The Importance of Your Garage Door
For a lot of people, your garage door is the main entry into your home. You go in and out of your garage, typically much more than through your front door. The average lifespan of a garage door is anywhere between 15 to 30 years depending on how you use it. Proper care and maintenance can prolong the life of your garage door, but if your garage door is 15 years or older, it would be wise to start planning for a new garage door.
What to Watch Out For:
It is important to do a visual inspection of your garage door about once every six months. It’s also a very good idea to have a trusted professional perform yearly maintenance to keep your garage door operating at its best and to alert you to any issues that come up.
Something sudden could happen to your garage door, like damage from a storm or an accident with your car. But knowing when to replace may not always be so clear. Here are a few things to look out for as your door ages.
Materials and Location:
Garage doors made from lower grade materials will wear out faster than their high-quality counter parts. If you have a cheaper garage door, be on the lookout for wear and tear as it ages.
Additionally, if you live in a harsh climate (extreme heat or cold or frequent storms) this can wear your garage door out faster than a garage door in a temperate climate.
Visible Damage:
Is your door cracked, warped, or rusted? Is the paint peeling or faded? Can you see damage to any of the working elements, like the springs or pullies? If the answer is yes, you may need to replace your garage door. It can never hurt to get the opinion of a professional, but if your garage door is older and you are noticing these issues, it’s a safe bet a new garage door is in order soon.
Opening and Shutting:
Is your garage door doing its job—opening and shutting? If your garage door is struggling to do this consistently and in good working order, a new garage door could be needed soon. Again, it is important to take the age of the garage door into consideration and to talk to a professional who can give you a firsthand opinion. Let’s say you have a two-year-old door, and you are experiencing these issues, a repair could fix the problem. But if your door is reaching the end of its lifespan, a new door may be needed.
Weird Noises:
If your garage door is making a racket each time you open and close it, that is a big cause for concern. A garage door should be operate smooth and very quietly. If it is noisy, this could be a sign that the parts have worn out and need to be replaced.
Energy Efficiency:
If your garage door is not closing properly, you could be letting cold or hot air into your garage and negatively impacting the thermal efficiency of your home. If you are noticing unexpected hikes in your energy bill, take a look at your garage door to see if you can fix the problem or if it’s time to upgrade to a new one.
Style:
Your garage can make up almost 30% of your home’s façade. A new garage door could be just the thing you need to update the look of your home and improve your curb appeal. And installing a new garage door is consistently one of the best returns on investment for all home improvement projects.
Choosing a New Door:
If your garage door needs replacing, let an Overhead Door™ professional help make the process seamless. With more than 100 years in the garage door industry and a garage door for every price point and architectural style, you can find the door that is best for your home.
