What is better? Replace a Section vs. Replace the Whole Door
Most homeowners usually find it challenging to make a decision whether to replace a section or the whole garage door. There are various reasons that may prompt you to consider either repairing a section of your garage door, or simply replacing the whole door. It could have been the elements that might have hit your garage door so hard or it simply may just be looking old and dilapidated. Whatever the reason that may be occasioning you to either consider replacing a section or the whole of your garage door, we are going to discuss which is better in this article piece.
There are instances when repairing your garage door could actually be a cost effective option for you. There are times however when replacing a garage door might just be the perfect solution for you. That said, let us discuss the varied scenarios where each of the decisions may just be the best option.
You will have to contact a professional
You will be considering either repairing or replacing your garage door because it is damaged or worn out. If you aren’t a professional when it comes to garage doors, you will need to contact an expert to assist you. Installation or repair of garage doors involves the use of machinery and equipment that you may not readily have at your home.
There are some minor repairs that you could do by yourself, but when the damage is big, it requires the hands of an expert.
The common issues that can be fixed
- A sagging garage door – a garage door is said to be sagging when it is halfway closed, one side appears lower than the other. Of course, most homeowners usually overlook this as a mere issue because they still can access the garage without experiencing any issues. Unfortunately, when you notice this, it is a sign that the garage door lifting mechanism already has some wear and tear.Fixing this issue, however requires just a simple fix. The door springs are the ones that need to be replaced with some professionalism, the door will be back in place like it should.
- A single damaged panel – if your garage’s door single panel gets damaged, it is advisable for you to have it repaired as soon as possible. This will help to avoid any further damages that may occur that often leads to additional maintenance costs.
- A garage door that just stops working suddenly – sometimes, you may just wake up and find your garage door isn’t working. Before you start thinking of having it replaced, you would want to check things like the remote batteries and find out if they are working.
Garage doors that stop working suddenly are usually so easy to fix, and a professional garage door technician can help you have the door fixed immediately. - When the garage door feels hefty – the garage door is usually fitted with springs that help with lifting them easily when they are being opened. Because garage doors are usually too heavy, the springs help to make opening them quite easy and fast even when the power goes out, you could simply just lift them open.
When the door suddenly starts to feel heavy when being opened, it means that the springs have started to wear down and perhaps they may need to be replaced as soon as possible.
When you should consider replacing the garage door altogether
Now that we have looked at some reparable issues, let us now take a look into garage door problems that would require the entire door to be replaced:
- When the garage door saps energy – energy efficiency is an issue that comes into play when using any machinery. If you have a garage door that uses lots of energy for it to be operated, then it is time for you to replace it with one that is energy efficient.
- When the garage door is broken into by a burglar – break-ins aren’t a new phenomenon for homeowners, but whatever means that might have been used by the burglar to open the door shouldn’t be taken lightly and therefore the door should be replaced.You might be tempted to change the security features of the garage door that was breached by the burglar, but this is not a good idea because the features are already compromised. You really don’t know how the burglar might have managed to obtain the passcode of the garage door.
- When the garage door lacks child safety features – the outdated garage doors lacked child safety features that are designed to help protect children from injury. A child safety feature of a garage door works on a model in which the door can’t close when there’s someone crossing the threshold.
Even though you could still have this feature installed on your outdated garage door, it could cost you a hefty sum of money. The best solution here, therefore, would be to have the garage replaced altogether. - When the garage door is severely outdated – well, there is absolutely no way around this and you can’t have a severely damaged garage door repaired instead it is best to have it replaced with a new one that comes with even better features.
- When the garage door frequently experiences issues – when the issues are sudden, they are worth a repair, but when the problems keep on showing up now and then, it is wise to have it replaced with a new one.
Ben, your garage door expert
I am Ben, a certified garage door repairs person and you can rely on me on all your garage door repair and service needs. I have many years of experience repairing, servicing and replacing faulty garage doors. Due to my skills and in-depth industry knowledge, I’ll help you in every process of your garage repair, maintenance, servicing, or replacement. Contact me if you have any issues with your garage door that needs the hands of an expert that is qualified and tested.