When to Repair or Replace your Garage Door

Garage doors get a lot of use in your everyday life. Actually, the average garage door in the United States is opened and shut about 1,500 times per year. Repairs and replacement are often needed due to mechanical, moving parts wearing out or becoming damaged. If your garage door is damaged, it is important to repair or replace it sooner rather than later. If left untreated, minor wear and tear can lead to significant damage. The average lifespan of a garage door is 30 years with regular maintenance. Should you repair your garage door or replace it?

Common Repairs

If the issues with your garage door are minor, think about getting it repaired rather than investing in the cost of a replacement. Other regular maintenance/common repairs include:

–       Replacing torsion/extension springs, hinges, brackets, rollers or cables

–       Repairing a bent or damaged track

–       Correcting doors that are off track or crooked

–       Repairing or replacing weather strips or seals

–       Regular tune-ups or maintenance

If your garage door has randomly stopped working, first try changing the batteries. If that doesn’t solve the problem, a mechanical component may be the culprit. A burned out motor, snapped belt or chain, or broken spring may be the problem and can be quickly diagnosed and repaired.

If a damaged garage door panel is your issue don’t stress! Although it isn’t serious you will want to have the panel replaced as soon as possible so the racks don’t spread. Replacing your garage door panel is also important to maintain protection of your garage’s interior.

A crooked or sagging garage door usually indicates that there is a problem with the door’s torsion springs, which do most of the heavy lifting of the garage door’s function. These are easy to replace!

Sensors not working? Your garage door not automatically opening when it senses an obstruction can be a real problem! This issue is caused by the government-mandated sensors that all automatic garage doors are required to have. To protect people, children and/or pets, schedule a repair as soon as you can.

Reasons to Replace

With severe damage to your garage door, replacement is the best option. Although it may sound expensive, a Door and Access Systems Manufacturers Association study revealed that garage door replacement has the highest return on investment compared to other home improvement projects. Garage door replacement can give a new look to the exterior of your home, ensure your garage door will work properly and increase the value of your home.

Consider a garage door replacement if you experience the following scenarios:

–       If multiple panels are damaged it may be easier to replace rather than fix the extensive structural damage of multiple cracked or rotting panels.

–       If your garage door vibrates or squeaks excessively your door may have broken hinges, broken springs, or worn-out bearings, uneven distribution of tension, or just may be reaching the end of it’s lifespan and needs to be upgraded.

–       If you have long-term structural damage it may be caused by putting off repairs and there is a strong possibility that you will need to replace it. Things that may seem like just cosmetic damage could actually be putting a ton of wear and tear on the structure and function of your garage door.

–       If you want to reduce your energy consumption, replacing your garage door is a great start. Replacing your door with one that offers tighter seals and better insulation will soon be offset by the money you could save on your energy bill.

–       If you are wanting to sell your home, replacing your home’s garage door can increase the value of your home. Most garage door replacements have a 90% turn around rate in the form of increased home value. Smart investment!

Preventative Maintenance

Once you have repaired or replaced your garage door it is important to do regular preventative maintenance to catch small problems before they turn into big problems. Here’s some helpful tips:

–       Look over pulleys and cables for fraying and damage. Keeping an eye on these and calling a professional if you notice a change can prevent further damage.

–       Touch up tracks and rollers. The tracks on your garage door easily collect dust and other debris, keeping this area clear will ensure proper function of your garage door.

–       Check and tighten hardware that becomes loose over time. Check bolts and brackets every once in a while to make sure they are holding up properly.

Need to repair or replace your garage door? Call Siefken Contracting today!