How Often Should Garage Doors Be Replaced?
Your garage door is important to your property and worth replacing when the time comes for so many reasons.Â
Firstly, it provides the security you need to protect your possessions from the elements and would-be thieves.Â
Secondly, it gives you easy, regular access to those possessions when you want them if your garage is detached from your home.Â
And finally, it helps to complete the look of your home; a stylish garage door means a stylish-looking home.
This month at Doormatic Garage Doors, we’re going to look at the subject of garage door replacement, including why it’s required, when you should do it and how expensive it is.
Common reasons for garage door replacement
There are multiple reasons why you might one day find yourself requiring a replacement garage door. Some of the following points are more pressing than others depending on the severity of the issues, but they are the most common reasons we find people need a new garage door:
Garage door wear and tear
General wear and tear accumulating over the years is only natural. Nothing lasts forever and depending on the quality of the materials and installation, some doors might succumb to wear and tear sooner than others. Over time, parts might fail and the garage door itself may degrade due to weathering, creating an unappealing look.
Garage door damage
Whether the damage is caused by accident or on purpose, people tend to need a replacement garage door. That’s because security is compromised if your door isn’t at full strength. If it’s been forced inwards or outwards, for example, it could be easier for someone to gain access.
Garage door safety concernsÂ
If your garage door is posing safety concerns, it’s never worth taking the risk of leaving it. Replacing your garage door ensures you and your family remain safe, without the worry of a door dropping or a cable snapping during operation.
Garage door won’t open or close
Whether you have an electric or manual garage door, it needs to both open and close whenever you need it to, otherwise it serves little purpose. Any door not functioning smoothly should be replaced to give you a new, efficient door that you can rely on as you go about your day – this is especially important if you use your garage as a workshop or office!
Why garage door maintenance is important
To avoid needing a replacement garage door, some basic maintenance is going to be vital. This doesn’t mean doing anything too complicated, but just generally looking after your door – including relubricating any moving parts, clearing away dirt and debris from the tracks and tightening any loose bolts – can help it last a lot longer.
If you need help maintaining your garage door, our team of expert technicians is always available. Providing routine maintenance on a schedule to suit you, we can help to spot issues earlier, remedying them before they can reach the stage where a replacement door is needed. You can also find plenty of other tips in our help and advice centre.
How long do garage doors last?
How long a garage door lasts comes down to a number of things. The three biggest factors in the lifespan of any door are the quality of the materials, the quality of the installation and how well you maintain it.Â
Eventually, all garage doors will have seen better days and require a replacement, but you should be expecting several decades from an investment in a quality garage door. Replacement parts for openers and small components may be required here and there depending on weathering and accidental damage, but the door itself – with adequate maintenance – shouldn’t require a replacement for many years.
When should you replace a garage door?
You should replace your garage door if you encounter any of the four key reasons we listed earlier:
- Wear and tear
- Damage
- Safety concerns
- The door won’t open or close
This is because these things start to affect how your property looks, how secure the door is, how well the door functions and whether it’s a risk to people’s safety.Â
Of course, you can also opt to change your garage door if you’ve moved into a new property and want to put your own stamp on things in terms of style. The same goes if you’ve kept a door in top condition for many years but want to change things up — you own the property so ultimately the decision is up to you.
Is a new garage door expensive?
If you need to replace your garage door, a new one is always going to come with some level of cost. How expensive the price will be comes down to what you would like to replace the existing door with.
Garage door styles, materials, finishes and sizes can all play a part in how much or how little you spend. You can get a better idea of price ranges for a new Doormatic garage door via our handy garage door price calculator which will give you a ballpark figure. Then, if you’re happy, you can call us for a more detailed quote.
New and replacement garage doors from Doormatic
With numerous garage door styles to choose from in a range of colours and finishes, you can find something to spruce up the look of your home. Whether you’re staying put or looking to sell, at Doormatic we have the experience and knowledge to help you find the right replacement garage door. Still not sure? Take a look at our reviews where over 1,000 customers have left us positive scores for our services.
Talk to our expert team for friendly help and advice and to get your free garage door quote for a replacement door anywhere in the South East – including Surrey, Kent, Berkshire, Devon, Hampshire, West Sussex, London and Buckinghamshire. Call today and we’ll be happy to assist you if you need a replacement garage door for your home.
