Garage doors serve a dual purpose: form and function. Not only do they separate your garage from the outside world—protecting them from the elements and intruders; they can also contribute to your home’s aesthetics. Because it’s an integral part of your home, it’s highly important to make sure that your garage door works properly while also looking good at the same time.
If your garage door is failing, unappealing, or both, perhaps you’re due for a garage door replacement.
Importance of Garage Door Replacement
Why is replacing your garage door so important? Since it’s such an integral part of your home, you must replace it if you think it’s not doing its job properly anymore. As said earlier, it’s both a functional and aesthetic part of your home. Here’s why you should consider replacing your garage door with a new model.
1. It improves curb appeal.
If you want to make your home look nicer—whether for your own desires or for selling it in the future—a garage door replacement might be one of your best options. It’s one of the cheapest upgrades you can make to your home while also having the highest return-on-investment (ROI). According to Remodelling Magazine Cost vs Value Report for 2021, garage door replacements recouped 93.8% of their cost on average at resale.
But why does it have such a high ROI? It’s likely because curb appeal is an important part of enticing buyers. The first look potential buyers have of your home is not the fancy kitchen or bedrooms; it’s the façade. A fashionable garage door that matches your house’s architectural style and complements its colour scheme will only help leave a good first impression on buyers, likely piquing their interest and leaving them wanting to explore the inside.
2. It prevents accidents and inconveniences.
Garage doors degrade with time. Inevitably, you’ll need to replace them, especially if they fail. To prevent an accident from happening, it’s important to stay on top of your garage door’s maintenance—replacing it if necessary.
A failing garage door will also be very inconvenient, especially if you use it as one of your main gateways into and out of your home; you might waste precious minutes every day if your garage door struggles to function properly.
Benefits of Garage Door Replacement
Now that you know why garage door replacement is important, you may be wondering if there are any additional benefits to having your garage door replaced. Here are the pros you can expect to receive when you replace your garage door.
1. Increased Security and Safety
Newer and more modern garage door models are tougher to break into, keeping your garage and the valuable belongings secure. Aside from increased security, you also benefit from increased safety as a new garage door is less likely to fail and cause injury.
2. Added Usability
Having a secure garage makes it an enticing extension of your home. You can use your garage to its full potential after installing a new garage. Do you need a room to practice your crafts, like woodwork or music? You can turn your garage into that space, freeing up the rest of the house and preventing it from becoming cramped.
3. Reduced Maintenance
It’s no secret that new things often require less maintenance, and the same holds true for new garage doors. Replacing your garage door will reduce the amount of maintenance needed yearly. Apart from saving time, it will likely also save you money on maintenance in the long run.
4. Lowered Energy Costs
If you replace your garage door with an insulated garage door, you get the added bonus of better insulation for your garage. You’ll use less energy both warming up and cooling down your garage with an insulated garage door as it helps trap and keep heat out. If your garage is attached to your house, it also helps with temperature control for the rest of your home, especially the rooms closest to your garage.
Signs It’s Time to Replace Your Garage Door
How do you know you’re due for a garage door replacement? When is repair not enough? Generally speaking, it’s better to have your garage door repaired if it’s newer and if the repair costs come out cheaper than the replacement cost. Before deciding on a full door replacement, however, try to assess if it’s better to repair it first. Don’t hesitate to call a professional to inspect your garage door if you aren’t sure whether it’s better to repair or replace your garage door.
1. It’s noisier.
While garage doors aren’t the quietest of home fixtures, they’re not supposed to be incredibly noisy. Increased noise usually means there’s something wrong, perhaps with the springs or with rusted parts.
2. It’s sagging.
Observe your garage door when it’s half-open. If it looks uneven, there might be a problem with one of its torsion springs, causing extra stress on the lifting mechanism. It may also be caused by weather damage. Aside from safety concerns, a sagging garage door could also negatively affect your curb appeal.
3. It has significant damage.
Garage doors are expected to have sustained damage as time passes. It could be from the weather, accidents or general wear and tear from regular use. However, if there’s major damage—like multiple broken panels, broken springs or dents—or a lot of accumulated damage, it may be more worth it to have a new garage door installed.
4. It’s having difficulty opening and closing.
If your garage door opens and closes slowly, or generally having difficulty opening and closing, it may be time to replace it. Not only will it cost you more time to get in and out of your house; it may also pose a safety risk if it’s having difficulty detecting objects (if it’s automatic).
Before you replace your garage door for having difficulty opening and closing, check if your door opener is faulty; it might need new batteries. If you have an automatic garage door, you can check the safety sensor (or photo eye) for dirt obstructing its view.
5. It’s not energy efficient.
If you’ve been thinking of improving your home’s energy efficiency, perhaps you should inspect your garage door. It may have cracks and gaps that allow the outside temperature to seep into your garage and home, causing you to spend more energy trying to regulate your home’s temperature.
If you have an uninsulated garage door, consider replacing it with an insulated garage door to maximise energy efficiency.
6. It’s old.
Garage doors last a while; around 20 to 30 years if you properly care for it. So, if your garage door is getting on in years, consider replacing it with a newer model, especially if it has sustained damage.
7. You’ve had a break-in.
Garages often have valuable items stored within them (including your vehicle!). If you’ve recently had a break-in, it’s time to assess just how safe your home is. Even if the thief didn’t enter your home through your garage, you should still check if it’s able to properly protect your home from any future intruders.
8. You want a more appealing façade.
Lastly, if your garage door doesn’t match your home’s aesthetics, then consider replacing it. It will boost your house’s curb appeal, which is useful if you’re trying to sell your house or plan to do so in the near future.
Garage Door Replacement Tips to Consider
If you’d like to perform a DIY garage door replacement to save money, read these tips and tricks which will be useful to know before starting your project.
1. Have the proper tools.
You need some specialised tools when replacing your garage door. Some of these tools are as follows:
- Locking pliers
- Screwdrivers
- Drills
You may also pick up a DIY torsion spring kit from your nearest home centre.
2. Know which orientation your garage door needs to be in.
Some garage doors need to be pulled up before disassembly. If your garage door has tension springs, it usually needs to be pulled up. Use your locking pliers to keep the door in place.
3. Gather your tools inside the garage.
Once you’ve started assembling your new door’s panels, you’re basically stuck in there until the job is done. Before you start installing your new garage door, make sure the tools you need are with you inside the garage.
4. Bring a friend.
Garage doors are heavy! It helps to have a friend help you during the replacement process. And if worse comes to worst, it’s always good to have someone nearby to call for help if an accident happens.
Reasons You Should Hire Garage Door Technicians
While you can find detailed garage door replacement instructions online, if you doubt your ability to do it properly, it’s better to hire professionals to handle the door installation. Why? Here are some compelling reasons to hire a garage door technician for your garage door replacement.
1. You’ll avoid injuring yourself.
Since garage doors are heavy, it’s quite possible that you’ll hurt yourself trying to replace it. Some are relatively minor, like pinched fingers; but some injuries can land you in the hospital. If you’re afraid of getting hurt, eliminate that risk by hiring professionals for the garage door replacement.
2. They have the knowledge and tools.
Garage door technicians are experienced at their jobs. They have the technical know-how that’s needed for garage door replacement and general repair. They’ll also have the specialised tools required; meaning you won’t have to buy the tools yourself for a one-time project.
3. You’ll be sure the replacement is done properly.
If you have little experience with garage doors, you may end up installing your new garage door incorrectly. If this happens, then you’re likely not well-protected from the elements, temperature and intruders. It may also not work properly even though it’s new.
4. You’ll save time and money.
A DIY garage door replacement takes much longer to do. Aside from needing to learn the skills needed, you’ll spend more time replacing your garage door rechecking what to do next. You might even spend time redoing it because you messed up somewhere along the line.
But apart from the extra effort and time you’ll spend when replacing your garage door on your own, you might also be spending more money. If you don’t have the specialised tools, you’ll need to buy them, and it’s unlikely you’ll need to use them again.
Let Expert Technicians Handle Your Garage Door Replacement
There are many aesthetic and functional benefits to getting your garage door replaced. However, garage door replacement is a tough job that requires time and effort to complete. If you’d like to have a smooth garage door installation, let the experts at SOS Garage Door Repairs handle it for you!
We’re well-equipped to install all types of garage doors, so reach out to us if you need help; you can call us at 519-680-0257. We also handle general garage door repair and other related services. Check out our full list of services and service areas today!
