When Should I Replace My Garage Door?
You should only consider replacing your garage door under two conditions:
- When your garage door is no longer operational
- When you need a fast boost in your home’s value
Otherwise, consider repairing your garage door to restore it to usable condition.
Non-Operational Garage Door Replacement
A non-operational garage door is one that no longer performs the normal functions of a garage door. Eliminate the possibility of other sources of malfunction before deciding to replace your garage door.
Find out first if your door has these problems:
- Broken Garage Door Opener
- Broken Spring
- Bent Tracks
- Obstructed Sensor
- Worn Gears
If any of these problems are the reason your garage door won’t open, you may be able to have a garage door technician repair the issue without having to replace anything.
Garage Door Hazards
A malfunctioning garage door becomes 500 pounds of destructive wood or metal. Without full control over its movements, it becomes a danger to you, your family, and your valuables.
Broken garage doors pose the following risks:
- Personal Injury
- Damage to Car or Valuable Items
- Compromised Structural Integrity of House
Personal Injury
Broken garage doors don’t respond to garage door openers, which requires them to be manually operated. However, if there are problems with manual operation, you put your body at risk of injury every time you open and close your door.
A door that won’t automatically open and has trouble staying on the tracks can only fall backwards into the home since the door is larger than the frame. It will fall toward anyone or anything behind the door with over 500 pounds of force.
Placing unneeded tension on a worn torsion spring, especially when operating a garage door manually, causes undue stress on the spring. When you try to force the garage door to open without the aid of the spring’s tension, it can snap, causing severe injury.
When repair is not an option in these scenarios, opt for garage door replacement.
Theft
Uncontrollable garage doors can also leave avenues for potential thieves to enter your home. Intruders can use manual operation of the garage door to gain entrance to the inside of your home or to take valuables that are stored in the garage.
Prevent theft in an emergency scenario by opting to replace your garage door. If your garage door can’t be repaired, you’ll leave yourself open to theft for longer as you wait for a new overhead door to be installed.
Aesthetic Garage Door Replacement
The 2014 Cost vs. Value Report found that garage door replacement to enhance curb appeal touted an astounding 86% return on investment. Replacing your garage door can help you raise the value of your home at little cost.
Old garage doors, especially wooden ones, can be brought back to life with a simple paint job. Don’t replace a working garage door that can be revived with paint.
However, old wooden doors that don’t function well can be replaced with steel doors for a significant profit. Steel doors are cheaper to manufacture and more common than wooden doors. You can forego repairs on your wooden garage door and raise your home’s value with a brand new steel overhead door.
