In 1983 we moved into a home on Tucson’s northeast side that has served my parents well ever since. They’ve consistently cared for the house and made smart investments over the years—replacing the roof, installing tile, and repaving the driveway. The house looks as fresh as ever, except for the garage door, which had finally worn out.
The house originally lacked a proper garage door. After a few items were stolen (including our bikes), my parents decided to install a door for security. To help combat desert heat and match the home’s exterior, they chose a plain white door. Over the years they replaced the opener and some hardware, but kept the original door itself.
Here are a few before photos of the door’s interior and exterior. It was a simple steel door—functional but without character, much like those found on many tract homes.
After learning more about Clopay and the energy-saving improvements in modern garage doors, I suggested a replacement. My parents were drawn to Clopay’s Steel Gallery style and had long wanted windows to bring extra light into the garage. Because energy retention matters in 110+°F Arizona summers, they chose the 2″ polyurethane insulation, which provides an R-value of 18.4—helpful for keeping the garage cooler.
We used Clopay’s online Garage Door Designer to choose the style, insulation level, hardware, color, and window options. By uploading a photo of the house, we previewed how the new door would look before committing to the purchase.
Mike from Kaiser Garage Door handled the installation. In under three hours he had removed the old door and fitted the new one, replacing nearly all the old track, adding a new spring, and installing the hardware on site.
Most sectional garage doors arrive from the factory in panels sized to the homeowner’s specifications. This install featured four panels, with the top section containing the windows.
The new Clopay door operates smoothly and is a substantial upgrade over the original. Though the design is understated, it adds a refined touch to the home’s facade. My parents are thrilled with the result and believe their new door is the best-looking garage door on the block. The improved curb appeal is noticeable.
Below are a few photos from the installation. We’ve also shared the complete set on our Facebook page.
