Garage doors are like most things in your home, they wear out and need replacement over time. A new garage door and garage door installation can cost hundreds to thousands of dollars depending on the door. Understanding how long a garage door last can help you save money and time in the long run. That is why we wanted to provide some basic facts on how long your garage door should last and tips on increasing the lifespan of your garage door.
What Is the Typical Lifespan of a Garage Door?
The typical lifespan of a garage door is about 15-30 years. Metal ones such as steel and aluminum usually last over 20 years. Wood can last just as long if not longer with proper care. However, how long a garage door lasts also depends on several factors though. Frequency of use, maintenance, if there were any left-over issues from installation, and environmental conditions such as humidity, wind and hot sun can all contribute to the wearing out a garage door. However, proper maintenance and regular check-ups can help extend the lifespan of a garage door.
How to Maintain and Extend the Life of Your Garage Door
You should also inspect the door for any signs of wear and tear and have any repairs done as soon as possible. Extend your garage door’s life by following a few simple maintenance tips. For example, keep an eye on the weather stripping and replace it as needed to ensure a tight seal. You don’t want water to seep into the edges of your garage door.
Look for any chips or scratches in the paint. You will want to fix those right way to prevent rust. Here in Houston, we have seen rust happen fast because of the humidity. We have a great post, How to Fix Chipped Paint on a Garage Door to help you on fixing the garage door’s paint job.
While you are looking for chips and scratches, clean your garage door. Dust and dirt can accumulate on the door over time. That crud can make it’s way into the garage door tracks and into your hinges. Clean it with a soft cloth and mild soap to keep it looking like new.
Lubricate and check your hinges to make sure they are not rusting. If any are broken, replace them immediately. If you don’t have issues, you soon will if you already have a broken hinge.
Check for other loose hardware. Check the screws, nuts, and bolts on things like your garage door track regularly to make sure they are tightened. Loose hardware can cause the door to operate poorly and increase wear and tear and shorten the lifespan of your garage door.
Another factor in the lifespan of your garage door is garage door springs Your garage door springs are what keep your garage door open and not slam down closed while they are up. The lifespan of a garage door spring is measured in garage door cycles, with the garage door going up and down one time considered a cycle. Most garage door springs are rated for about 10,000 cycles or 7-15 years. Make sure your garage door springs are lubricated twice a year, and if they look really rusty, consider replacing them before they break to prevent damage to your garage door.
One of the biggest killers of garage doors is dented panels. It should go without say that you should keep objects away from your garage door. If you do have something dent your garage door, it could be fixed with a garage door panel swap or adding strut braces. Leaving it should not be an option. A door with damaged garage door panels will often sag when the door is opened. This type of damage will get worse over time, and the door can eventually get jammed, or cause rollers to pop out of the track and damage the door further.
If your garage door is younger than 15 years old, but not sure if you should replace or repair your garage door, read How Do I Know If I Need a New Garage Door?
Your garage door should last you 15-30 years depending on the different factors and conditions we have laid out here. If you think it is time for a new garage door, call us at Spectrum Overhead Door LLC here in Houston. We have been installing garage doors in Houston since 2006. Call 281-748-9542 for a free design quote today!