Garage Door Trim Ideas to Improve Your Home

Garage Door Trim Ideas to Improve Your Home

The trim around your garage door can have a significant impact on the look of your home. If you are looking for ways to revamp your exterior, consider upgrading your garage door trim.

From thickness to color, you have many things to consider as you look for the best option. We’ve collected a few ideas and suggestions for choosing a trim that complements your home and boosts your home’s curb appeal. Check out these exterior garage door trim ideas and get to know this feature of your home a little better.

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How Much Headroom Is Needed for a Garage Door?

Say you want to buy a new garage door opener, but you’re hesitating because you have a smaller garage — you don’t want to whack your head on the opener or risk it hitting the top of your tall vehicle. Will you have enough room? Just what is the minimum headroom clearance for a garage door opener? The answer is that it varies, but in many cases, even owners with low garage ceilings can find an opener that will provide excellent function without taking up too much room. 

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Garage Door Lighting Ideas

Maybe you recently replaced your garage doors and you want to showcase the beautiful new style to enhance your home’s curb appeal. Perhaps you are searching for ways to add value to your home without spending a lot of money. Or maybe you just want the outside of your home to look a little more beautiful when you come up the drive after a long day. 

Adding garage door lighting to your home can accomplish all those things. Try these ideas for exterior garage door lights that are easy to install and look great all year long.

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Common Garage Door Sizes for Homes in Ohio and Michigan

Buying a new garage door for your home is a fast and affordable way to spruce up your home’s exterior. Most garage doors have a lifespan of approximately 20 years, so many homeowners only buy an updated garage door once or twice in their lifetimes.

When selecting a garage door replacement, it’s important to find the ideal blend of performance, style and durability. As you explore your garage door replacement options, finding attractive, modern designs and sturdy materials is important, but it’s also crucial to understand different garage door sizes and which one is the most appropriate for your home.

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Matching Your Entry Door With Your Garage Door

Garage doors and front doors are the two most dominant features of your home’s exterior. Garage doors can comprise as much as a third of your home’s facade, meaning that it’s often the first feature people notice about your home. Garage doors are also an excellent opportunity to express your personality and creativity and is one of the first things to consider when trying to enhance your home’s curb appeal. Front doors also grab the attention of passers-by, particularly when the walkways leading to them are made to draw in visitors. Together, these two fixtures take up a large portion of the front exterior of your home, so it is essential that they look stylish and coordinated.

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How to Keep Bugs and Pests out of Your Garage

According to the American Housing Survey, nearly 80,000 Americans have a garage. Garages are a great asset to have at home — they keep your vehicles safe, provide additional storage and can be used as a workshop or hobby room. Unfortunately, many garage owners struggle with an unwanted pest infestation, including bugs and rodents. Once these pests make their way into a garage, they can destroy your belongings, damage the structural integrity of the room and may make their way into your main living space if not stopped. If you are suffering from a garage pest infestation, here are some steps you can take.

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10 Tips to Make the Most of Your Outdoor Space

Looking to create a backyard oasis filled with outdoor furniture, beautiful exterior decorating and lots of diversions to help you, your family and your friends enjoy the best months of the year? Consider taking some of these backyard decorating ideas and entertainment tips to help you create the perfect environment for relaxing and having fun.

• Comfortable Furniture: If you truly want to create a backyard oasis, make sure you have the comfy furniture that will make people want to hang around. You can now find large and comfortable chairs and couches that will make you and visitors to your home want to spend the afternoon in paradise. Outdoor furniture extends beyond just sofas and chairs to include hammocks and other non-traditional lounging areas.
• Add an Awning: Outdoor furniture is great, but it’s not always so comfortable if you’re baking in the hot August sun. Make sure to add a patio awning to your exterior decorating list. Patio awnings can look fantastic and deliver the shade needed to keep you and your family and friends cool through the hottest months of the year.
• Lighting: Lighting is among the best backyard decorating ideas, because lighting is both functional and attractive. Consider hanging lanterns or using pole lighting like tiki torches. You can also find track lighting that illuminates paths and other areas in your backyard oasis.
• What’s in Is Out: It’s also fun to blur the lines between what’s inside and what’s outside. You can accomplish this through screened-in areas, sun rooms and even living areas that include stylish garage doors. Add a garage door to a living area adjacent to your backyard, and it’s fast and easy to make that living area a part of your backyard oasis.
• Mood Pieces: Be creative with your outdoor decorating ideas. You can do it yourself by creating outdoor décor that’s one-of-a-kind and helps spice up your backyard oasis. Consider using colored glass, brick or other fun and easy materials to create fashionable stepping stones, bird baths, chandeliers and other décor. Also consider painting a faux rug with colors that reflect your personality and the sense of fun you want to exude in your outdoor areas.
• Stash Your Storage: Consider building storage areas into backyard patios and other structures. You can use these storage areas to stash toys, firewood for an outdoor fireplace, grilling materials, lawn games and more. By keeping them out of the way, you ensure your backyard oasis remains uncluttered while remaining ready with the right tools for having a blast.
• Built-In Seats: When you build in storage, consider building in seats and benches, also. People want to be able to sit in their outdoor oasis, and you’ll need lost of seating if you’re going to host parties and invite others to take part in your backyard wonderland.
• Go Green: Make sure there’s plenty of greenery in your outdoor spaces. You can find plants and flowers that require little in the way of maintenance that will add a pop of color to your backyard. If you want to go a step further, consider adding a vegetable garden to your backyard oasis. Wouldn’t it be nice to grill hamburgers and garnish them with tomatoes fresh from your backyard garden?
• Amusement Areas: Not everyone wants, needs or can afford a swimming pool, but there are other ways to add amusement areas to your backyard oasis. Build a treehouse or add a playscape for children, for example. Include lawn games like horseshoes and washers for the adults. Then, sit back and relax as you watch your family and friends have a blast in the back of your home.
• Connectivity: We live in a connected world, and your family and friends will expect to have Internet access no matter where they go on your property — and that includes the backyard. By making sure your wireless Internet connection extends to your backyard, you’ll also have the opportunity to move Wi-Fi-powered cable boxes out to the rear of your home to watch the big game or movies. Consider connectivity the final flourish as you create your backyard oasis.

At Quality Overhead Doors, we help homeowners in Toledo and throughout the region create the kinds of living spaces they want and need. For your backyard, we can help with awnings, fireplaces, entry doors and so much more. When you want to create the backyard oasis of your dreams, count on your friends at Quality Overhead Door.

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10 Great Garage Conversion Ideas to Consider

When they look at their garage, some people see the potential for an extension of their home. It could add more livable space for you and your family, similar to finishing a basement or converting an attic. However, if you’ve been using your garage for parking and storage, you may need to upgrade the indoor climate before you spend time there. If you want to turn your garage into another living space, it’s crucial to find a way to regulate the temperature so it won’t be just as hot or as cold as outside.

Getting the interior to a comfortable temperature is only the beginning. There’s money to shell out and hours of labor to put in to make it as usable as the rest of your home. The question is: Do you consider the end product worth it? The experts at Quality Overhead Door are here to share the advantages of undertaking such a project, how to convert your garage and a few ideas to get you started.

The Pros and Cons of Garage Door Conversion  

Just like any other home renovation or remodeling you could pursue, garage conversion has its benefits and drawbacks. If you want to increase the amount of livable space you have, converting your garage is much cheaper than moving or building a brand-new addition. This bonus room will be fantastic for your family, whether you’re watching movies together or using it to do laundry. When you’re ready to sell down the line, it could raise your property value.

Besides losing a spot to store your landscaping equipment, if you convert the space while most of the houses in your neighborhood have garages, others could start to look at your home unfavorably. Depending on where you live, not having a dedicated area for your car could lead to break-ins, theft, difficulty plowing your driveway when it snows and even the premature aging of your vehicle. Not to mention, if you try to complete the job yourself without the right training or tools, it might become a DIY nightmare. However, if the pros outweigh the cons, there’s no reason you shouldn’t convert your garage.

The First Steps

If you don’t have a car or don’t use it very often, or need some extra living space and don’t have the yard or budget to build an extension, your garage could be a great way to expand. Creating a self-sufficient living space could also open your property for short-term rentals to bring in some extra cash.

Converting your garage into a living space goes beyond basic decoration. Begin the process by drawing up architectural plans. Before you start browsing furniture and buying wall hangings, you need a solid foundation in place. Follow your local zoning laws and acquire a building permit immediately. You should be able to show that the structure is up to code and submit detailed construction plans.

Then, it’s time to hire an experienced contractor to take on the job. After all, it takes a lot of work to make your garage comparable to the rest of your home. Here are just a few of the tasks at the top of your conversion checklist.

• Walls and ceiling: Most garages don’t meet the same construction standards as the rest of the house. To make the space feel livable, you’ll need to fully insulate the walls and ceiling to protect it from the elements. You’ll also need to put up drywall. If you want the garage to be an extension of a neighboring room or have full access from your house, you might choose to open up the partition wall between your home and the garage. Removing the wall will create an open floor plan.
• Flooring: Just as with the walls, you’ll need to insulate the floor and install flooring above the concrete slab. Adding insulation and tiles, linoleum or hardwood will raise your floor from its original height. You’ll want to maintain a distance of at least seven and a half feet between the finished floor and the ceiling.
• Windows: Depending on the design of your garage, you may need to add windows to provide more natural light and air. Your local zoning office will have information on the number of windows you need to add.
• Electrical: You’ll need enough wall outlets, so no cord has to stretch more than six feet to reach an outlet. While your garage probably has one overhead light and a wall switch, you may want to add more or update the one you have to make the space well-lit. You’ll need to do electrical wiring and consider upgrading your electric service to handle the larger load.
• Heating and cooling: For year-round comfort, you have several options for your heating and cooling. Tie into your home’s HVAC unit, invest in an independent system or purchase a garage heater.
• Plumbing: If you plan to have a home bar, bathroom or kitchen, you’ll need new plumbing. Connect to the existing pipes or install a new water line and drains.
• Finishing: To make a garage look like a living space rather than a garage, you’ll want to upgrade the room’s appearance. Add non-load-bearing walls to cover up any unsightly pipes. Then, finish up any carpentry and paint the interior.
• Design elements: An architect can help you design an area that looks like it has always been a living space. Windows, especially dormer windows, can go a long way toward sprucing up a garage. 
• Garage door: An attractive, insulated garage door can help you preserve the comfortable temperatures inside your garage and provide outdoor access without detracting from the home-like design and decor you bring into the space.
• Parking and storage: Once you convert your garage, you’ll lose your covered parking spots. You’ll need to designate a new area on your property where you can park your cars and store items. You can build storage into your converted garage or consider a small shed for your yard.

Once you take care of some of the fundamental steps in a garage conversion, consider the particular elements that will make your space truly your own. If creating a living area for an older relative to move in, you’ll want to consider accessibility. For a game room or a home theater, you may need special electrical requirements. What does your dream floor plan include? Maybe these garage conversion ideas will spark some inspiration!

1. Man Cave or Mom Cave

Perhaps the most common way to use an extra room in the home is to turn it into a man cave. Your lounge can take many different forms, depending on your priorities. If you’re a sports enthusiast, you’ll probably want a big-screen TV to watch the game on and your favorite jerseys displayed on the walls. You can create a casino that will never lose you money by setting up card tables and adding a bar. Or, replicate a lodge with a pool table, an electric fireplace and some rustic decor. It’s up to you to determine what goes in your sanctuary.

The same is true for the woman of the house, as “mom caves” have become increasingly popular in recent years. Give yourself a peaceful nook to relax after a long day. Whether you unwind by working on your hobbies or curling up with a good book, design the room around it. Be sure to include adequate lighting and a couch, cushy chair or daybed for a cozy atmosphere. Personalize your space with inspirational prints, pretty throw pillows or a smattering of colors you love. If you want to get your drink on, with liquor bottles on a bar cart or tea accessories set up in a corner, factor that into your planning as well. 

Whether you’re making a man cave or mom cave, it’s all about self-care and treating yourself.

2. Crafting Area

Many people yearn for a room devoted to their craft, whatever it may be. From scrapbooking and knitting to piecing together model airplanes and woodworking, everything is much easier if you have space to spread out your materials and concentrate. With a converted garage, you can bring your imagination to life! Just invest in a few storage containers for organizing your supplies, set up a workspace such as a good-sized table, ensure that the lighting is to your liking and get started on your next pet project!

For a home art studio, the lighting is doubly crucial. Usher more sunshine into your garage by installing windows and using bright, efficient lightbulbs for nighttime painting sessions. If you’re a professional photographer, you can easily convert your garage into a photo studio. It takes no time at all to put up a backdrop and arrange your studio lighting kit, and you’ll have plenty of room to stash the furniture or props you use. Honor your muse with an area that revolves around creative pursuits.

3. Game Room

There are dozens of reasons you might want a game room attached to your home. Young adults may dream of a haven for competing in video games or conquering Dungeons & Dragons campaigns for hours on end.  Families with children would be interested in storing and playing board games on weekends. In any case, access to electricity and a reliable internet connection is a good start.

For tabletop gaming, make sure you have a large surface area to work with and plenty of seats. Install shelves to hold figurines, cards, booklets, equipment and anything else you need. If you own gaming systems, pair them with a good-sized TV that has crisp picture quality. Then, don’t forget decor based on your hobby of choice! Paint a Mario mural, hang up vintage board game advertisements or display your Pokémon toys — whatever makes it feel less like a garage and more like a gamer’s getaway!

4. Home Gym

Wanting to get fit is an admirable goal. Gym memberships can get pretty pricey, and the weather doesn’t always cooperate for morning jogs. If you’re struggling to stay active due to factors beyond your control, converting your garage into a home gym may be the way to go.

Cover the floor with rubber mats to aid in your workouts and decrease the risk of injury. Then, fill the room with fitness staples like dumbbells and kettlebells, a jump rope, a medicine ball and barbells with extra weight plates. You can snag most of these items affordably and use them for a variety of regimen options. If your budget allows, you could go one step further and purchase some equipment like a treadmill, an exercise bike or a pull-up bar.

When you visit a conventional gym, what do you find besides fancy athletic machines? Full-length mirrors, access to water for keeping hydrated and maybe even motivational posters. You could include all these things in your home gym to help you practice good form, chart your progress and encourage you to go just a few minutes longer. You may also want a stereo system to pump out your favorite high-energy tunes instead of relying on headphones.

5. Office Space

The work-from-home trend is here to stay, and whether you’re a freelancer or starting the next big success story from your garage, you need a quiet space set apart from the rest of your house to get your daily tasks accomplished. Aside from setting your hours and establishing boundaries with family and friends while you’re on the clock, you need a few home office essentials for success.

Start by shopping for a desk with the features you desire, whether that’s a keyboard tray, multiple drawers or the ability to convert to a standing desk. Pick up a computer with a high-speed internet connection and a multi-functional printer, as well as your phone, if you take a lot of calls throughout the day. A comfortable chair and an ergonomic arrangement for your keyboard, mouse and monitor is an absolute necessity. Then, inject a few personal touches, like framed photographs, plants or other meaningful trinkets.

Keep a planner or notebook by your side for scheduling your days or jotting down ideas. Stock up on the office supplies you use frequently, so you won’t have to run out to the store all the time. You can even try fun colors to brighten up a dull workday. Depending on your job, a paper shredder or file cabinet will come in handy, and a trash bin is always useful to have. If you’re selling products, set up shelves for your inventory and create a separate work area for preparing orders.

6. Home Theater

For film buffs or avid cinema-goers, nothing compares to the thought of having a private movie theater. On top of the personal satisfaction you’ll glean, family and friends will love coming over to eat popcorn and enjoy a motion picture at a fraction of the cost of the theater in town. The key is a big screen, top-notch sound equipment and an abundance of seating.

As electronic prices continue to drop, it shouldn’t be hard to stumble upon a television or projection system suitable for your home theater. Hook it up to an entertainment system for audio quality that will allow even those sitting in the back to catch every word. Whether you’re watching one flick or prepping for a movie marathon, you want to be comfortable, so don’t skimp on the armchairs or sofas you buy. Then, give the room a little character through touches like painting a starry ceiling or framing movie posters for your walls.

7. Guest Bedroom

If your parents or friends from your college days live miles away, they may visit several times throughout the year. Instead of making them pay for a hotel, provide accommodations through your garage-turned-guest-bedroom! The top priority is giving them a comfortable bed to rest in, followed by filling the room with cozy decor to make them feel right at home.

Budget permitting, you could go one step further and turn it into a full-on guest house or in-law apartment, complete with a separate bathroom and kitchen area. Stay simple with a toilet, shower, compact refrigerator and microwave, or add further amenities like a bathtub, stove and ample counter space to prepare meals. This option, of course, requires extensive electrical wiring, running water and natural gas. However, if you’re willing to go through the trouble of such a renovation, you’ll make their time in town feel like a mini-vacation.

8. Playroom for the Kids

Ask any parent, and they’ll tell you that children seem to possess limitless energy. Sometimes you need to prevent them from roughhousing in the kitchen or interrupting your phone calls, which is why putting together a playroom in the garage is a tempting proposition. You could set up a miniature city with a grocery store, restaurant and schoolhouse for hours of pretend play. Keeping them thoroughly occupied and developing their growing brains is killing two birds with one stone.

Taking a different route, you could hang swings, install monkey bars and throw gym mats on the floor for their private playground. Seal the deal by bringing in some of their favorite toys for when they finally tire of running around. With a bit of elbow grease, you’ll have the perfect place for your little ones to get active no matter the season.

9. Home Brewery

Some people want more than just a typical pub atmosphere in their man cave. They want something a little refined, something that reflects their knowledge of spirits of all sorts. For instance, you might convert the garage into premium wine storage through racks hung up on the walls or specialized wine coolers. Then, whenever you have company or a special occasion arises, you’ll be ready. Nothing helps you celebrate quite like optimally chilled wine.

You could also transform your garage into a part pub, part brewing station for a home brewery. After all, the federal government permits up to 200 gallons of homebrew in households with two or more residents. Take your hobby to the next level by constructing a home brewing kit and sampling your creations once they’ve fully fermented. Have your friends over to show off your newfound talent, and give them a way to let off steam after a hard day at work.

10. Laundry Room or Living Room

You may feel your house is perfect just as it is, except for one little thing. Maybe your living room is too cramped, or you don’t have a basement where you can tuck your laundry machines away. These garage conversion ideas may be enough to save the day.

A garage makes for a great laundry area, especially for families with several children. Though a laundry room isn’t the most exciting thing you can do with your garage, it’s undoubtedly among the most functional! There’s no need to worry about finding room for housing bulky appliances or folding clean clothes. Place your detergent, bleach, fabric softener and whatever else you need on floating shelves, and set up designated wires or drying racks for wet items. You could even make signs with stain suggestions, wash times and other fabric care tips as a helpful reminder to yourself.

Maybe your family doesn’t play games or watch many movies, but you still want a space for entertaining — and your living room isn’t cutting it. Use your garage to craft the ideal hangout spot that was never possible before! Your home could be a massive hit with a few sofas and loveseats and a cleverly concealed audio system. Don’t shy away from building a bar area because you want it to be kid-friendly. After all, the counter and refrigerator can just as easily serve sodas and snacks as they can alcoholic drinks.

Complete Renovations With a New Garage Door

As you can see, garage conversion ideas are seemingly endless. You’ll find all the information and examples you need to get started on your home improvement project with a little research. While learning how to convert your garage sounds intimidating at first, having a to-do list and hiring the right contractor makes a world of difference.

After updating your garage’s interior, you might stand back and admire your handiwork, only to find your garage door looks shabbier than you remembered. To complete your converted indoor space and make it a real masterpiece, consider a new garage door from Quality Overhead Door. Our selection includes only the best products from the most prominent garage door brands, with colors and styles that will match any home. We also provide services such as garage door installation, replacement and repair.

Choose Quality Overhead Door for a beautiful home both inside and out. Contact us today or visit our showroom!

Additional Resources on Garage Doors Tips:

• High Lift Garage Door Conversions
• Garage Cleaning/Organization Tips
• How to Keep Bugs and Pests Out of Your Garage
• Garage Door Lighting Ideas

How to Protect Your Patio from the Elements

Who doesn’t want a beautiful outdoor space to enjoy? But making an outdoor space that you and your family can use over the long-term without worry or stress means taking some extra precautions to protect your patio from the elements. After all, the stuff that helps you enjoy your patio is the same stuff that will be sitting outside in the snow, rain and beating sun throughout the year.

Here are a few ways to help protect your patio from the elements.

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What Does Your Front Door Say About You?

Your home’s exterior makes a statement, and your front door is the focal point of that message. But what does your front door say about you? Is it making the statement you want it to? It’s possible you want to send a specific message about yourself and your home using your front door, but you’re unsure of what to do or where to begin.

That’s why we’ve created this post about what your front door says about you! Here’s a rundown of things to know as you consider making a change to your front door style.

Material That Matters

The material your front door is made of will influence the message you’re able to send. If you’re looking for the old-school charm and classic refinement of a wood entry door, it’s hard to beat anything other than premium hardwood — though you can find some paints that give you the look of real wood.

Or, perhaps you’re a transparent person who wants glass more than anything as part of a front door. Fiberglass or steel can indicate a desire for low maintenance and simple beauty, and these materials can be painted easily, too, which gives you the opportunity to further express your personality through the paint color of your choice (more on this later).

Just make sure you consider your front door material, and what you’ll be able to do with it, before making a final decision on a product.

Accessorize Your Entryway

There’s more to a front door than just a front door! You’ll find a range of options when exploring front doors, including different metals for hinges, handles, thresholds and more. You’ll also have the choice of including a knocker or mail slot. These options are important because they’re part of what a front door says about you. Loud metals and lots of accessories can look a little busy and draw attention, no matter what material and color you choose for the actual entry door.

But, if you use black or dark metals with no accessories, you exude a clean look of simplicity when others arrive at your home. Make sure your front door material and the accessories you choose for it work together to create the perfect front door style for you, and to share the right message.

Choose the Perfect Color

Yes, material and accessories matter, but the most important component when thinking about what a front door says about you is the color. What color are you interested in?

Here’s a look at what different colors may say about you, your home and your personality:

• White: Nothing says organization quite like white. A neat and clean look shows that you like things to be pristine, but also that you’re willing to work hard to keep things that way. After all, white requires a great deal of maintenance and upkeep, as a bright white can wear down over time.
• Gray: While some prefer bright colors, others choose gray to indicate their preference for subtlety and natural beauty. A gray front door also shows an interest in timeless styles, as even the most ambitious and trendiest of grays will never go out of fashion.
• Black: Achieve a sense of decorum with a black front door. A black entry door shows off a chic worldliness that balances a reserved conservatism with a desire to visit, see and learn new things. Black suggests you know the right things to say and do, and that you know how to welcome visitors and make them feel at home.
• Blue: What type of blue are you interested in? A royal blue sends a message of family and tradition, while dark blue is the hue of peace and calm. Looking for a nice light blue? This is a color with coastal influences and a laidback, go-with-the-flow vibe.
• Green: A buttoned-up, prep-style choice for those who love all things fall. A green front door shows that the owner loves to entertain and welcome guests, but that autumn might be their most social time. Traditionally, green has meant growth, renewal, balance, peace and harmony, and the same goes for green entry doors today.
• Red: The color for all times and all places, there’s something uniquely appealing about a red door and the door’s owner. Red is bright, but it’s also elegant, enchanting, polished and nostalgic. Through history, red doors have sent specific messages in certain places. Red doors in early American history meant weary travelers were welcome to spend the night. In Scotland, a red door is an indication the home’s mortgage has been paid off. Today, red is a bold choice that is loud and colorful without losing a sense of refinement.
• Yellow: The color yellow holds so many meanings and says so many positive things about a homeowner: Humor, wisdom, curiosity, warmth. It’s the perfect color to let your personality shine through uniquely while also pleasing the crowd. A yellow front door is for the leaders — those who want something unique and different, but also something that is universally well-liked and that doesn’t make too loud a noise.

About Quality Overhead Door

At Quality Overhead Door, we specialize in entry doors in Toledo, garage doors in Toledo and other home products and services. When you need access to the best entry doors and expert guidance in the Toledo area, turn to the team at Quality Overhead Door.

Contact us today for entry doors in Toledo!

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Additional Resources on Entry Doors:

• Entry Door Buyer Guide
• How to Choose a Front Door Color
• What is a Standard Sized Front Door
• How to Choose a Front Door Style