For those keen on preserving history, this blog is for you! The iconic show, This Old House, recently completed a project with Sweenor Builders in Narragansett, Rhode Island. They set out to revive an adorable - albeit dilapidated - seaside home with the intention of matching 'the existing structure without overpowering it" while incorporating today's modern innovations with the integrity of the original architecture. This project requirement led them straight to a set of Fimbel American Legends for the prominent garage door openings.

History Meets Today:

In many historic towns, such as Narragansett, the desire to preserve the image and integrity of the rich history means rigorous expectations are set to uphold the features. We find time and again that our doors meet the character, the appearance, and the sustainability demanded of these organizations. With the look of painted wood, the simulated divided lites, the ability to build in 1" height and width increments to accommodate awkward openings, and the opportunity to customize to meet design and historic desires allows our doors to make the cut. 

The follow information is from Narragansett's Historic Preservation Standards and Guidelines which will show a solid example of the requirements to meet historic expectations:

• Respect the original historical design character of the building and its setting. Don't try to make the building appear older (or younger) in architectural style than it really is. Above all, the genuine (authentic) heritage of Narragansett should be expressed; not an imagined history.
• Research the building to determine which elements are essential to its character. Preserve features in your work plan.
• Retain and provide protection and maintenance of historic features that survive in generally good condition.
• Repair historic materials and features that are deteriorated.
• Replace historic materials and features with new materials in-kind where deterioration is so extensive that repair is not possible.

Upon seeing these expectations, it is no wonder Fimbel doors are a premier choice for historic renovation projects!

The Seaside Victorian Cottage:

In Season 42 of This Old House, The Seaside Victorian Cottage built in 1887 when Narragansett first surged in popularity as a summer resort is a "three-bedroom, one-bathroom Queen Anne Victorian in the heart of Narragansett, Rhode Island sits on a corner lot, steps from the beach. It is in poor condition with rot, deterioration, and structural damage. The design will replicate the exterior architectural details, such as the curved shingles and the "rising sun" patterned clapboards, as well as improve the foundation and footings, fix and expand the deteriorating porch, and replace the rotting roof."

More than a century later, and after having been abandoned for a few years, the home sat prominently along one of Narragansett's main thoroughfares in severely poor condition. The original structure (the left side of the final result) has been preserved and enhanced, and the new garage add-on with the master suite is on the right. The middle of the home is joined by a mudroom, bathroom, and hallway. With consideration for yesterday, this home now satisfies all the needs of today's family.

Sweenor Builders, lead by Jeff Sweenor, has completed four projects with the This Old House brand, and each one demonstrates talent, creativity, and respect for the craft. The Seaside Victorian home was now exception. They took on this renovation by holding true to their mission:

Since 1989, it has been our mission to make custom home design and construction, an experience that our clients enjoy. With a genuine enthusiasm for what do, we apply in- depth building and design experience to ensure you a rewarding and personalized process from start to finish. This is what sets us apart — shapes our values, and the way we do business.

As a team, they designed a home that "will replicate the exterior architectural details such as the curved shingles and the "rising sun" patterned clapboards, preserve all the windows, improve the foundation and footings, fix and expand the deteriorating porch, and replace the rotting roof. A new addition that includes a two-car garage and mudroom on the first floor and a master suite on the second floor will match the existing structure without overpowering it."

More in a Garage Door:

The alignment of this project, with it's respect for the history and the design, brings us right to the garage doors used to complete the facade.We set out to elevate the garage door industry from just fine to fabulous (while still affordable), and we made that happen with the American Legends series: The first classic carriage style door made with vinyl clad steel and solid overlays. In the late 90's and early 80's, we saw the market lacked a true carriage door with the classic big windows and the sturdy overlay look, and we had the innovation and the experience to make it happen. This series offers all the appeal of a painted wood door, but the longevity, cost, and low-maintenance appeal for the needs of any home and homeowner!

Other manufacturers in the industry came close, but with the lumpy, embossed wood-grain texture, the plastic window inserts, and the weak construction, the end look lacked the quality and accuracy of a historic carriage style door. We saw this, and we stepped it up knowing homeowners and historical societies alike would respond with delight!

Using a vinyl-coated steel pan and applying composite overlays to create a classic wood door look, this Series lives everywhere - even near the ocean without rotting and rusting. Adding our smooth, solid overlays made of sustainable material separates us from the competition's fake wood grain. With customizable top designs in 1" height increments, we offer you more. The American Legends Series was engineered for longevity and designed for beauty at a price point sure to please.

To read more about our American Legends Series used on the Seaside Victorian Cottage restoration by Sweenor Builders and This Old House, please enjoy this blog!

To find a dealer near you ang get started on your perfect garage door, please visit our Dealer Locator!

#TOHSeasideVictorian 

Just like taste in music, the way we typically use our garage is unique to each household. Some garages are super organized for maximum use, and others are really full of toys and tools and tubs for storage while some are hubs of productivity. Either way, we know that the word garage comes from the French word "Garer" which means to shelter, and however you choose to use the space, your garage doors should shelter you, your family, and your home.

This often underappreciated space takes on a variety of uses, but employing its best use is more important today than ever as we continue to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic and associated quarantines. Capitalizing on our available square-footage has become critical! Though you may need to amend your electric and insulation for some desired uses, you can gain more satisfaction with a little prioritization and consideration of how you will enjoy your garage.

We appreciate that old adage that "creativity is often born of constraint", and today we have to be more clever and efficient than before, so let's take a look at how to make the most of your space.

How do you use it today, and how would you like to use it tomorrow? Often times we take for granted this space as simply the place to park a car (if there is room) and hide our stuff. At Fimbel ADS, we challenge this thinking and ask you to visualize what you wish the space could be! In all forms of continuous improvement, which is how we operate, a clear vision based on goals and values is always the first place to start.

• Is your family growing as you welcome more children? Or are you facing the opportunity of an empty nest to reclaim the garage?
• Have you aspired to bring new hobbies or side-hustles to your daily routine?
• Do you need to escape to a garage based 'man cave' or 'she shed'?
• Or do you simply need it to bring more function to a chaotic lifestyle?

Answering these questions should point you to a few ideas, but if you need to get the thinking-gears-a-turnin', there are some suggestions below to inspire you.

Consider a few things as you get started. What is working well today and what proves to be a nuisance? Start by assessing the current use of the space and availability for change. Be sure there is space for safety and comfort. Establishing a value system is key. Unless you're considering a renovation, the space is fixed in its capacity and may not accommodate all of the aspirations you hold. But understanding what brings the most satisfaction will help make the best decision for your unique situation. While some people love to keep the garbage bin right by the door for easy access others would be appalled and choose to keep any aromas farther away though adding additional effort to the regular chore. Life is all about decisions, creativity, and preparation!

Some ideas for unique and effective ways to use your garage are listed below, but be sure to apply your own spin and make it your own!

• Storage: Consider the methods you will use for safe and repeatable storage: racks, bins, labels (Oh...how I love my label maker), zones, color coding, and more! Check out our Pinterest page for more organization ideas!
• Workshop: Consider the right workbench, tools, electrical availability, lighting, and storage to all your craftsmanship to shine!
• Entertainment: Consider the electrical needs for a home movie theater, the water and electric for a home bar, soundproofing for band practice or a performance, and don't forget the comfy seating!
• Craft and Art Space: Consider your favorite hobbies and prepare for the organization, implementation, and cleanup to make crafting a breeze. Don't forget to account for necessary insulation and lighting to allow for year round creativity!
• Greenhouse: Consider the climate of your desired horticultural endeavour and work with the lighting, electric, ventilation, and irrigation of your target!
• Beer Brewing (or wine or spirits): Consider the climate control needed, the electrical needs, and the storage for your desired libations!

For example, if your vision has you aspiring to create a classroom to teach an art class, is it also reasonable to fit both cars in the garage? Will the space allow both cars to enter easily and move in and out of the doors unobstructed? If this is the case and the art class is the priority, a shift in focus may be needed. Perhaps one car may find its home outside of the garage during classes. Perhaps a protective coating is used on the floor to allow for easy cleanup of paint or dirt dripped from the cars. Perhaps using clever storage options such as rolling racks for easels and rolling carts for supplies provides enough agility to have it all effortlessly! Perhaps you really can have it all!

For many, this requires a purge of the stuff you keep. It may be hard to let go of keepsakes or old bikes, but establishing your garage as a functional space requires decluttering. You can read along with this blog we wrote on organizing your garage!

You have made the decisions and done the work, so be sure the garage and the garage door support the lifestyle you have just built. After accommodating any insulation or electrical needs, be sure the garage door offers effortless maintenance, solid insulation, and lasting satisfaction.

Our organization hangs our hat on safety and quality not only in how we make our products, but we want you to feel the benefits of that. Fimbel doors are manufactured to be safety first. You, your family, your home, and yOur doors are engineered for durability! We know that poorly fitted doors are not only unsightly but also allow unwanted openings. Since we can match nearly any opening, weather, burglars, and bugs will not have access to your home through the garage door!

Fimbel doors offer you a low-maintenance lifestyle. The clean appearance of the door should last for years to come with a gentle clean with mild soap and water. No harsh abrasives or undue elbow grease necessary. This aspect may be overlooked, but when we consider the supply chain for cleaning products, the time and effort to implement the cleaning, and the residual waste moving into the earth, we see our processes make way for sustainability.

Another way that we encourage sustainability is in the benefits you will feel toward energy efficiency! To get a basic idea, the older the door the more likely it is that money is seeping out through it. Our doors are made with insulation that is laminated and completely fill the cavity inside the door to keep air from moving around and through the door. A well-insulated door will reduce energy costs as well as maintain temperatures set in the garage. We want to help you keep cool air in during the summer and cold air out during the winter!

One of the longest lasting aspects of our doors is the contribution made upon purchase. For every door we sell, we work with our partners at One Tree Planted to plant a tree on your behalf. We know the resources generously given my Mother Nature need replenishing, and we want to pay it forward!

All of this points to a Fimbel door where we have built a legacy and our lifestyle around your satisfaction. From the materials we choose to the culture we create to the operations that guide our practices, we want to bring you quality that endures. We run on solar and plant a tree for every door sold, so we know we are dedicated to making life work for all. All Fimbel products come fully insulated with offerings for insulated glass packages to help control temperature and noise.

Let us welcome you to a garage lifestyle that satisfies!

Find a dealer through our Dealer Locator to get started! 

For more tips and tricks, check out the gems in "The Ultimate Garage Storage Guide" our friends at Porch.com.

Our family has manufactured garage doors for nearly a century, and we wouldn't be here today if not for the roots that ground us to quality and tradition as well as our ability to look ahead and employ innovation! In this way, we bring to the market garage doors that offer you more. Blending old-school craftsmanship with new-school mindsets, we offer a gamut of designs from carriage and traditional to custom and modern.

Modern architecture is defined as "a design language with an emphasis on form rather than ornament; structure and materials rather than picturesque constructions; and the rational and efficient use of space." While modern architecture has its roots in the 1890s, it became increasingly popular in the 1930s. For garage doors, this means the design captures the elements of contemporary architecture with clean, horizontal lines with mid-century appeal, sleek window shapes and configurations, and artsy complements.

At Fimbel ADS, much like at Burger King, you can have it 'your way'! We pride ourselves on offering you more in your garage door, and want to inspire you to think beyond the traditional and carriage style designs of many doors today and explore a door with a modern twist! 

Two Platforms with Many Directions:

Essentially, we make two products – two platforms - upon which you can design away regardless of your desire to select from traditional to modern! We offer the American Legends using a vinyl clad steel pan and applying vinyl overlays to create the look of a classic wood door. This door is exceptional for two main reasons - the first is the platform (pan) made of a smooth, steel base created for the elements that we coat (clad) in a thin layer of crisp, white vinyl. This innovation allows for the American Legends series to live nearly anywhere, even near the ocean, without rusting and rotting away in the elements. The second is the addition of our smooth, solid overlays made of sustainable material. Separating ourselves from the competition's fake wood grain completes the constructed look to appear as real, painted, traditional wood and follows the sleek lines of modern doors. Both features ensure the longevity our ethics demand of us, the look we all crave, and a price point sure to please. These doors are typically more aligned with traditional and carriage designs, but our Estate Collection makes way for your design aspirations to come to life!

The Estate Collection:

The Estate Collection, truly welcomes the designer in all of us to emerge with the blend between tradition and innovation. Using a hand placed wood frame and nesting in our insulation, we laminate a vinyl back cover and a solid vinyl exterior that encases the face. This slab now becomes a blank slate to bring you more for your door.

Using both ⅜" and ¾" material, Versatex for unfinished doors and Tricoya for finished doors, we have options to add select profiles, shapes, configurations, and nearly limitless designs to satisfy inspiration. These capabilities allow us to build the door in 1" height and width increments as well as modify the core frame to accommodate windows and designs. You will see these designs in our Euro-Dor and Presidential Series offering carriage, traditional, and modern styles. 

To get a better idea of the products we offer, follow this link to our product guide, but today, as we look ahead to the future, we eagerly offer you a glimpse into our modern offerings.

You won't find modern quite like this in many places! The architect, who built the structure with a nautical theme, curving fiberglass and masonry sides, along with a wall of glass facing the Long Island Sound, says he likes to think of it as a giant suspended wave. He wanted the durability of nature with the comforts of home, and its seashell-like strength was demonstrated during superstorm Sandy.

We found this article really helpful when looking into the details of this home! Enjoy this article from Newsday!

For this project, the homeowner wanted to replace the standard garage door with a modern complement to the home's architectural design. Using our Estate Collection platform, we reorganized the window layout and had a custom stain applied. The result is the look of individual planks of wood compiled into a four-section overhead door. 

While the design of the door is rather simple, the impact is gigantic. The consistency of the faux stain and the quality of the windows adds satisfaction that will last. 

What design element or architectural feature can we help you enhance?

We don't hold back with the designs on our doors, so we can't hold back on the designs of our glass sections. Much like the sections described above, we use a solid sheet to create the face and contain the design. The one-piece grille with no joints or inserts and various profile options adds instant design appeal. In most of our doors we offer both large or small window options with custom designs, including window shape and placement, and custom arches available for your design needs.

Make it your own by choosing specialty glass for your garage door. With these options and many more, you can add style and details to your project while managing your privacy and the natural light you let in!

We are proud that our doors do more than bring beauty that lasts. They also support our mission for sustainability. Behind the smooth, high end look of wood, we use composite materials made from partners who value the earth as much as we do. Our doors are durable to stand the test of time as well as low-maintenance to add time to your lifestyle.

All Fimbel products are insulated and engineered for sustainability. The products and processes we design are done to serve you and Mother Earth. We run on solar and give back our extra to the grid. We also plant one tree for each and every door we sell to be sure that future generations can enjoy the bounty and breath of our forests.

For 95 years, our family has committed to the Legacy of the past and the hope for the future. We want our doors to bring you the same pride, so we offer a robust long-life warranty regardless of geography. We are proud to stand behind our products, and we are excited for you to experience the Fimbel difference. If you would like to request a sample sent right to your home, please follow this link to get connected! 

● Your garage door should be regularly inspected for basic function. Please contact a professional installer before performing any significant work on your own.
● Your automatic door is a convenience: It should safely function with ease and without much noise. If the movement of the door is not smooth, you may have an unsafe condition. It is
possible the spring system has become unbalanced and should only be maintained by a trained professional.
● The genius of a garage door opener is its ability to reverse direction. When a descending garage door meets an obstruction, it reverses to avoid it. If your door does not reverse readily after
contacting an obstruction, the opener's sensitivity may need adjustment. See your owner's manual for how to adjust your opener's sensitivity or call a professional.
● Included in the reverse feature is the photoelectric eye system. Installed 4-6" above the garage floor, and the eyes should be facing each other. As the door descends, the photoelectric eyes
will catch any people or animals crossing the light beam. If your opener does not have photoelectric eyes, you may want to call a professional for an upgrade.
● Normal wear and tear may invite some squeaks and noise. As the squeaks and noises present, try a spray-on lubricant (recommended especially for garage doors). If this doesn't resolve the
problem, reach out to a professional to assess the system. This is important because the springs are the most important and dangerous port of the door. Though they should last 5-10 years, it
is important to listen and watch for any issues to avoid catastrophe.
● When a garage door is properly installed, it should be rather quiet in its movements and operation. Any time grinding or scratching sounds present, consider it a red flag to call a
professional.  

Observe:

In most homes, the garage door is typically the largest moving system and is normally used several times a day. Over time, parts can wear out and break - creating potential safety problems. Although we
encourage monthly safety checks – May is Garage Door Safety month and a great time to get a professional installer to check your system. To find a dealer near you, visit our dealer locator!
A HUGE thank you to our Partners at the IDA for sharing this incredible information with us in order to help serve you, our customer!

#GarageDoorSafety

#MoreInAGarageDoor

There are many reasons to replace a garage door from increasing curb appeal to the impressive return on your investment to accidentally driving through a few sections to new builds and renovations. Whatever your reason, we have some tips and tricks on how to protect your purchases. Far too often we get contacted by a homeowner asking how to repair damage from flying masonry or remove splattered block spots from the driveway installation.

I cannot tell you the sadness this causes us. There is pride built into each door we manufacture, and each process was designed for beauty and durability. When we see avoidable issues defacing our doors, it's like we become the Garage Door Lorax (The Lorax speaks for the trees...and...well...we speak for the garage doors). So at this time, we formally declare the garage door deserves a more strategic dot on the timeline for garage/exterior renovations.

While we can manage several of these issues through repairs and/or replacements, our goal is for your experience with our garage doors to be a positive one, so we are here today to shed some light on what to consider before scheduling the installation.

There are several factors that can help select the right door for you. While design usually tops the list of factors (you can read more about our door designs here), we will focus today on those that contribute to the overall and super critical conversation around the life expectancy of a garage door.

Overall Quality of the Construction: When we build, we build to last. For nearly a century we have been manufacturing garage doors, and times have surely changed. Now we see design innovation and manufacturing excellence furnishing garages with absolute beauty and supreme function. At Fimbel ADS we are committed to carrying forth the quality and craftsmanship our great-grandfather built our family business upon while blending in the marvels of today's manufacturing capabilities. You will not find a more beautiful or durable door in the market because we have engineered our doors for your satisfaction.

Material Selection: We know that sustainability is important to today's buyer, and it is important to us. We choose materials that support our dedication to quality of the product as well as our dedication to sustainable practices and mindsets. Not only do we run on solar, we recycle every available component to reduce our imprint. Our chosen materials are engineered to work together to offer a beautiful and durable door you can count on. For example, the combination of the specifically chosen door material and the high-tech, eco-friendly paint system we selected is critical and allows us great confidence as we stand behind our products.

Geography: The combination of our construction and our materials results in garage doors that have withstood brutal impacts from hurricanes and intense winter weather, and they stand up to all of it while preserving the beauty. Because of these rigorous approaches to our final product, we are confident our doors will last whether they are living oceanside or mountaintop.

Required Maintenance: Our lifestyles are busy and continue to get busier which puts more demand on the products we purchase to bring nearly effortless maintenance. Though our doors look like wood, they are made of materials engineered for ease. Establishing a regular maintenance schedule with your installer will provide safe, convenient operation of your garage door.

Life Happens - We offer replacement sections on nearly every door we sell. You can be sure the sections will line up and the swap will be effortless when done by an authorized dealer. More often than not, manufacturers cannot supply just the one section thus requiring purchase of a whole new door. Not with Fimbel. Our technology gives you more options. So whether little Tommy and his hockey puck cause the damage, or an unwitting contractor attempts removal of cement with simple green*, we can offer you a replacement section you can count on.

*note: do not try this on a Fimbel garage door.

Now that you have selected a door that will bring you more no matter the circumstance, protecting your investment is rather simple but may require you to be proactive with the team. Having a discussion with the General Contractor on the project as well as the garage door installer is critical. They will need to discuss with the sheetrock team and the electrical team as well as others, so this conversation should happen early.

Here are some key aspects to discuss with your team prior to installation of the garage door:

1. Is the flooring of the garage poured and levelled?
2. Are the dimensions for the opening confirmed?
3. Has the drywall for the garage been installed?
4. Has electricity been run if the doors need to be operable?
5. Will there be stonework done around the perimeter of the opening?
6. Is the driveway completed?
7. When are inspections scheduled? And what are they looking for regarding the garage door?

Coordinating this timeline will keep your beautiful doors from encountering any offense from falling ladders, splattered chemicals and materials, and whatever else a busy construction site can through at it. Our caution really boils down to this: We do not recommend installing the overhead doors early. They risk damage that may not be repairable. If there is no compelling urgency for safety, we suggest waiting until the end of the project to install the garage door.

I live in a 'smarter - not harder' world, and we aspire to bring that mindset to your garage door experience. In the photos above, we could point our several ways our gorgeous doors could be unnecessarily damaged, and we want to point that out to you to ensure you get more out of your door!

There is overwhelming evidence that a quality, high end garage door replacement adds value to your curb appeal and your wallet. "Compared with 22 other common home-improvement projects, an upscale garage door replacement offers one of the biggest bangs for your buck and costs much less than many other home improvement projects" according to the Remodeling Magazine's 2020 Cost vs. Value Report. Coming in at #2 with a 94.5% ROI at resale, the garage clearly deserves some consideration on when it will be installed to be sure you get the most out of it!

Find MORE in a garage door by finding your dealer today!