For Australian homeowners, tackling mould can, unfortunately, be a fairly common problem. Our warm and humid climate, particularly in coastal areas such as Wollongong, provides just the right conditions for mould to thrive.

While our homes usually have good ventilation to help prevent mould growth, garages are another matter. Mould loves areas of high moisture and humidity, meaning garage environments, in particular, can provide a damp and musty haven for mould growth.

Why is Mould Common in Australian Garages?

The garage can often become a neglected part of the house. We use it to store tools, unused items, storage containers full of souvenirs and unwanted gifts… in fact, it can quite easily turn into more of a junkyard than anything!

Boxes of stored belongings and stacks of magazines or newspapers can get mouldy. Camping equipment can get particularly mouldy, especially if put away when still damp. In addition, driving a car into the garage in rainy weather brings in a lot of water that can lead to mould growth.

The Risks of Having Mould in Your Garage

Mould in your garage can cause all the same health problems as mould in your house.

And because garages are not airtight, mould spores can make their way into your home from the garage. Not only can this make you sick but also mould spores can then settle in your home and start growing.

Mould can lead to serious health problems, including asthma attacks, pneumonia, other respiratory disorders, migraine headaches and allergic reactions.

A Good Garage Door Can Help Protect from Mould

Your garage door is key to keeping moisture out of your garage. Essentially, to reduce the risk of mould in your garage you want to keep water out and keep sunlight in. Focus on making sure your garage is:

• Dry
• Well ventilated
• Full of natural light
• Well-sealed

Having the right garage door will give you control over these factors, protecting your garage, stored items, and your family’s health.

Keeping Your Garage Dry and Well Ventilated

The key to keeping your garage mould-free is to make sure it’s dry and well ventilated. Mould simply won’t flourish in an area that’s bone dry and airy, as opposed to damp and musty.A simple way to keep weather and mould out is to add a seal around the garage door. These may need to be checked and replaced to ensure the protection of your door and your garage contents. There are seal options for dust and fire proofing, contact Impact Garage Doors for more information.

If your garage door isn’t protecting your garage interior from the elements, allowing rain inside, replacing or upgrading the door will be your best defence against mould.

When choosing a garage door, talk to a professional about recommending a product that will ensure dryness and ventilation. Tilt doors, for example, offer a perfect solution for enabling airflow and ventilation.

Sunlight, the Natural Mould Killer

One of the best ways to deter mould from your garage is to let in some sunlight. Mould hates sunlight! Impact Garage Doors offer Perspex garage doors, which lets a lot of natural light in, keeping your garage dryer, brighter and reduces the build-up of mould.

Unless you’re home during the day, it’s impractical to leave your garage door open for hours at a time. A windowed garage door that allows sunlight to stream in is a great solution for this.

Choose Mould-Rejecting Materials

Did you know that mould also hates aluminium? Metal and aluminium are great inhibitors of mould and can really help prevent mould from forming.

So when choosing a garage door, consider metal or aluminium products – mould won’t grow as well on these products, reducing your risk of mould spreading through your garage and home. Talk to a professional garage door supplier about products such as Gliderol steel roller doors or panel glide overhead doors – their sleek metal materials are a good bet against mould.

For more advice and information about replacing or upgrading your garage doors, talk to the team at Impact Garage Doors in Wollongong. Call 02 4044 0809 or simply contact us online.

As a homeowner, maintaining the security of your home and family is no doubt a top priority.

Whether you live alone, with a partner, or are part of a large family, you’ll want to feel safe and secure in the house you live in, protecting your possessions and also your own wellbeing.

While many of us spend a lot of money and time enforcing the security of doors and entrances, you may have neglected to pay attention to your garage door. Garage doors, as key entry points to the home, must be made secure.

Here are some tips for you to improve your garage security, and increase your peace of mind.

Choose a Reputable and Secure Garage Door Brand

When buying a new garage door, visit a professional for expert advice and tell them safety and security is paramount to your peace of mind.

You may want to consider a solid door without windows. If you prefer having daylight in the garage, ask for the windows to be installed in the top section to make the inside less visible. You can also frost your existing windows.

With top brands like Gliderol and Tower Garage Doors, you can be guaranteed strength – their ranges include strong products such as roller doors reinforced with an aluminium bottom rail for maximum protection. They’ll also add a quality appearance to the front of your home, a strong appearance to deter intruders and thieves.

Keep Your Garage Door Closed

Always keep the garage door properly closed, even when you’re at home. Getting into this habit will ensure you don’t accidentally leave the house without securely locking up. It’ll also keep you safe from anybody entering the home through the garage door when you are at home.

Also, don’t ever leave your garage door open when you’re not around. This gives everyone visual access to anything valuable that might be stored inside. And don’t forget the garage door when you’re locking up at night.

Light up Your Garage

Illuminate the exterior of your garage with a spotlight or motion sensing light, for added security and peace of mind.

Remote Control and Alarm Code Safety

Don’t leave your garage door remote out in the open, visible to people passing by – who may include potential thieves and intruders. If you must keep the remote control in your car at night, put it in the glove box, away from sight.

Consider using a key chain remote and always lock the entry to the inside of your home – especially if your opener is programmed to your vehicle.

If you’ve invested in an alarm system for the garage, don’t ever give out the security code to your exterior wireless keypad. If you do have to share it with someone, such as a service provider, be sure to clear out the old code and reprogram the keypad with a new one.

Don’t Do Any DIY Modifications to Garage Doors

If you have an electric garage door, then it’s essential that you speak with the manufacturer before undertaking any modifications. Whilst you do so you may also want to ask them for their tips and tricks for security improvement.

Keeping Your Home Secure When on Vacation

When leaving for extended periods of time, always remember to lock the garage door and set the vacation lock switch on your wall station. You could also unplug the garage door opener.

The professionals at Impact Garage Doors can provide you with expert advice on the best garage doors to make you feel safe and secure in your home. Call us on 02 4044 0806 or simply contact us online for a free quote, or to book an appointment with one of our experienced technicians.

It may not sound like a big decision, but choosing a garage door is an important choice for any homeowner.

Because garage doors are generally at the front of your home and directly in street view, they can add or detract value from your home, increasing or decreasing curb appeal. Your garage door choice should complement your home’s exterior, while reflecting the lifestyle and personality of your home and family.

Whether you’re replacing your garage door, or upgrading to a more modern style, you’ll want to consider factors such as size, climate, insulation properties and door material, to help determine which model is best for you.

Here, we’ll walk you through choosing a garage door in 3 easy steps.

Choose from a Wide Range of Garage Door Styles

Whether you’re looking for something with natural beauty or a more practical and contemporary design, a good garage door supplier should offer a wide range of styles – from high-end custom designs, to more simple and traditional options.

Some of the most popular styles of garage doors include:

• High-End Designer Doors – high quality contemporary designs built to last
• Panel Glide Overhead Doors – sleek, sliding doors in a range of COLORBOND® colours
• Roller Doors – easy to operate, top security
• Tilt Doors – a traditional choice for all budgets

Garage Door Materials to Suit All Tastes and Budgets

Garage doors can be made in a variety of materials – allowing you to choose from the beauty of natural wood or the energy efficiency, durability, and low maintenance of steel and aluminium. Choose a material that fits with the overall aesthetic of your home and its existing colour palette.

You can even achieve a natural timber look without committing to the price. Panel Glide doors, for example, are available in a variety of finishes and COLORBOND® colours. The raised panel design is meant to evoke the quality of solid timber panelling, and the door itself can be fashioned with either a wood grain or smooth texture finish.

Does Your Garage Door Need Insulation, Glass or Remote Control?

Now that you’ve decided on the style and material of your garage doors, you’ll want to consider whether you need to add insulation, glass panelling, remote control access and any other accessories.

Garage Door Insulation

If your garage is attached to your home, adjacent to your family room or directly below a bedroom, you can use insulation to control both noise and temperature. Speak to a professional garage door technician about insulating your garage.

Lighting and Ventilation

Do you have enough lighting in your garage? Some people use their garage space for alternative uses, such as practice rooms, art studios or kids’ playrooms. Whether you’re using it to fix cars or be creative, you’ll need enough light and ventilation to make the space safe and comfortable.

Tilt doors offer great airflow, as well as allowing you to easily bring in natural light from the outside.

Remote Control Access

Check with your garage door expert, to see what styles come with the added benefit of remote control access. The convenience of keyless entry lets you control a range of additional features, linking your garage doors, gates, security lights and other technologies in your home – making your life a whole lot more streamlined!

Contact the Garage Door Experts

For the best advice and expert opinion, call or visit a garage door specialist. They’ll be able to provide you with all the information you need about styles, materials, and added features for your garage door.

Impact Garage Doors are the garage door specialists, offering a huge selection of high quality and high-end products, made from local Australian aluminium and fine Western Red Cedar, or even a combination of timber and metal!

Call 02 4044 0809 or simply contact us online for free advice and to discuss your options.