In a quick changing climate like Denver's, you never know what the weather is going to look like. To make things even more interesting, that goes for hour-to-hour weather conditions just as much as it does Denver's five-day forecast. Since those kind of unpredictable conditions are about the only thing you can count on in Denver's climate, a garage door opener in Denver can be a blessing in disguise, protecting you from having to expose yourself to sudden summer thunder storms, freezing January temperatures, or the raging spring blizzards that every Denver native knows pack the worst punches of all.
Denver Garage Door Opener Costs
Besides being a real convenience to Mile High City homeowners, the cost of installing a garage door opener in Denver is surprisingly cheaper than in some other areas around the country. Using data we've gathered from the contractor referrals we provide homeowners up and down the Front Range, the average garage door opener in Denver costs just $275 to install. Compare that Boston's average of around $950 per installation, and it's clear how good Denver homeowners have it when it comes to this particular home improvement project.
Denver Garage Door Opener Types
Choosing the right garage door opener for your home can be tougher than you expect. With many different levels of technology, multiple drive mechanisms to choose from, and more brands available than there are fourteneers in Colorado, it helps to know what you're getting into. Starting with the basics, here are the drive mechanisms you're likely to run into as you start shopping around, and why they might be the right fit for you.
Chain Driven Garage Door Openers—Chain driven garage door openers are the "old reliables" of the Denver garage door opener market. These openers have been around from the beginning, are reliable, cost-effective, and proven in the field. They are considered noisy by some homeowners, however, especially compared to the other two common drive systems. That might seem a trivial concern for an area where you park your car, but it's certainly something to keep in mind if your baby nursery sits directly over the garage!
Belt Driven Garage Door Openers—The belt driven garage door opener in Denver works along the same principles as a chain driven model, but because it uses a rubber belt rather than a metal, linked chain, it's operation is virtually silent in comparison.
Screw Driven Garage Door Openers—Screw driven models utilize a large, threaded steel rod, or "screw," to lift and lower the garage door. Almost as silent as belt driven models, a screw driven garage door opener's real claim to fame is its strength when compared to belt and chain driven mechanisms.
Garage Door Opener Access: Remotes, Keyed Entry, and Keyless Entry
Besides choosing the right drive system for your needs, you'll also be faced with choosing the right entry systems for your garage door opener in Denver.
The Remote is your most important accessory, and is the industry name for the portable remote control that most homeowners refer to as "the garage door opener" ("Honey, have you seen the garage door opener in the Buick?" "It's clipped to the visor!"). Remotes come in models with single or multiple buttons, the latter of which can be independently programmed to provide individual access to multi-car garages. Also, hold out for a remote that uses rolling frequencies, for security reasons. That way it will be nearly impossible for burglars to detect your frequency, and use their own remote to access your garage for nefarious purposes.
Keypads and Keyless Entry are access options that allow you to enter your garage without your remote, yet still retain a high level of security for your home. Numbered keypads have been around a while, and require the homeowner to enter the correct number sequence to open the garage door. Keyless entries, on the other hand, usually use a "fob" system. The fob, a small device that fits on your key chain, is passed in front of a detection panel and . . . Open Sesame!.
Computerized Access is the way of the future. For quite a bit more in change, you can hook your garage door opening system in Denver up to a central computer that can be accessed from remote locations, such as from your office or business. Often combined with security monitoring, these systems allow you to open the door from afar for repairmen and other scheduled visitors, without giving out passwords or fobs. With the rapid development of technology, even in the garage door opener sector, this is surely only the tip of the iceberg of what's to come.
If you're ready to install or replace a Denver garage door opener, talk to a contractor who specializes in these installations about what it's going to take to get your installation up and running. And remember, the more complicated of a system you choose, the more valuable hiring a quality professional to perform the install is going to be if you want it done right. A Denver garage door opener is a great investment. Just be sure that you put as much thought into who you have install your system as you do into which system to buy in the first place. 
Matt Goering, formerly a carpenter and house painter, is a freelance writer for the home improvement industry who has published over 600 articles.
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