Advertisement
During construction, one thing you consider when choosing your materials is their durability. Garage doors, for instance, are built to serve you for as long as possible. However, over the years, these structures have faced an astounding amount of wear and tear. Being a frequently used entrance, you can understand why they’re subject to such severe conditions.
Unfortunately, though, many people take their garage doors for granted, perhaps because they don’t expect them to break down. This can be dangerous both to your home and to those living in it. Therefore, it’s important to keep an eye on these structures from time to time.
Here are some of the main warning signs that could indicate the deterioration of your garage door’s condition.
- Unusual noises
The first warning sign you should always watch out for is any unusual noise when opening or closing the garage door. A high-quality garage door is designed to have a smooth and quiet movement. So, you shouldn’t hear any irritating noise when operating it, but that could change over time. Clinking, rumbling, banging, straining, and rattling are some of the noises you’re likely to experience. So, what exactly does this indicate? (1)
The fact that your garage door produces the sounds mentioned above doesn’t necessarily mean that you should replace it. The best cause of action you should take if you’re not sure is to contact a garage door company. The problem may be addressed by the designer of your current door or any other trustworthy expert. Let them come and assess the condition of your structure so they can tell you what to do next.
Remember, every type of noise that comes out of any garage door has a meaning, and this can only be analyzed by someone who has been on the field long enough. For instance, banging simply means you need to readjust the door and put it back on its track or replace the panels. Sometimes, the noise could be an indication that many parts of the door are worn out.
After this assessment, you can then decide whether to replace each part or the whole garage door, depending on how the finances balance.
- Frequent repairs
Another thing to consider is how often you’ve repaired your garage door over the past few months. When most of the parts are worn out, you’ll end up replacing each one of them every now and then.
Even one broken spring can accelerate the wear and tear of other parts. In the long run, you might find yourself spending a lot of money maintaining your garage door. Remember, any machine requires more attention as it ages. Therefore, you’re likely to spend even more in the future than you’re doing now unless you make the necessary changes. That’s why, for the sake of your finances and the safety of your family, it might be time to buy a new garage door in this situation.
- An increase in energy bills
One sign that many homeowners often overlook is an increase in energy bills. Of course, this could be as a result of many factors, such as your electric appliances or a change in behavior due to climatic conditions. But don’t rule out the possibility of having worn-out seals in your garage door.
So, how is an increase in energy bills related to garage doors? As mentioned, this is a rare occurrence, but when the garage door’s insulation is no longer effective, your AC unit could be overworked due to extreme temperatures. These openings can also let in water, making the area feel colder than usual. (2)
If you notice such changes and they don’t seem to stop even after repairs, then it might be the right time to invest in another door.
- Rising insecurity in your area
Your garage door might not be showing any signs of a breakdown, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s still ideal for your needs. One of the main reasons why garage doors are installed is to enhance the safety of your family and any property stored in the garage. Apart from vehicles, many people store other valuable items in this area.
The current security trends have shown that you cannot rely entirely on old garage doors because they can be easily breached by intruders. So, if the insecurity in your area is constantly rising, take that as a warning sign to update your garage door. Depending on your structure, this could either mean a few adjustments or a complete replacement of the door to meet the modern needs.
- Aesthetics
The garage door is among the first things that one sees when they visit your home. As such, it can have a huge impact on your home’s curb appeal and the property’s value. After several years of usage, parts of the door will start wearing out, and that can affect its aesthetics.
Whether or not you can fix such issues depends on the material of the door. A metallic door might be easy to maintain, but that could be tougher if your garage door is made of wood. This is because cracks and warps on wooden panels are almost impossible to repair. Even if you manage to do so, you won’t get the desired quality.
But broken panels might not be the only thing affecting your aesthetics. Your taste and style might’ve changed from when you first installed the door or purchased the home. So, the best thing in such a case is to replace the garage door entirely and give your home a new beautiful appearance.
Conclusion
Garage doors have a huge role to play when it comes to the security of your property. So, updating this structure based on the current trends is something you might want to do. Another sign that might suggest the need for a change is frequent repairs.
If you’ve spent a lot of money trying to bring the door back to its optimum state, then this might be the time to try another installation. There are high chances that you’ll end up spending even more as time goes by because garage doors tend to require more maintenance as they age. Call a reputable expert and let them advise you on the way forward after assessing the condition of your garage door.
References
- “Common Garage Door Problems”, Source: https://www.thespruce.com/garage-door-repairs-and-maintenance-1398148#:~:text=Properly%20maintained%2C%20a%20garage%20door,other%20than%20to%20replace%20it.
- “Is Insulating a Garage Door Necessary?”, Source: https://www.thespruce.com/is-it-worth-insulating-garage-door-1398251