Why You Should Replace Your Garage Door
Garage doors, like most other things in life, do not last forever. We take care of them, we maintain them, we address any issues- minor and large- and they still break down. Having a broken door is definitely a good reason for replacing it. However, besides the sheer necessity of having to get a new door due to a breakdown, many people today decide to replace their garage doors for other reasons – reasons not too pressing but nonetheless important. If you are not sure whether you should get a new garage door or you really want one but cannot seem to justify your thinking, look again. You might be surprised to see why it is a good idea to replace your current door that still functions for a newer and modern option.
1. You have been experiencing repeated problems with the current garage door.
It is important to remember that your garage door is a sum of various moving parts and systems working together. Therefore, the overall condition of the garage door is determined not only by the actual door panels, but the entire system that includes tracks, springs, cables and even the opener. That is why if you noticed that recently many things have been malfunctioning repeatedly - loose or broken cables, opener that works inconsistently, bent tracks, etc.- then it is definitely time to replace your garage door.
2. You backed into your garage door.
Similar reasoning applies for when you had a fender-bender or your door suffered damage from a natural disaster. If you are not sure whether to repair or replace your door, a general rule of thumb is that if the damage is minor and is limited to the panel(s) only, you can get away with the repair or replacement of the panels. If, on the other hand, the damage was severe and affected such parts as struts, tracks and cables in addition to the panels, then the mechanism of your door most likely has been compromised. In this case the entire door needs replacement.
3. You have an old door
The age of your garage door is another big reason why you may need to seriously consider replacing it. Old garage doors – 20-25 years old or older - are most likely to be made of wood. Although wood doors are undeniably very attractive and look very inviting, they require a lot of maintenance. Wood doors need frequent refinishing, do not stand well to weather elements, are subject to rot and attract insects. Technology has come a long way. Today homeowners have a wide selection of materials to choose from when it comes to garage doors. Steel, glass and even aluminum are some of the options. Steel doors are the most popular because they are more durable and require little maintenance. They do not crack or warp like wood doors. The availability of a wide variety of colors and surface finishes, including wood-grain finishes, allow homeowners to choose a door that will withstand the weather elements, be protected from rust, look as good as a real wood door and need little maintenance besides an occasional wash-down with soapy water.
4. You are looking for ways to save on energy.
Garage doors can help you save on energy. Because garages are not considered a living space, the construction standards are different compared to the rest of the house. As a result, garages tend to be drafty and cold. The cold (or hot) air gets transferred to the rest of the house making your A/C unit or heating system work harder than necessary. This is especially true if you have a room right above the garage. To prevent heat loss or loss of cool air during warmer months, many homeowners choose to insulate their garage doors.
When it comes to insulation of your garage door, materials and the overall construction of the door matter. The measurements of how much heat gets transferred through the door are represented by either an R-Value or U-Value. The difference between the two is that the R-value is determined by the thickness of the material and the chemical properties of the garage door, while the U-value takes into account the overall construction of the door like its frame, panels, and hardware. Additional things to take into consideration when insulating your garage door is installing weather stripping around the door, choosing windows carefully and investing in higher quality hardware such as tracks, frame and rollers. Calling your local garage door installation company will be your best bet in getting all the important details and making sure the door you are choosing meets all the requirements of a well-insulated garage door.
5. Your current door does not meet safety standards.
Old garage doors also mean that the safety mechanism is not up to par with the current safety standards. Based on recommendations from the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, in 1993 a federal law went into effect requiring manufacturers to equip garage doors with mechanisms that would prevent objects and people from getting trapped under a moving door. If your door has been installed before 1993, chances are it lacks the automatic reverse mechanism that prevents the door from closing once an object is detected in its way. The absence of such mechanism means your pets and children are at a very high risk of getting caught under and potentially hurt by the door. Therefore, by choosing to invest into a new garage door equipped with an auto-reverse mechanism, more and more homeowners are securing their own peace of mind and ensuring safety of their family.
6. You want to lower your home insurance premium cost.
Peace of mind and safety are not the only benefits you will get by replacing your garage door for a modern option. Today many insurance companies offer benefits for installing a safer and more secure garage door. The benefits usually translate into lower monthly premiums, which means that the door will pay for itself over a period of time.
7. You want to increase the curb appeal
A garage door takes up a large portion of space visually. The dated look of an old even if well-functioning garage door may significantly mar the overall appearance of the entire house. Many homeowners find today that by replacing an old garage door with a door that complements the overall style of the house, increases the curb appeal of the house significantly. Regardless of whether you live in a sleek and modern house, a classic Victorian or a farm cottage, the choices for a garage door that would complement your unique style are almost limitless. The choices include various designs, including modern glass and country style carriage doors, finishes, such as very believable wood-grain looks, and infinite shades and hues of colors to accommodate virtually any house.
Return on investment
The increased curb appeal (in combination with the other factors like increased safety, low maintenance, and energy efficiency) will undoubtedly increase the value of your home and quicken the sale of your house if the need were to arise. As a matter of fact, according to the Remodeling Magazine’s 2019 Cost Versus Value report, replacing the garage door raises the value of a home by an average of $3,520. Based on the average cost of $3,611, this means that replacing a garage door is expected to return 97.5 percent of the job’s cost, nationally.