When properly maintained, your garage door can act as a barrier to the outside world and enhance your home’s curb appeal, but if it’s not working properly, or old and damaged, it can do the opposite. That’s when it’s time to replace your garage door.

At M&M Garage Doors we understand that a damaged or improperly operating garage door can be an eyesore and create serious problems. If the door isn’t flush with the ground or the panels don’t fit snuggly, pests can get into your garage and home. A broken garage door is a potential safety issue because it might drop unexpectedly and injure someone. A broken garage door can also be a home security concern.

M&M Garage Doors can help because we are Detroit’s residential and commercial garage door experts. Our licensed and insured technicians know that when you need a new garage door, you want it done quickly and economically. No matter the issue, we will help you choose whether to repair or replace your garage door.

Is Your Garage Door Operating Properly?

Generally, you shouldn’t notice your garage door at all, provided it’s operating correctly. If it isn’t, it’s an obvious problem and you’re reminded constantly, every time you open or close the door or when you pull in and out of your driveway.

Signs It’s Time to Repair or Replace Your Garage Door

If your garage door looks old, the remote doesn’t work, the door doesn’t open or close the whole way, or makes strange noises and jerks and rattles when operating, something isn’t right.

Here are several signs it’s time to repair or replace your garage door.

  • Damage like paint chipping, dents, rust, and scrapes
  • Operating slowly
  • The door stops before it’s completely opened or closed
  • Unusual sounds like grinding and scraping metal
  • The door doesn’t glide easily on its tracks and strains, shakes, and jerks when ascending or descending
  • The panels are sagging or they don’t fit together snuggly
  • Cold air and/or water is getting in
  • The door is old and the design is out-of-date
  • Is your Garage Door Seriously Damaged?

    Except for cosmetic issues, any of the problems mentioned above can be serious enough to necessitate you to replace a garage door – it’s just a matter of degree. If there’s structural or component damage bad enough to prevent consistent and smooth operation in any way, it’s a potential safety and security risk. That’s when it’s time to call M&M about buying a new garage door.

    Types of Garage Door Damage

    There are many types of garage doors made up of many components that get constant use. If you’re having problems, M&M will help you troubleshoot them and come up with solutions, whether that’s repairing or replacing your garage door. Here is a list of some of the types of garage door damage:

    • Broken or worn springs
    • Broken or worn cables
    • Broken or worn rollers
    • Broken or worn tracks
    • Broken or worn weather seal
    • Malfunctioning garage door opener, sensors, or other electrical issues
    • Misaligned track
    • Panel damage
    • Damage to garage door lock
    • Rust
    • Bent tracks
    • Broken doors
    • Dents

    What is the Age of your Garage Door?

    With normal wear and tear, a garage door should last about 20 years. However, over the life of your garage door, individual components will likely need repairs or replacement. The following is a list of how to tell when certain components need attention.

    • Garage door opener: It gets constant use so openers nearly always fail somewhere between the 10 to 15-year mark. Signs that it’s failing are erratic operation, jerking, and stalling.
    • Garage door extension springs: It’s not uncommon that somewhere between the seven to 10-year mark you’ll see rust, gaps between the coils, uneven door movement, or your garage door suddenly becomes harder to open or close.
    • Garage door torsion springs: You’ll likely see rust or damage to the springs around the seven to nine-year mark, but you may also notice grinding sounds, gaps, breaks, and the door may unexpectedly slam shut.
    • Garage door hinges: Bent hinges, excessive noise, noticeable rust, and corrosion, the door is hard to open and close, and missing parts are all signs it’s time to replace the hinges, which generally occurs around the 10 to 15-year mark.
    • Garage door rollers: Rollers are rated by cycles, or per use, meaning the number of times you open and close your garage door. When they start to fail, you’ll probably see damage, rust, and corrosion. Your rollers should last six or seven years on average.
    • Garage door sensors: If the door is operating inconsistently, or if you see damage to the sensor, or if you have to get continuously closer for the opener to activate, it could mean your sensors are losing functionality. It’s recommended to replace the sensors about every five years.

    Is Your Climate a Match for Your Garage Door?

    The Michigan climate will greatly impact the life of your garage door and its components. Extreme wet, cold, high winds, and humidity can hasten the frequency of repair or replacement. M&M will help you choose the right materials to maximize the life and beauty of your garage door.

    Schedule an Appointment

    Whether you are looking for a garage door repair or a replacement, M&M Garage Doors has the technicians, expertise, and state-of-the-art materials to help you maintain your garage door or create the new one you need.

    Proudly serving the Metro Detroit, Ann Arbor, Kent County, and Traverse City Areas.

    Contact M&M Garage Doors to schedule service today!