As summer approaches, so does the heat and UV damage to your garage door. Animals look for a new place to hide out from the summer sun and kids start playing out in the yard again, inevitably hitting places on the house with balls and random objects they find to throw again. This season, get ahead of potential problems and evaluate whether or not your garage door needs replacing.
Wear and Tear
Over the years, garage doors get a significant amount of wear and tear. Most garage doors last a few decades with proper maintenance and care. However, no matter how careful we are, damage occurs. Knowing the difference between minor damage and major damage is the first step in understanding the difference between the need for repair and the need for a replacement.
Minor garage door damage is manageable. Paint peeling, dents from the kid’s baseball hitting the door, and little scratches generally do not warrant replacement. These minor, cosmetic repairs can be done simply and pain free. However, if the door is more than twenty years old and is suffering from minor damage is it time to replace the garage door.
Moderate Garage Door Damage
Moderate garage door damage can be a little trickier. Cosmetic repairs can be fixed no problem, but larger dents and holes could mean that a garage door replacement is in the near future. While garage door repair can be an option, sometimes garage door repair can be just as costly, if not more costly, than getting the garage door replaced. In instances where repairs are just as expensive, or when repairs are more expensive than the price of a new garage door, replacement is the route to take.
Major Garage Door Damage
Major garage door damage, without a doubt, warrants garage door replacement. Most of the time, major garage door damage occurs after years of use and is a combination of cosmetic damage and extensive structural damage that often alters the shape of the door in some spots. It causes the door to not be able to open in some cases, and unable to be closed in others. The damage can include large dents and even holes. If the door is severely damaged to the point where it cannot open and shut, or be repaired, it is time to replace your garage door.
Above all else, if the garage door is a safety hazard, in any way, shape, or form, it is time for a garage door replacement. Your garage door should not be a worry when it comes to the health and safety of your family, so if it is a concern then it is time to upgrade your garage door.
Benefits of a New Garage Door
There are, of course, other factors to consider when thinking about replacing your garage door other than just how much damage the garage has sustained. When the garage door is noisy or vibrating excessively, it is trying to tell you that it is time for a new door.
Another great benefit to getting a new garage door, is that new garage doors reduce energy consumption. A quality garage door that is in good condition reduces energy consumption by keeping heat in during the winter, and cool air in during the summer. Not only will having a new garage door be quieter it will be another part of your home that is more energy efficient.
Getting a new garage door can also aid in raising resale value to your home. A new garage door will look nicer than one that is dented or one with the paint peeling. Those looking to get a new home are not only looking at the exterior of the home itself, but add ons to the home like a nice garage. A nice garage door is a great accent to any home and can add value to it.
Safety
The benefits of getting a new garage door are not limited to aesthetics and being better for energy conservation, new garage doors are also safer. You do not want to be messing around with an old, creaking garage door full of holes when you have the opportunity to have a safer, nicer quality garage door. You will not have to worry about it not opening or closing, preventing possible burglaries, and you will not have to worry about your garage door possibly having pieces break off or it coming off of the tracks, causing damage to vehicles, workspaces, or even people. New garage doors are just overall the safer option when it is between getting a new garage door or fixing an old, rundown garage door.
New garage doors also end up being less maintenance. Yes, you could fix every hole, dent, and paint scratch in your garage door. By the time you do so, you are looking at the price of a new garage door anyways. Not only will it save you money in the long run, but by getting a new garage door, you do not waste time on something that is constantly losing its durability. New garage doors last for decades, so why put time, effort, and money into something that will only last a few more years when you can invest in something to last for years to come.
Conclusion
When it comes to the choice of whether or not to get a new garage door or to replace it there are many things to consider. First, if a garage door is older than about thirty years then you are looking at replacement. Second, If the garage door has significant cosmetic damage paired with being a few decades old then you are looking at either a lot of repair, or more likely, replacement. If the door has a good amount of structural damage to it like holes or large dents, then you are looking at a replacement. And if the garage door is not even working, replacement is absolutely necessary. Replacing your garage door is not without its benefits though. Replacing your garage door allows for energy conservation and is safer as well. It also has been found to increase resale value of houses. Why wait, get a quote and replace your garage door today!
