When To Repair And When To Replace?. Garage doors get lots of use in our fast-paced lives. The average garage door in America opens and closes about 1,500 times a year as families rush in and out for work, school, soccer games, doctors’ visits and vet appointments.
That’s quite a workout — and one that can eventually lead to cracked panels, chipped paint and worn-down parts.
If you have a damaged garage door, you probably know you should do something about it sooner rather than later. Untreated minor wear can lead to significantly more damage over time. Damaged garage doors can also admit pests from outside and can pose a security threat by offering more convenient access to potential intruders.
If your garage door is a bit roughed up, you may be losing money as well. A damaged garage door lets in more air from outside. In the summer, this air heats your garage, which heats your house, which raises your air-conditioning costs. In the winter, excess cold air admitted through a broken garage door can add to your heating costs, too.
And of course, there’s your curb appeal. Depending on the layout of your home, your garage door can make up a surprisingly large percentage of the face your house shows to the world. A damaged garage door can give your home an unsightly appearance instead of helping to brighten the neighborhood.
Repair or Replace
What is the average lifespan of a garage door? The average lifespan of a garage door is about 30 years with the right maintenance. But individual circumstances vary — maybe your newly minted teenaged driver accidentally backed into the garage door, or maybe a windstorm flung debris at your door and damaged some panels.
In any case, should you replace your garage door? Or should you repair it? The answer may depend on a few different factors.
Types of Garage Door Damage
Your garage door may have sustained only cosmetic damage, or its functionality may be severely compromised:
Minor: Sometimes, the damage to your garage door is visible but does not affect the structural integrity or function of your door. Your door may have chipped or fading paint, or a large crack may have appeared.
Moderate: A warped or rusted door, for example, will not work as effectively as it once did. It also won’t keep out the elements as well or help protect your garage from thieves and other intruders. If your garage door has structural damage, you’ll likely want to look into having the door replaced.
Serious: If the damage to your door is so severe that your door will no longer open and close as it should, you may want to look into replacing your door with a new and functional one.
The Extent of the Damage
f your door has only one minor issue, such as peeling paint, then looking into a repair job is likely your best bet. If your door has several issues, though, such as cracked panels, a screeching noise and a laboring, jerky operation, then it may be time to look into an upgrade.
Cost
The choice between garage door repair and replacement may also depend on cost. As with a totaled car, if the estimated cost to repair your old garage door ends up being more than the price of a new door, then getting a brand-new door is undoubtedly your best option.
The Age of the Door
If your garage door has only minor damage but it’s getting on in years — say it’s 10 to 20 years old — you may want to consider a replacement. An older door is likely to need replacement sooner rather than later.
So it may not be worth investing in repairs for a door that doesn’t have much more life left. Replacing your older door, even if the severity of the damage doesn’t necessarily require it, can also have other benefits, such as a modernized appearance or a garage door that matches better with the style of your home.
Request an Estimate With VIP Garage Door USA
When you need to get your garage door fixed, we can help with that too. Our technicians are experienced in cable, spring and hardware repairs.
Check out our showroom of garage doors to get a feel for what we offer. Then contact us today to request an estimate for your garage door repair or replacement.