Shopping for a new garage door can be an overwhelming experience, especially when your home’s curb appeal is on the line.

For most, the hardest part is visualizing what an uninstalled door featured in a showroom or a brochure will look like on their actual house.

Clopay makes the visualization process easy with its Web-based Door Imagination System, an interactive tool that allows builders and homeowners to upload a digital photo of their home and “try on” a variety of garage door styles to find the perfect match.

“Today’s garage doors are built to last between 15 – 20 years so it’s important to make the right design choice. This tool gives you confidence in your decision,” says Pat Lohse, Clopay Building Products vice president of residential marketing.

Once users have selected a garage door model, they can customize the design to complement their home by adding different windows, hardware and paint colors.

Selected images can then be saved into an online folder and printed or e-mailed to share with a garage door dealer, contractor, friends and family.

The Door Imagination System even provides a specification summary for each door image saved including the product style and decorative options so the user knows they are ordering the correct product.

The Door Imagination System is available at the Clopay Website, so go ahead and upload a photo of your garage and give it a try!

Don’t forget, the International Builders Show begins TOMORROW! Clopay Garage Doors will be at the IBS show in Las Vegas for the next 4 days, so be sure to follow our social networks to stay updated. We will be talking about the show, what’s new, discussing products, and posting videos.

If you are attending IBS 2010, visit our booth at #C2445 in the Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center. Clopay will be showing off the latest innovations in garage door design and materials!

Clopay has also been selected to be a part of the Builder Concept Home 2010! This home represents the shift in housing trends toward energy efficient, affordable housing. For the past 27 years, the Showcase Home has been constructed and people could take the tour during the International Builders Show. However, with the credit crisis this year, the home was unable to be completed on time, so a new spin has been put on the home… it is virtual! Visit the Builder Concept Home 2010 and sign up for a virtual key! Virtual tours begin tomorrow!

Builder Concept Home 2010

Clopay is showcasing three distinct insulated garage door options on the Builder Concept Home 2010 tour: The Canyon Ridge Collection, a rustic faux wood door, a Coachman Collection steel and composite carriage house style door, and a steel grooved panel vintage style Gallery Collection door with Clopay’s Ultra-grain stained woodgrain paint finish.

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Materials. Today, homeowners can choose among wood, steel, composite or aluminum garage doors. Here’s the lowdown on the pros and cons of each.

Wood: There’s no substitute for the warm, distinctive look of wood. It offers the most design flexibility to create a one-of-a-kind door, and the species and stain options are endless. Wood doors can be expensive, with an average starting price of $1,000. They also weigh more than typical steel doors, so an opener with a higher horsepower is recommended. Depending on the climate and exposure, wood doors require more finish maintenance.

Composite and Steel: Steel doors with composite overlays offer the benefits of durable, insulated steel with added charm and design flexibility. Details like coped edging, true divided lites and embossed woodgrain texture make it an attractive, low-maintenance alternative to real wood, if you’re in the market for a carriage house style door. Prices start at about $900.

Steel: Classic steel panel doors offer the broadest range of insulation and price options from as little as $300 for a single layer, non insulated door, up to $1,500 for a premium 24-gauge, three layer sandwich door featuring 2” thick insulation and decorative windows.

Aluminum: Rust-proof and corrosion resistant, this material is ideal for humid, caustic environment as well as coastal areas. And it’s incredibly durable.

See our selection of materials at the Clopay website.

Lifestyle. If you have children or use the garage as a workshop, opt for an insulated, heave gauge steel door that isn’t going to dent every time a ball or bike hits it. This type of door will also help keep the space a comfortable temperature.

Upkeep. Maintenance is another consideration. Every door needs regular check-ups to maximize its life and reliability. Steel doors are very durable and virtually maintenance free, but some people prefer the warmth and character of wood and the limitless design options. Depending on the climate and exposure, wood doors will need to be painted or stained every few years.

“Green Factor.” Sustainability is a key element of green building, and, with a life cycle of between 15 and 20 years, an investment in a durable garage door that can withstand the rigors of daily use is money well spent for a home and the environment.

Look for galvanized torsion springs, which look better and last 50% longer than the industry’s standard oil-tempered springs, heavy gauge steel to ensure a quality appearance, dent resistance and quiet operation, a hot dipped galvanized coating topped with a baked-on paint finish that resists fading and peeling, and environmentally safe, CFC-free insulation that is bonded on both sides of the door panel for improved strength and energy efficiency.

Building Code Requirements. If you live in a coastal region or high wind area you may need a reinforced door as specified by the local building code authority.

Because of their size, garage doors are more susceptible to wind damage than other exterior openings- especially two-car garage doors. Unless you have a tested, reinforced door installed, high winds can force it out of the opening, putting your home and property at risk.