Unlike most of the doors in your home, your garage door plays a big part in your home’s appearance and value. Your garage door can really contribute or detract from your curb appeal as well as the safety of your home. Garage doors may need to be replaced in order to keep your home safe and attractive. Here are a few ways to tell if your garage door is in need of replacement.
Obvious Sagging
Sagging is often a problem seen with wooden garage doors. When not properly cared for, the wood may start to sag because of rot, decomposition, and age. Garage doors made of other materials may also start to sag as well. If you notice any sagging, it is important to contact a garage door expert to get an estimate on garage door replacement. A sagging garage door is not only unattractive, but it can also be dangerous.
Noise and Shaking
When the garage door opens and closes, you should not hear an alarming amount of noise. You should also not see extreme shaking. If you are observing these things, it could mean that the garage door needs repair.
In most cases, a noisy or shaky garage door simply needs maintenance, not necessarily replacement. However, if you ignore these signs, the garage door will continue to malfunction, which will eventually result in it needing replacement. It is most affordable to do any needed maintenance now rather than go through a costly door replacement later.
Cracked or Damaged Wood
A wooden garage door is more likely to deteriorate over time, as opposed to a door made of other materials. Wood can crack, rot, and be more easily damaged. Paint is also more likely to peel from wooden surfaces. This type of damage will only grow worse over time. If left unrepaired, you will find yourself with a more expensive project on your hands.
Lack of Safety
If the garage door will not latch properly or is easily opened from the outside, the safety of your home is at risk. The garage door is supposed to act as another layer of security between yourself and the world. If you notice that the door can easily be forced open or there are missing panels large enough for people to pass through, you should consider having the door replaced for safety’s sake.
If the door falls closed easily this is also a safety concern as this could injure someone passing underneath.
Difficult To Open
Just as a door that is too easily opened is unsafe, a door that is difficult to open is also unsafe. This may delay someone safely exiting the home in the event of a fire or an emergency. The garage door should open and close with no difficulty.
Outdated Design
Just like with many aspects of your home design, a garage door can become outdated. Although this may not affect the efficiency of the door, it does affect the value of the home. Having a garage door replaced can help to update the appearance of the entire house to add additional value.