Clopay^® Partners with HGTV Designer on Historic Firehouse Renovation

Garage door manufacturer Clopay has teamed up with HGTV “Kitchen Cousins” series co-host and construction expert Anthony Carrino on the renovation of an 1890s fire station that is being converted into a personal residence in his hometown of Jersey City, NJ.

Serving as designer and general contractor, Carrino is documenting the firehouse project in a professionally produced 12-part remodeling reality series called TheBuild.tv.

“I’ve put together real, actionable information for homeowners through this series,” Carrino said. “Something to prepare them for what they’re in for and help them make their own projects successful.” Viewers will see decisions and surprises that aren’t included in a typical half-hour home improvement show.

Episodes are now streaming at www.TheBuild.tv.

One of the first things Carrino selected for the outside of the firehouse is a Clopay Reserve^® Extira^® carriage house style garage door with crossbucks and two rows of seeded glass windows to replace a commercial steel door that didn’t fit the building style or era.

He wanted a low-maintenance, insulated, faux wood garage door that would stand up to exposure of mid-Atlantic winters. Clopay’s wood specialty team recommended using Extira, because it is moisture, rot, and termite resistant, and it offers superior performance to paint-grade materials like MDF and many wood species.

Extira carves, routs, and fastens just like natural wood and has a smooth surface texture, allowing for the detailed craftsmanship and furniture quality paint finish customers expect in a premium insulated wood door.

All of the exterior products and colors had to be reviewed by the local Historic Preservation board. Extira is the first wood composite product that they have ever approved for use on a building.

Once he had the greenlight to place the order, Carrino traveled to Russia, Ohio to see how Clopay handcrafts its wood garage doors and get a sneak peek of his own door in the finishing stages.

Excerpts of the tour are included in “The Firehouse Project: Episode 5 – The Garage Door”, which premieres May 6, 2020.

A separate vlog with bonus content to show viewers how a Clopay wood garage door is made is also available on TheBuild.tv website.

Carrino also shares how he feels about his Extira garage door 4 years later on his YouTube channel as well. Watch it here.