Most people don’t give a lot of thought to their garage door until there’s a problem with it. If you’re at that stage, B.J. Furse sympathizes with you. Furse started Cowart Door Systems in Austin after a bad experience with his own garage doors.
Born of necessity. “One of the first things I noticed when we bought our house were the solid wood garage doors,” Furse says. “After we moved in, I realized that they were poorly finished and the installation was really bad. The rain gutter was chipping, the door was noisy and had a shaky track, there were too many electrical cords, and there were holes in the ceiling where the installer tried to find anchor points. It was a mess.”
Inspired by quality. “After significant rework on my own garage doors, I determined that with a high-quality build, finish and installation in a proper environment, garage doors will last for a long time,” Furse says. “I’m driven by a job well done and being able to work with people that I can count on.”
Follow along for Furse’s tips on getting the best garage door for your lifestyle and budget.
1. Research Materials
Look into the different types of garage door materials and the maintenance required for each type. For example, wood garage doors require more maintenance than typical steel doors. “Make sure you know how the door is structured and sealed,” Furse says.
“The mahogany wood garage door on this Austin home was sealed on its exterior and the surrounding edges. It includes sophisticated design elements, including tongue-and-groove boards with flush joints, to blend with the contemporary home.
2. Customize Your Door
You don’t have to spend a ton of money to get a custom door, Furst says. “Get creative using traditional steel garage doors. With a few extra features or some rearranging, you’ll have something that looks custom for much less.”
This Austin midcentury modern home has a basic steel garage door that was personalized to get the look the homeowner wanted. “We combined both flush steel sections and long panel windows. In doing so, we achieved a customized design that would complement any midcentury home,” Furse says.
3. Keep Maintenance in Mind
Maintain your garage door to keep it looking and functioning its best. “Like a car, these systems need the occasional tune-up to reduce wear and tear and improve longevity,” Furse says.
Maintenance for these custom Douglas fir garage doors on a home in Austin includes lubricating the springs and rollers annually, occasionally wiping down the exterior with a soft cloth and checking for water pooling around the bottom of the door. “Wood doors also should undergo light sanding and a refinish every three to seven years, depending on sun exposure,” Furse says.
