How To Decide Whether Repair Or Replace The Garage Door

A good quality garage door is crucial to secure vehicles and enhance the curb appeal of a house. It adds convenience by creating an entry or exit into a home just by pushing a button. Its role in securing the homes from intruders is indispensable. Garage doors form a notable investment when homeowners intend to replace them. While it is good to have a new garage door to change the house’s look, a repair would often suffice unless the state of the garage door is too poor.

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Experts who know how to repair a garage dooropine that either repair or replace a garage door should depend on some vital aspects.

Factors Affecting the Life of Garage Door

A good standard, well-maintained garage door lasts for 15-30 years. Some factors that decide the life expectancy of the garage door are:

Built: The garage door’s material and its quality matters. The care taken during its installation also decides the smoothness of the operation and hence its life.

Maintenance: Homeowners who regularly oil the garage doors’ joints and accessories might increase the door’s lifespan. Regular cleaning also helps remove the debris that might get stuck in between the joints and springs.

Climate: Garage doors come in different materials. One has to choose them according to the climatic conditions. A wooden door might not last long in an area prone to heavy rains. Similarly, vinyl garage doors cannot sustain in the regions that receive high ultraviolet radiation.

Regular checkups: A garage door whose health is regularly inspected by a professional would be free from troubles for long. Professionals help by solving minor issues that might otherwise lead to significant replacement in the long run.

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Caring for your garage door

If you are keen on increasing the garage door’s life and want to know how to repair a garage door, start by understanding the basics. A routine check-up and maintenance of a garage door generally include:● Lubrication – for nuts, bolts, springs, and drive mechanisms, including cables and pulleys● Tightening – nuts, bolts, and the chain● Inspecting the health of springs for wear and tear● Adjusting the door opener● Inspecting the limit switches

Deciding for repair or replacement

Garage doors are like any other essentials of home. They last longer when taken care of. But it might not always be possible to escape replacing a highly damaged garage door for obvious reasons. The following things might help understand to either repair or replace a garage door.

Abrasions

A garage door is prone to abrasions over time. Wear and tear of minor parts and outer coatings can start happening beyond a specific door’s life. For wooden doors, cracks and warps may start becoming visible. This is when you should act and inspect if you need to repair or replace a garage door.● If the wear and tear are minimal and the door is still around five years or younger, it might just need another coat of paint to replenish its beauty. ● Doors that crossed 10-15 years of lifespan might need replacement altogether. Signs such as multi-panel wear and tear or irreparable breaks in a wooden door indicate that it’s the time for a replacement. 

Operation

Garage doors comprise many heavy and moving parts. They might perform well when maintained regularly. ● If the door was working normally till the recent past and suddenly throws problems, maybe it is time for a professional check and repair.● If the door is shaking and trembling beyond a certain level, or you cannot run it smoothly, and it is feeling heavy, you should opt for a replacement.

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Purpose

Homeowners can choose to repair or replace the garage door based on living preferences too.● If the homeowners wish to live in the house and are considering the budget, repairing the garage door might be a wise idea when the door is in a moderate health condition.● Homeowners who intend to sell the house should go for a replacement though it might sound high in terms of cost. Real estate studies indicate that a new garage door can enhance the market value of the property. 

Damage

Damages to the garage door might happen due to many unforeseen causes. ● If there have been dents due to collisions or bad weather, check with the insurance provider and consider repairing them.● In case of unfortunate incidents such as break-ins, it is always safe to install a new garage door with better security provisions. 

Technology

Garage doors are no exceptions to technological changes. Doors with state-of-the-art technology can offer better safety and look when compared to old ones.

The latest garage doors often come with many smart features such as child security, energy efficiency, and biometrics. Though they might demand initial costs, they offer a fruitful return on investments in the long run.

Conclusion

Opting for repair or replacement of a garage door is a personal choice for homeowners. Aspects such as the door’s life, current health, safety, budget, and purpose also play a role in moving ahead with the decision. 

Author Bio

Rebecca Siggers is a full-time content marketing specialist and a passionate writer who loves to write about creating an aesthetic and ambient living environment for everyone. She focuses on sharing ideas and techniques learned from his experience in a concise manner so that it can be used by everyone to make their surroundings beautiful to live in. Currently, She’s shares great tips on how to repair a garage door.