If you have lived in your home for a while here in Houston, you know that the weather can be brutal to the outside of your home, including your garage door. Your garage door probably gets regularly used ( most Houstonians anyway) which means the door takes on daily wear as well as any accidental bumps and dings along the way. After some years, you may be asking yourself, should I replace my garage door?

When it comes to deciding should you replace your garage door, there are some things to consider.

TLDR

• Age: Generally Replace After 10-15 Years.
• Cosmetic Damage: How bad is the damage like chipped paint or cracked panel.
• Structural Damage: If it has a bad warp to the door, it’s time to replace it.
• Functionality and Cost: If the door is too slow or not opening all the way, does the cost of repair get higher than replacing it?
• Energy Efficiency: One way to save money on energy bills is to install garage doors with insulation.

Considerations in Replacing Your Old Garage Door

Age Of the Garage Door

Like anything else, things wear down and get more costly the older they get. This is also the case for garage doors. 1-2 years old are usually covered under warranty. Almost nothing usually breaks down within the first 5 years. From 10-15 years, parts can start to wear down. When approaching 15 years and older, the springs and parts can get harder to find and more expensive. When it starts to seem like it will cost more to repair than to replace your garage door, the best thing to do is just to go ahead and replace it.

Cosmetic damage.

One of the most common types of damage for garage door units is a cracked panel. If it’s just one panel that is damaged, you could just repair the garage door panel instead of buying a new door. However, if it’s more than one panel then it may be worth investing in a new door.

Another issue is chipped paint and fading. Fading does not interfere with the normal functioning of your garage door unit, it just affects the appeal and appearance. Chipped paint however, could expose the metal underneath and allow the door to rust. The prime reasons behind cosmetic damage are aging, adverse weather conditions, and the occasional impact on the garage door. In general, this type of damage can be repaired at a low cost, but as stated before, if your garage door is inching its way to 15 years of its life or more, your Houston garage door experts here at Spectrum Overhead recommend replacing the garage door. It just makes sense as you are probably going to have to replace the door anyways soon, and you do not want twice the cost.

Structural damage.

The most common example of structural damage is a warped door, and in most cases, it is caused by extreme temperature or severe weather conditions like Houston summers. With your garage door warping, your door may perform it’s operating normally. Depending on how bad the warpage is, it could be better to find a replacement for this unit. One replaces the old wooden door with the latest steel door models; they are designed to prevent the rusting issue. However, if you are still in love with the wooden look, it is better to look for composite doors that have steel cores and wooden overlays.

Functionality.

In case if your garage door is making too much noise or operating slowly than its usual speed, the decision about whether to replace your garage door will depend on the level of the problem. In case if the problem can be solved with repair by investing a reasonable amount, it is better to choose that; however, if the cost of repair goes beyond the threshold, you can go ahead with the replacement. The professionals at Houston Garage Door repair company can help you make a better decision about it.

Energy Efficiency.

Your garage is one big space that can be a barrier between your home and that Houston, TX heat. Yet if you have an older, non-insulated garage door, or cracks in the door, garage door window or weather stripping, more of that hot air is getting into your garage and making your AC work harder to cool your home. This is especially important if you happen to have a bedroom or other room above your garage. Builders of many older homes were more aggressive in installing insulation within the shared wall between a garage and the rest of the house, but not the ceiling – especially above a garage. If you are looking at ways to cut your energy costs, replacing your old garage door with an energy-efficient door, you will immediately discover that your room above the garage is far more comfortable in both the hottest and coldest months.

If you are in the Houston or surrounding area, we provide a free consultation and estimate on door installation or garage door repair. Spectrum Overhead Door has been providing the Houston area with award-winning garage door installation service since 2006.  Call 281-748-9542 or our East Houston office 713-557-3407 to schedule an appointment today!

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