There’s no doubt that garage doors can be a costly expensive for homeowners. As life happens, damage can occur to your garage door. If the damage is restricted to one section of the door, it’s a person’s first instinct to determine if they can replace that small section before having to buy an entirely brand new door.
Door Sections
Most garage doors are constructed with different sections. These sections will fold on hinges to lift and close the entire door. When damage happens to a particular section, it can typically be replaced without the need to replace the entire door. However, each situation is going to be different than the next. This is why it’s important to call in a garage door professional to assess the damage and make a recommendation of replacing the section or the entire door.
Causes of Garage Door Damage
Over the life of your garage door, it’s likely that it’s going to experience damage. Whether intention or not, getting that damage replaced will ensure that your garage door operates smoothly and looks great. If this is your first time having garage doors, then you’ll want to do your best to prevent the most common causes of sectional damage.
Lack of Maintenance
When your door isn’t properly maintained, it will start to weaken. This makes it more susceptible to damage. Even items, like a ball, that wouldn’t have caused damage to the door in the past may be able to do so if your door isn’t properly maintained.
Car Collision
Probably the most common cause of garage door damage is due to vehicle collisions. Whether you started backing up when your garage door was closed or you didn’t hit the brakes quick enough to stop before hitting your door, collisions do happen.
Natural Wear and Tear
Just like every other part of your home, your garage doors have a limited lifespan. As they reach their older years, natural wear and tear can cause the sections to weaken. Even the slightest stress can lead to unwanted sectional damage.
Weather Exposure
There’s no doubt that heavy storms and freak weather conditions can take their toll on your garage door. In fact, those who live in areas of the country that experience a plethora of storms will experience a shortened garage door lifespan as compared to those who don’t.
Misuse
Garage doors are intended to provide a barrier to keep your garage free from exterior weather elements. However, when they’re not used properly and without a decent amount of care, they can experience damage.
Inspecting for Sectional Damage
In some cases, you may be present when damage happens to your garage door. In other instances, you may not be there. For this reason, it’s a good idea to inspect your garage door at least once a month to ensure that it’s working properly. There are a few different things you’ll want to do.
Visual Inspection
You’ll want to start with a visual inspection of each section. Make sure you watch the door as it opens and closes. You want to look for any irregularities such as a balance issue, gaps, or other misalignments.
Binding
As your garage door is opening and closing, you want to ensure it’s working smoothly. If you notice that your door is binding or completely stops, it’s an indication of sectional damage.
Unusual Noise
Lastly, you’ll want to listen for any unusual noises as your garage door is operating. Sounds like grinding, banging, and scraping can all indicate a problem with your door that should be addressed by a professional technician.
Possible Section Replacement Challenges
While it can definitely be more cost-effective to replace the damaged section of your garage door as compared to replacing the entire door, there may be some problems that you’ll run into. It’s best to understand what these are ahead of time so that you can adequately decide if sectional repair or whole door replacement is right for you.
Discontinued Design
One reason that you may decide to replace your entire garage door instead of the section is if the manufacturer no longer carries your section design. In some cases, your garage door installer may be able to use a differently designed section to repair your door. However, the mismatched aesthetics are something you’ll have to take into consideration when making your decision about sectional replacement.
Multi-Section Damage
Depending on the cause of your garage door damage, it may have impacted more than one section. When this happens, it’s imperative that you compare the cost of replacing multiple sections to purchasing a new door. In many cases where there’s damage to multiple garage door sections, it simply makes more financial sense to invest in a brand-new garage door.
Color Matching Issues
If you have a vinyl garage door that comes pre-painted from the factory, you’ll want to get a new section that is the exact same color. Unfortunately, this isn’t always possible if the door manufacturer discontinued the color. Additionally, if your existing garage door has a lot of sun fading, the new section may look out of place with its fresher color.
When Should You Replace the Whole Garage Door?
While sectional replacement can be a great way to get your garage door fixed for a low cost, it’s not always the best option. There are some specific cases where you may want to consider replacing the entire garage door as it makes more financial sense.
Extensive Damage
If your garage door is showing signs of excessive damage, it’s best to put your money into getting a brand-new door. Extensive damage can include things like denting, cracking, corrosion, and other alike issues.
Your Doors are Old
Another reason you may want to consider a whole garage door replacement over repairing your existing door is if your existing door is old. Most garage doors are rated to last anywhere between 15 and 30 years, depending on the materials they’re constructed out of. If your door is nearing the end of its lifespan, it just makes sense to buy a new door instead of wasting money fixing a door that is likely to break again soon.
You Want a Refreshed Design
New garage door designs are coming on the market every year. If your garage door has an aged design that detracts from the look of the rest of your home, it may be time to consider upgrading. More modern-looking garage doors can do wonders for your curb appeal and the resale value of your home.
Other Issues
Another reason you may opt for a whole door replacement is that there are multiple problems with your door. Apart from the sectional damage, issues with opening and closing can indicate that you have a bigger problem overall. Sometimes replacing the whole garage door can be more cost-effective than fixing all of its broken components.
Reliable Garage Door Repair Service
Lewis Door Service offers premium garage door services for the whole Louisville, KY area. We can also assist with all of your overhead doors, garage door installation, garage door maintenance, and garage door opener needs. Contact our friendly staff today to schedule an appointment with one of our helpful technicians.
