Future-proofing the Amenity of your Home

When we think about future-proofing our homes it is usually with an eye to technology. However, with an increasing focus on reducing our carbon footprint and maximising our built environment, there are also ways in which we can future proof the structure itself.

Garage conversions are not a new concept and it’s a great way of increasing the livability of your home without increasing its footprint, however, they are usually an afterthought and there is always an air of ‘garage-ness’ about them.

That doesn’t have to be the case, with some careful forethought, says Prestige Doors & Gates General Manager Ben Broide.

“Typically, very little attention is paid to garage spaces during construction, particularly pertaining to elements such as insulation, so when homeowners decide to undertake a conversion there is usually quite a bit of remedial work to undertake.

“However, much, if not all, of that can be mitigated at build stage with reasoned planning and by choosing the right products from the outset and that includes your garage doors.”

One of the most telling elements to any garage conversion are the existing doors, which tend to be rather rudimentary in terms of design. As such, try as you might, the space always feels underdone.

Specifying the right type of garage door at the design phase of your home will make it easier and more cost-effective to carry out a conversion later on, says Ben.

“Look for doors that offer proper insulation and have the option of incorporating windows for letting in natural light, that way, you won’t have to replace them when you undertake a conversion project.

“Similarly, the right material is crucial for the longevity of your garage doors and their suitability when looking at a conversion project. Prestige offers a range of aluminium garage doors designed to stand up to the harsh New Zealand conditions and which are fabricated on a welded aluminium frame, offering superior strength to many standard doors available in the market.

“Additionally, the powder coated finish—available in a large selection of Dulux colours—offers a sleek, modern look, which will help enhance the appearance of your property and, perhaps best of all, doesn’t require ongoing painting or staining, making the doors very low maintenance.”

Most of the doors offered by Prestige Doors & Gates can also be further customised with laser cut panels, adding an additional layer of individuality to your house.

“Often homeowners will also order a matching aluminium gate to secure their property. The integration of the two design elements creates a modern, coordinated property profile,” says Ben.

“One of the biggest benefits to choosing the right door for your garage at the design phase is that, as easy as it is to convert the garage into an additional living space as your family’s needs change, it is just as easy to convert the space back again if you decide to sell, without the added expense of needing to change doors a second time.

“Or it may just be that the kids have grown up and moved out of home and the extra living area is no longer required. Either way, your house can function on multiple levels without the need for costly, time-consuming renovations, or the need for council approval.”

Prestige Doors & Gates will work with your architect or designer to produce the right garage door for your requirements.

“Everything we do is custom,” says Ben. “Anything you can conceive of, we will find a way to make it work, with doors from 1.5m up to 8m spans.”

All doors are manufactured in the company’s Auckland factory and Prestige Doors & Gates handles all installations within the Auckland region. Outside of Auckland, the company employs a network of affiliated installers to ensure the highest level of customer satisfaction.

Learn more about custom garage doors.