Investing in a new garage door is never a bad idea. But sometimes, it may not be the best decision for you financially, especially when a simple repair is all your old garage door needs to keep functioning. But how do you decide if your garage door needs a repair or total replacement?
If you’ve found yourself caught in the web of deciding between a garage door repair or replacement in Richmond, this post will guide you in making a decision that is best for your home.
Choosing Between a Garage Door Repair or Replacement
The factors listed below will help you know whether a replacement is necessary or not.
Age of the Garage Door
Your garage door may have seen better years. If that is the case, chances are, it’s been screaming for a change. While garage doors are built to be long-lasting, nature often takes its course with age, and your garage door isn’t left out. Signs that your garage doors are getting too old include:
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Wear and tear
A new garage door can improve the curb appeal of your home by complementing its architectural design. However, when it starts to age, wear and tear becomes inevitable. The resultant effect is that your home begins to lose some of that appeal. Not only that, parts of your garage door develop faults and begin to lose some of their functions. Although some of those faults can be repaired, other times, they may need to be replaced.
For instance, if a single panel from your garage door develops a fault, it will be easier and cheaper to repair than replace. However, if multiple panels develop faults, and begin to rust or fade, then you should consider replacing the garage door completely.
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Discoloration
If the only sign of aging in your garage door is discoloration, then a replacement may not be necessary, assuming all other parts function effectively. All you need to do is wash the surface of the door, remove flaking or peeling paints, apply a primer, and then apply a fresh coat of paint in your desired color to restore the look of your garage door. If this seems like much work for you, then you can contact a company that offers garage door services to get the repainting job done.
Damage
Your garage door may suffer damage from external forces such as an accident involving a high-impact collision or harsh weather conditions such as high winds, torrential rain, natural disasters, etc. Depending on the level of the damage, a replacement may be the best option, especially in cases where the damage exposes your garage to thieves or intruders. Also, some damages can be covered by insurance, which makes a replacement even cheaper.
Damages such as a dent on a single garage door panel don’t call for a replacement. Garage doors are made up of several panels, so damage to a single panel can easily be fixed. Never ignore damages, no matter how minor they seem; minor damages can grow to become major issues if they are not attended to.
Also, if your garage door is made from wood, it is susceptible to water damage. So if you notice rot, warping, and cracking on your wooden garage door, a repair won’t fix the fault. They are clear tell-tale signs that you need a garage door replacement. You can consider a garage door with a more durable material.
Operation Failure
If your garage door suddenly stops working, don’t be too quick to replace it. Oftentimes, the faults may be minor and easy to fix. However, if it has been showing signs of damage, or has broken down a number of times before stopping entirely, then the failure in operation can be an accumulation of different problems and may require a replacement.
Cost
When the cost of repairing damage to your garage door exceeds the cost of replacement, a replacement is a better option here. However, if the cost of replacement exceeds the cost of repair, as is usually the case, then you should not pay for a repair.
Repairing or replacing your garage door is a worthy investment. But then, every investment you make should be worth it. Considering the factors listed above, a replacement can be a bad investment, especially if there isn’t really any prominent or significant damage to your garage door. But if the opposite is the case, a repair can cost you more in the long run.
