How Long Do Garage Doors Last?

How Long Do Garage Doors Last?

We use our garage doors, day in and day out, every day, believing that they will last forever. Many homeowners rely on their garage doors to let them into the home and safely store items like their car. They also often serve a cosmetic purpose like enhancing the look and feel of the home, aka curb appeal. However, one of the most common questions we often get asked is how Long Do Garage Doors Last?

Well, that’s a pretty challenging question to answer because it depends on a lot. Depending on how they are built and where they are installed, garage doors can undergo varying degrees of wear and tear. The damage or wear can affect the service life of your garage door. Regular garage door maintenance can help extend the service life of most garage doors. However are not talking about DIY maintenance, but professional maintenance is what’s needed in most cases.

How Long Can You Expect a Garage Door to Last?

On average, we’d day a moderately maintained mid-tier garage door will last 15 years, and if well maintained and taken care of by the owner, it can last for up to 30 years. Again the environment in which the garage door operates matters a lot.

As mentioned earlier, there are several factors that affect the lifespan of your garage door, such as:

Usage – A lot of the lifespan depends on how many times the garage door is opened and closed. The torsion springs in the garage door will only last for a certain number of cycles. So, the more it is opened and closed, the sooner those springs will fail.

Maintenance – We mentioned this earlier, but it’s worth mentioning again. A well-maintained garage door will last up to 45% longer than one that isn’t.

Quality – If you’ve splurged on the best quality garage door available and purchased it from a trusted seller, then the door will likely outlast 99% of cheap or low-quality garage doors. Generally, we’ve observed that more expensive garage doors tend to last longer.

Local climate – Bad weather and more frequent violent weather can take their toll on your garage door. So, if you live in a place that’s hit by many storms, chances they will shorten the life of your garage door.

When Should A Garage Door Be Replaced?

Honestly, it can be challenging for most people to determine when their garage door may need to be replaced. However, there are a couple of factors that you can look at before deciding if the device should be replaced.

Replace the garage door if its exhibits any of these issues:

• The door stops functioning properly.
• You see that the wood or material has started to crack, bend or peel off.
• You notice lots of rusty sections or panels.
• The current garage door does not provide adequate insulation.
• You notice the garage door sagging.

Hire an Expert

If you are unsure of replacing the garage door or getting repaired, an expert can help you decide. Garage door repair and installation experts have years of experience and can examine the door before declaring it ‘dead,’ though in many cases if your garage door is less than 10 years old, it can be repaired.