Like any other part of your home, there will come a time when your garage door will stop working properly, prompting you to assess whether you should get a repair or replacement. Most homeowners will gravitate towards getting repairs first, especially when they need to work with a budget, but you have to keep in mind that this might be a temporary fix, depending on the problem you’re dealing with. However, you can’t automatically assume you’ll be needing a replacement right away either because that’s not practical.
To help you figure out if you’re due for a repair or replacement, consider the following scenarios:
● Your garage door is difficult to operate. Garage doors start feeling “heavier” to use over time because wear and tear and debris buildup create friction on moving parts. Typically, cleaning debris or lubricating moving parts will do the trick, but if these don’t work, and you hear clicking sounds (a sign that something may be broken with your garage door) you may be better off with a replacement.
● Your garage door has a damaged panel. Damage can range from small dents to massive holes, caused by a number of reasons like harsh weather, normal wear and tear and improper operation. You can easily have minor dents or scratches repaired but if you’re dealing with bent frames or holes large enough to look through, you should consider getting a replacement.
● Your garage door is no longer attractive. Though it has nothing to do with function, a garage door’s appearance drives many homeowners to get a repair or replacement simply because it no longer works well with the rest of their property. Depending on the current state of your garage door, you may just need a few cosmetic fixes to restore your garage door to its former glory.
Sold on getting a new garage door? Head on over to Part 2 of this blog series to get to know the different types of garage doors available to you.