less than the cost of a formal room addition. Here are 10 amazing garage conversion ideas you can complete before the holiday season is over.
#1. A Guest Room Worthy of Company
Despite the strangeness of 2020, we hope that life will go back to a semblance of normalcy, and that includes visits from faraway family and friends. If you want to put your in-laws and assorted other relatives up in style, why not transform your humble garage into a stunning guest room?
By the time you are done with the remodeling project, your garage will be all but unrecognizable. Instead of housing an automobile, your new guest room can house your relatives hotel-style, all without the cost or inconvenience of a hotel stay. You can dress up the space any way you like, with plenty of room for a comfy bed, attractive chairs, and even a TV mounted on the wall.
#2. A Home Gym for Your Post-Holiday Workouts
If your New Year’s resolution is to lose those holiday pounds, why not get a head start on your goals by transforming your garage into a home gym? For less than the cost of a full year’s gym membership, you can outfit your former garage with workout benches, a high-quality treadmill, and maybe even one of those souped-up exercise bikes.
Transforming your garage into a workout space can give you a double benefit you are sure to work up a sweat as you move all those boxes and bring in all that exercise equipment. When you are done, you can sit back and relax, at least until tomorrow’s scheduled workout.
#3. Stop Paying for That Storage Unit
These days people have so much stuff that they rent tiny apartments for their extraneous possessions. These pint-sized apartments, in the form of storage units, are big business, and you may even have one of your own.
If you are tired of spending hundreds of dollars a month just so your stuff can have a home, why not bring those items into the garage and save the dough? Depending on how much stuff you have, you may be able to combine this transformation with some of the others on our list. If not, at least your stuff will have a rent-free home.
#4. A Workshop Worthy of Your Dreams
If you are a budding handyman (or woman), you will need a place to pursue your passions and continue your craft. Transforming your existing garage into a workshop or woodshop has many important benefits compared to building a standalone shed in your backyard, starting with the fact that there is already light and electricity in the space. With some tried and true organization tips, you could have the workshop you’ve always wanted!
Even a small garage will have plenty of space for a table saw, lathe, and other woodworking tools, and handy homeowners can even line the walls with pegboard to keep their tools within easy reach. And if you can use your new workshop to make home improvements, the transformation could pay for itself in no time.
#5. Get Away From It All with a Man Cave
You work hard to keep a roof over your family’s head and food on their plates, and sometimes you just need to get away. If retreating to the den or heading down to the basement for some alone time is no longer cutting it, just take a look at the space your car calls home.
A garage can make an exceptional, and exceptionally roomy, man cave, with plenty of room to stretch out, relax, and watch the big game. You can even add a mini-fridge stocked with beer and snacks and invite a few of your man caveless friends over for the weekend.
#6. Relax and Unwind in Your Own She Shed
The “she shed” is the female equivalent of the man cave, and it too can be accommodated by your current garage. A she-shed can be designed any way you want it, part home spa, part relaxing oasis, and part TV room.
No matter how you design it, you will love your finished “she shed”. Transforming your garage into a space just for you is not selfish it is a great way to keep peace in the family.
#7. Be More Productive with a Home Office
With so many people now working from home, having a great home office has never been more important. Unfortunately, however, many telecommuters are working from bedrooms, basements, and even closets, and that can hinder their productivity and even put their jobs at risk.
If you want a home office worthy of a Zoom meeting, not to mention a generous tax deduction, look no further than your garage. Just think about how great your new home office will look once all the clutter has been cleared out and your ergonomically designed desk has been installed. In no time at all, you will be the star of the virtual office, all thanks to your garage transformation.
#8. Relax With a Home Sauna or Hot Tub
If you have always wanted a hot tub or sauna but do not relish the walk across your cold back yard, now you can enjoy the best of both worlds. With a few relatively simple upgrades you can transform your humble garage into a place of rest and relaxation, all for less than a stay at a fancy resort.
Even if you have to run an extra water line or upgrade your electrical outlets, you can transform your garage into an amazing home spa, complete with sauna, hot tub, steam shower, or anything else that strikes your fancy. If you are looking for rest and relaxation, you cannot go wrong with this great garage transformation.
#9. A Playroom for Your Kids
If your kids are driving you crazy and getting in the way of your at-home workday, why not give them their own separate play space? Transforming your garage into a playroom for the kids is a great idea, especially if you have a house full of little ones.
The beauty of this garage transformation is that it can grow with your kids. You can use chalk to paint hopscotch squares on the garage floor when your kids are young, then bring in makeup tables, video game consoles, and other age-appropriate accessories as they get older.
#10. Give Your Teen Some Growing Space
Having a teenager in the house can be stressful, especially when you are pressed for space. If your teen is grumbling about a lack of room and a dearth of privacy, why not give them their own apartment?
All you need to create that separate living space is an unused garage, and when you are done your teen may be so thankful that they will happily take out the trash. Even if that dream does not come true, you can ask the teenager in your life to help out with the garage transformation, moving boxes, putting away extra items, and dragging their furniture out from the house.
No matter what the size of the home, many families are finding that there is simply not enough space to go around. The needs of a growing family can eat up those extra rooms pretty quickly, and paying for an addition is not always an option, and even if it is that kind of extensive home improvement project could take months to complete and upend your normal family routine.
If you are looking for an easier, and much less expensive, way to add space to your home, why not start with the space you already have? Whether you have a one-car garage or a spacious two-car abode, that spare room in the making is just begging for a transformation.
Now that you know how many hats your garage can wear, it is time to get started. Just stand at the precipice of the existing space, close your eyes and picture how wonderful your garage could be. Whether you turn the garage into a tax-deductible home office, a private space for the teenager in the home, or a gym with no membership required, you can turn your sweat equity and vision into exceptional and long-lasting home improvement.
Amarr Classica garage doors were featured in the season 7 finale of HGTV’s popular TV series “Property Brothers: Brother vs. Brother.” Featuring the “Property Brothers” Drew and Jonathan Scott, this season took place in Los Angeles’s historic Hancock Park neighborhood. Through the course of the show, the brothers purchase and renovate real estate, and then compete with each other to see which home sells for the most profit that is donated to charity. This season’s charity was No Kid Hungry, which provides meals for children in need.
Photos (c) Dennys Ilic courtesy of HGTV.com
Both homes were renovated inside and out while keeping the historic and classic vibe of the original architecture and surrounding neighborhood. The two Amarr Classica CL1000 doors were installed on the detached garage of Drew’s “Corner Chateau” home helped win the competition for most profitable sale!
Installed by Amarr dealer RW Garage Doors, the Amarr Classica doors are three-section steel garage doors with the largest windows available on any Amarr steel door. The doors, pictured above, feature Cortona design in black with Madeira windows. The door design complements the sophisticated black details of the “Corner Chateau” home.
To watch the season finale of “Brother vs. Brother” and see the full reveal of both homes, visit HGTV.com to watch on-demand with your television provider login.
Contemporary home design is a trend that has been picking up speed! Many contemporary, modern homes feature an abundance of natural light and parallel lines. If you’re looking to make your home’s façade look more contemporary, don’t leave out the garage door!
The Amarr Classica CL3000 Full View is a stunning garage door option that makes a contemporary statement on any home while providing the stylish yet low-maintenance design that the Amarr Classica is known for.
Why choose an Amarr Classica Full View door?
Sophisticated, contemporary design that flatters many different home facades
Largest windows of any Amarr steel Full View door allowing an abundance of natural light into the garage
Sturdy, durable steel construction with polyurethane insulation between steel front and back panels for low-maintenance functionality with modern flair
Customization options including eight standard solid colors, three dual-directional woodgrain colors, over 700 approved Amarr Color Zone custom colors and a variety of single pane tempered or insulated glass options
What are you waiting for? Check out what your home would look like with an Amarr Classica Full View garage door by visiting the Amarr Door Designer!
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Want to see what a new garage door would look like on your home?
Watch Your Fingers: Since your garage door is most likely the largest and heaviest opening in your home, this DASMA tip is especially important:
