When one of my children was playing with our garage doors a few years ago, we heard a piercing scream that we will never forget. She had gotten her fingers pinched in the side of the door, and we knew that we had to help her--and fast. Because of our quick actions and first aid, we were able to take care of the problem. After we returned home, I started thinking about ways to keep our kids safe around garage doors. This blog contains loads of helpful information about maintaining your garage doors, looking after your curious children, and preventing serious injury.
If you have recently replaced your garage door, there is no need to get rid of the old one. There are a number of things you can do with it depending on what it is made of. If you are also replacing the automatic door opener, there are even more things you can do. Here are just a few examples.
Open Up a Sunroom
With an old door that was all windows and the old opener, you can open up your sunroom on warm days. Replace part of a wall with the door and install the opener. If you don't have a sunroom, you could use the door as a wall to close in a porch or patio; it will save you from having to buy all the materials to do this. It is also possible to replace part of a wall in your home with the door to let in more light, even without the opener.
Headboard
An old, wooden door can have one or two of the panels removed and then painted to be a new headboard. You can paint it to match the décor in the bedroom. If you are good at carving, you can carve a scene or design into the wood before painting it.
Picnic Table
Whether the door is metal or wooden, you can use a few of the panels to make a picnic table. Simply add some legs and paint it. The other panels can be cut down to size for chair seats and backs to make a matching set.
Privacy Screen
Since the panels fold to be able to roll up in the garage, you can make a nice privacy screen or two with them. Cut the length so they are not too high and paint them any way you like to fit in where you are placing them. Now, stand them on the sides, folding the panels enough so it will stand on its own.
Garden or Sand Box
Separate the panels and then screw them together at the ends to form a square. You can put a piece of plywood on the bottom or just leave it open on the ground. You can fill it with dirt and topsoil for a nice raised garden or fill it with sand for the kids to play in.
The wood, glass, or metal of a garage door can be cut to use for almost anything, so get creative with it. You can save money on your next project or repair with the materials. There is no reason to just throw it away and let it end up in a landfill somewhere.
For more information, contact professionals like A AAA Allstate Door Company.
Share19 July 2016
