A garage door takes a serious beating from extreme weather, bumps and bruises over the years. But how do you know when it’s finally time to say goodbye to your old reliable door and invest in a replacement? As with most mechanical things, there are warning signs your existing door has reached the end of its usable life. Let’s look at a few key factors that could indicate a replacement is overdue.
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Significant Structural Damage
Normal wear and tear may cause minor dents and scrapes that don’t affect function. However, deeply gouged panels, broken windows, or panels/rails that are buckling or coming loose are a sign more extensive structural damage has occurred. At this point, repair costs often exceed replacement value.
Improper Operation
If your door no longer tracks smoothly in its guides, skips or halts while opening/closing or fails to properly latch shut – it’s dysfunctional. Bent or damaged rollers, tracks and hinges are another clue operation has degraded. Old doors also tend to lose insulation qualities over time.
Repair Expense
After replacing broken springs, bent or worn rollers and repairing other marginal parts multiple times, you may find repair bills approaching the cost of a whole new door. It’s generally not financially sensible to keep pouring money into an aging system.
Safety Concerns
Worn panels, tracks or hinges pose increased risk of unexpected failures that could damage property or potentially harm people. Peeling paint on an older wooden door could mean delaminating door surfaces too. Rusting metal poses similar risks as well as being more prone to future weather damage.
Outdated Design
New garage door styles offer improved security, insulation, wind resistance and aesthetics over older models. Upgrading to a style which better fits your home’s curb appeal and functionality could make sense if repair expenses are escalating on the existing design.
While a garage door from a reputable dealer like Garage Door Replacement in Short Pump involves upfront investment, quality doors are built to last 15-20 years with minimal maintenance required down the road. For heavily worn units nearing the end of their design life it’s often the most cost effective choice versus ongoing repairs. Proper replacement ensures safe, reliable access for many more seasons to come.
