Garage doors are a vital part of everyday life. They do more than cover your garage’s entryway and inside the house. They also serve a cosmetic purpose, making your house look beautiful. With all these benefits, it is not ideal to leave your garage door to wear out before you think of replacing or repairing the damaged parts. Garage Door Doctor specializes in garage doors in Indianapolis and the surrounding area!
Always keep up with regular maintenance to avoid the general cost of getting a new one and increase the lifespan of your garage door. But how long does a garage door last?
How Long Should a Garage Door Last?
Different garage doors have different warranties. Most manufacturers offer a three-year warranty on their garage doors. The lifespan of your garage door depends on its usage. How often do you open and close it in a day?
Additionally, the garage door’s overall quality, your local climate, and how dedicated you’ve been to its maintenance are also significant contributors to the door’s lifespan. Considering standard usage, it is safe to say that a garage door should last for 15 to 30 years of continuous usage. The garage door openers should serve you up to 15 years before replacement with proper maintenance.
Factors Contributing to the Lifespan of Your Garage Door
Your garage door secures your car and other belongings, but it does not operate the same as a regular house door. There are lots of factors that contribute to its lifespan, and here are a few.
Maintenance
How you care for and maintain your garage door matters significantly. You need to do regular maintenance and servicing. Have an expert look at the openers and inspect if there are any signs of rust or breakage.
Local Climate
The location of your residence is also an essential contributor to the lifespan of your garage door. In Indianapolis, the weather can sometimes be inclement; there may be storms, high winds, and even hail, and that’s to say nothing of the cold, snowy winters and humid summers. When your garage door gets exposed to all of these elements, the damage could significantly lower its lifespan. It’s important to protect your investment and prepare your garage door for Indiana weather changes.
Usage
How often do you use your garage door? What kind of springs does it have? Remember, the working mechanism of a garage door is highly dependent on its springs. The springs determine how many open or close cycles your garage door can withstand.
Price and Quality
The durability of all garage doors always comes down to quality, which directly affects the price. If you get a high-quality garage door from a renowned and trusted retailer, you know that it will last on the high end of its lifespan. High-quality garage doors do not come cheap, however worth it the investment may be. You must be willing to spend more to get a long-lasting garage door.
Torsion and Extension Springs
Springs primarily affect the working process of your garage door. They offer the smooth opening and closing of the door. The torsion springs are located above the garage door, while the extension springs run along the horizontal tracks of the door.
Like a car’s brakes, the garage door springs are usually the first to break and thus need replacing frequently. The best part is that when you replace the door springs, the new ones could give you an additional 10,000 open and close cycles, which will prolong the lifespan.
Material
Garage doors are made of different materials, and each of these materials has a different lifespan. For instance, wood garage doors will last from 15 to 30 years. Other materials like steel, aluminum, vinyl, fiberglass, and wood composite can last 20 to 30 years.
Life Expectancy of a 10,000 Cycle Garage Door Spring
Considering everyday usage, we can help you determine how long your garage door will serve you with a spring of 10,000 cycles. If you use your garage door twice every day, you will get about 14 years of service.
Using the door about four times a day will reduce the number by half and give you only seven years. If you usually use your garage door about six times a day, which is quite rare, it will serve you for only five years. And finally, if you use it up to eight times a day, which is even more unlikely, you will get only three years out of your garage door.
The Importance of Garage Door Maintenance
Maintaining your garage door prolongs its lifecycle and any other related component, like the openers and the springs. Increase your garage door’s lifespan by regularly lubricating and cleaning the working parts. Also, ensure that the sensors are working correctly as they are the components responsible for the opening and closing of the garage door when there is an obstruction in the driveway.
At Garage Door Doctor, we have a garage door maintenance plan to help you stay ahead of all the damages and minimize your repair costs. After installation, we also offer regular maintenance services to our customers, especially those unfamiliar with the working mechanism of garage doors or who are uncomfortable handling the door.
Time to Replace Your Garage Door
Most people do not understand the working of their garage doors and thus cannot tell when to get a new one. At Garage Door Doctor, we deal with all things related to garage doors, from repairs and maintenance to replacements. We also recommend some factors that you can consider to help you determine if it is time to replace your garage door. If your garage door shows the following symptoms, it may be time to start shopping again.
Sagging
If you notice that the garage door is sagging and not functioning as it should, it is time to get a new one. At this point, repairing the garage door may not be worth it since sagging indicates that the structural integrity of the door has been compromised.
Damaged Wood
If the garage door is made of wood and you notice it is warping, cracked, peeling, or damaged, you should plan on getting a replacement.
Noise
If your garage door is extremely noisy when it’s opening or closing, and it also takes ages to open or close, you may need a new one. These are typically signs that your garage door has served its purpose, and it is time to move on to another one.
Damaged Aluminum
Aluminum is one of the most long-lasting garage door materials. However, it also gets old over time. If it’s an aluminum door and you notice dings and dents, consider replacing it.
Constant Repairs
If recently you have been spending too much on repairs that won’t serve you long enough, it is time to let go and get a new one. You will save money in the long run.
Give Us a Call
At Garage Door Doctor, we are proud to be one of the most highly rated garage door operators in Indianapolis and the surrounding area. We offer Indianapolis garage door installation, maintenance, and service of all makes and models of garage doors, both residential and commercial garage doors. Contact us today for assistance and advice regarding your garage door.