Garage Door Repair – The Hidden Truth

garage door repair

Keeping a keen eye on how your garage door functions is key to maintaining a healthy garage door. But every now and then things happen and a professional garage door repair is needed. The longer you put off having your garage door repaired the more damage you are possibly incurring that’s why we recommend when your garage door is not functioning properly that you have it repaired as soon as possible.

If you’ve noticed unusual sounds emanating from your garage door or uneven opening and closing functions, there’s a very good chance your garage door is experiencing problems. Since the garage door serves as the front door for many households, it’s important to get it repaired so you can get back to your daily activities and keep your family safe.

A malfunctioning garage door can be inconvenient (to say the least), but if you’re prepared, you’ll know how to handle the situation. Below we highlight several hidden truths about garage door repair to guide you through the repair process.

Garage Door Repair – Multiple Repairs Likely Necessary

There are two main components of your garage door system: the garage door opener and the actual garage door. There are various moving parts within the garage door opener that allow the opener to run smoothly and there are typically multiple sections of each garage door.

Chances are that if one part of your garage door malfunctions or breaks, it’s necessary to repair more than just one part. Because the entire garage door system works together as one unit, when one part is not working, it is likely that another part will eventually stop working as well. If you only repair the broken part without paying attention to other component parts, the malfunctioning part will probably break again.

Garage Door Repair – Annual Tune-Ups Recommended

Mesa Garage Doors along with North America’s largest trade association for garage doors, DASMA (Door & Access Systems Manufacturers Association), recommend garage door tune-ups by a professional garage door repair company every year. Annual tune-ups allow technicians to inspect your garage door system to make sure everything is working properly and to identify any potential issues. Even though you may not be aware of any problems with your garage door system, there could be damaged parts or hardware under extreme tension that could cause a major problem in the future.

Garage Door Repair …or Replacement?

When you’re dealing with a malfunctioning garage door system, you’ll have the choice of having your garage door repaired or replacing the entire system with a new garage door system. While repairing your current garage door typically is the less expensive option, a complete garage door replacement may make more sense in the long run economically (as highlighted in this replacement vs. repair article). Either way our garage door repair professionals will be able to advise you about the best choice for the safety of your home and your family.

Garage Door Replacements: 4 Key Factors To Consider When Replacing Your Garage Door

garage door replacements

Garage door replacements don’t come up too often in one’s lifetime so when it does you need to be confident you are making the right choice. As such, we compiled the top 4 factors to consider when you are faced with a garage door replacement.

Garage Door Replacements Factor 1: Material is Key!

It is extremely important to delve deep into the pros and cons of each garage door material type before purchasing your new garage door. Without a doubt, the most popular garage door material is steel. Steel garage doors are typically insulated to be more energy efficient than wood doors and generally require lower maintenance than wood garage doors. Wood garage doors, while oftentimes the most attractive of the garage door types, often require constant maintenance in the form of repainting and re-staining, and typically cost more than steel garage doors. Aluminum garage doors are typically the least expensive of the garage door types as well as the most lightweight (and thus easiest to lift manually) however aluminum garage doors are also the most prone to dent.

Garage Door Replacements Factor 2: Complement Your Entry Door

Looking to really upgrade the curb appeal of your home? We highly recommend matching your front entry door with your new garage door! The economic benefits of garage door replacements are crystal clear (see The Cost vs. Value Analysis Research), and complementing your new garage door with your entry (or new entry door) can really boost the overall value of your home even more.

Things to keep in mind, obviously you don’t want to put a contemporary looking aluminum and/or glass garage door on a traditional Colonial home or a carriage style garage door on a contemporary home. Also, if your new garage door has windows, be mindful of the shape of the windows and the size of the window grilles that you choose.

Garage Door Replacements Factor 3: Consider Adding Windows

Speaking of windows, choosing a new garage door with windows adds a nice touch to the overall attractiveness of your home. Please do not underestimate the visual impact of adding windows to your garage door. Most people don’t realize the difference a few windows on a garage door can make, so we recommend speaking with our professional garage door installers and let them show you visually just what this little change would look like on your home.

Garage Door Replacements Factor 4: Insulation Can Save You Cash

Consider the insulation value (“R-value”) of your garage door replacements.  The higher the R-value of the garage door, the greater the insulation value and energy efficiency. If you live in a temperate climate, insulation may not be a very important issue for you. However, if you live in a colder climate, or have finished living space above your garage, or plan to heat or cool your garage because you are using it for purposes other than parking cars (i.e., a workshop or laundry area), the garage door’s R-value is definitely something to consider. The cons of getting a new garage door with a high R-value is the cost – typically, the higher the R-value of the garage door, the higher the price.