When garage doors malfunction or make terrible noises, that is when most of us take notice of them. However, if you park your car inside, it might actually be doing more work than you think.\n\nA standard garage door does more than keep rain off your car. It also shields it from being stolen, protect it from various forms of wear and tear that diminish its value, and weathr damage. Let’s look at what your garage door actually does for your car, and a few things to make it do its job better.
What Your Garage Door Is Really Protecting
Whenever you purchase a vehicle, you lose a portion of its value once you purchase it, However, once you park your car inside a garage, you lose a portion of its value at a slower rate. Your vehicle’s paint looks better and lasts longer when it is not being exposed to ultraviolet rays, bird droppings, and tree sap. Also, if your car is parked outside for extended periods of time, overnight dew may cause paint damage.
Another aspect to consider is security. Potential thieves see a locked garage door and move on. They don’t know what you own, and it takes more time and effort to get in, so they’ll move on to an easier target.
Distance between vehicles, and protecting them from constant temperature changes, is beneficial. Hail. Frost. Moisture. Temperature changes. Those are the enemies of exterior paint and a vehicles seals. Your garage protects from all of that.
Quick Security Upgrades You Can Do This Weekend
Going from flimsy to reinforced garage doors does not have to be hundreds of pounds in spending! Here are a few simple changes that really make a difference.
Sort Out That Lock
Most garage doors come with fairly simple locks. Spend £20 on a proper deadbolt, or a garage door defender that bolts to the ground. It takes about 20min to install, and it really makes forced entry a lot more difficult.
Covering The Windows
If there are any windows in your garage door, get an off-brand window privacy film on Amazon or any other site and put it over the windows. Thieves look in windows to see if the building is worth cracking. With no view, they are unlikely to take the risk. Window film is maybe 10 bucks and is very easy to put on, using a spray bottle and and squeegee.
Put Garage Motion Light.
There are very few people who will want to do malitious things if they are being shining. You can buy a garage motion light on Amazon for 15 bucks and will take ten minutes to install. Just make sure you can see the garage when you come home or else it will blind you.
Protect Detach System
Most people dont seem to know that a wire can be fished through the top of the door to yank it. Simply zip tie the wire to the track, or an easy fix is to put a shield over the wire. This is one of the common break in methods and costs nothing to defend against.
How Old Is Your Remote
If you have an old garage door remote older than 10 years, it’s time to upgrade. Older garage door openers were using fixed codes that can be cloned very easy. For around 30 bucks, you can get a new one that is impossible to clone.
Theft Secured Doors
Condensation causes rust, and a properly sealed garage door keep water out. Bottom rubber weather seals stop water from coming in, and if it wears down, water can get in. Replace it before every heavy rain. Seal replacements are under £25, and if it saves you a lot of rust repairs, it’s worth it.
Every day, your garage door works to keep your belongings safe. If you give your garage door some simple upkeep, your belongings will stay safe and will be worth more to you when you sell them.