Has your garage door has seen better days? Maybe you did an exterior remodel like I did and want to spruce up your garage or your panels are a bit dinged up or worse yet damaged leaving you with the question; do you repair or replace? Here are a few things to consider:
Should I get a new garage door?
The garage door on my home is going on twenty years old. It is in pretty good shape with the exception of a few dings. I decided to paint it for now and put new motors on as they were a bit worn out. I know what you’re thinking; I own a garage door company! I have a three car garage door with columns in between and I have chosen to keep a traditional door for now. It works for me.
Regardless, a good garage door can last for decades but depending on the material, it will start to age, warp if there is wood involved, dings from rocks being thrown from lawn mowers etc. Outside of that, there are a few things to consider that could lead you to determine it is time for a new garage door.
1. Safety Features
Safety features have come a long way. Newer garage doors things such as safety sensors that stop the door from moving if it detects pets, children or objects under the door. Our horizontal garage doors include a sensor similar to an elevator and therefore stop with even the slights pressure. This prevents serious injury and may also prevent costly damages to your belongings such as a car, bicycle or lawnmower. While aftermarket add-ons are available they are not the best choice when it comes to garage doors.
2. It’s Just Old
Some garage doors just are old and not attractive or, like me, you modernized the exterior of your house and want to refresh your garage. The garage door is huge for curb appeal so why not keep it looking nice. I brought my back to life with black paint and new windows but newer garages door can offer a lot more as they are more modern and visually appealing, and more suitable for the size of our big SUV’s! They also offer more security if you replace the motor. Options such as apps for your phone and keypads help keep your home more secure.
3. It’s Damaged
Wind, rain, snow and even the sun’s UV rays can cause a lot of wear and tear as can rust or warping. But this does not mean you need an entire new garage door. Did you know you can just replace the panels or even a single damaged panel? Sometimes that is a good solution for small repairs. But if, for example, you have a wood door and it is rotted? It’s time to do a replacement.
4. It’s Sagging
If your garage door is sagging, the chances are that the balance is off. Vertical doors use springs that must be balanced. When the door is out of balance, the motor is forced to work harder than normal to raise and lower the door. This wear and tear can lead to broken or worn springs and sagging doors. If you door is sagging, repair or replace is needed. Our horizontal garage doors does not fight with gravity so there are no springs nor counterbalances! Just saying…
5. It Doesn’t Open
Check your remote, check your breaker box but if all else fails, call a technician for repair. They can troubleshoot the issue and get your door up and running. Overhead doors are not DIY repairs. Be safe and call a pro.
