Generally, repairs are much less costly than replacement, so it stands to reason you will try to salvage your garage doors when possible to save some money. The key is knowing when a repair is in order and when replacement is ultimately a more cost effective solution. A lot of this will have to do with the age of your door.
Let’s discuss when you can repair your garage door and when you should replace it.
Repair
- Your door closes a couple of inches but then opens up again: This is usually due to mis-alignment of the photo eye units as part of your safety reverse system.
- Your door vibrates or jerks when opening: This usually means the opener is having a hard time lifting the door, often due to a broken or damaged lifting cable.
- Your door emits a loud, short noise when opening: This could be due to a damaged track that may be twisted or bent.
- It takes a while for the door to open and close: The spring system could be to blame. Perhaps it’s broken or has lost the tension it needs to properly lift the door.
Replacement
Even if you have kept up with regular maintenance on your garage door over the years, it will eventually need replacement. Here are some signs you may need to get it replaced.
- Frequent repairs: If you seem to be shelling out a lot of money lately on repairs, particularly to the same element, a replacement will be more cost effective in the long run.
- Rust: Unless you have a heated or at least well-insulated garage door featuring heavy-duty hardware, rust can crop up over the years. This can happen to the door itself or the components.
- Damaged door sections: Damage from a vehicle collision or even a dent from a ball or other large object may signal the need for replacement. Leaving damage untreated can result in rust and can compromise the safety of the unit.
- Selling your home: If you want to put your home on the market and you know your garage door is very old, it would behoove you to replace the door with a new one to fetch the best price and gain a high ROI.
If you are unsure whether you need repair or placement, please don’t hesitate to call M&M Garage Doors at 586-610-5434. Don’t attempt to make major repairs or install your own door…remember, garage doors are extremely heavy, dangerous moving objects. Don’t compromise the safety of yourself or your family!