Many homeowners take advantage of the reliability of their garage door, expecting the door and opener to operate optimally for a lifetime. Homeowners know how long the roof should last, and appliances like the hot water heater, but how long do garage doors realistically operate? With proper maintenance and care, you can expect your garage door to last a minimum of 15 years.
Garage Door Lifespan – How Long Do They Last?
While garage door warranties vary, many manufacturers offer a warranty for their products for typically three years. How long your garage door will last largely depends on daily usage, but also depends on the construction, door quality, maintenance and local climate. With these considerations, most doors will last 15 to 30 years. Garage door openers should reliably perform for 10 to 15 years.
Another component that affects the longevity of a garage door is the torsion and extension springs — largely responsible for the smooth opening and closing of your garage door. The torsion springs are located above the door when it is closed and the extension springs run along the side of the horizontal tracks. Like the breaks in a car, the springs are usually the first thing that breaks and need to be replaced, but when replaced, it can last another 10,000 cycles or more. The spring lifespan is measured in garage door cycles, which is the one-time opening and closing of the door. A standard spring is designed to operate for 10,000 cycles, however there are high cycle options that a spring can last 100,000 cycles or more.
Life expectancy of a 10,000-cycle spring translates to these approximate daily usages:
- Two times daily should last about 13-14 years
- Four times daily should last about 6-7 years
- Six times daily should last about 4-5 years
- Eight times daily should last about 3 years
If your spring breaks, it is usually a good time to replace the other moving parts on the door, assuming your sections or panels are in good condition.
Factors That Affect Your Garage Door’s Life Span
A garage door could meet or exceed its anticipated life span, or you may need to replace it sooner than expected. Several factors can impact how long a garage door will last:
- Weather: Constant exposure to rain, snow, wind, sleet and other climatic conditions can take a toll on a door. If you live in a flood-prone area, rising waters can cause significant damage to the entire door system.
- Usage: How often do you open and close your garage door each day? More frequent operating cycles place a heavier demand on the springs, cables, opener and other components, which can accelerate the door’s deterioration.
- Maintenance: Like most mechanical objects, garage doors need regular service to keep them functioning properly and prevent costly repairs. An annual inspection by a professional technician can maximize the door’s life span.
- Door type: The materials used to manufacture the garage door will affect its longevity. Steel products are typically the most durable and are less vulnerable to denting or chipping. Fiberglass doors represent the smallest market segment and are usually the weakest.
When to Replace an Old Garage Door
By updating your garage door, you can also improve your daily functionality and add curb appeal and style to your home. Garage door replacement tops the list of home improvement with the best return on investment at resale, but homeowners hoping to get the biggest bang for their buck need to invest their upgrade dollars wisely by choosing a design that fits the architectural style and price point of their home. Findings in REMODELING magazine’s 2018 Cost vs. Value Report show that replacing a garage door not only improves a home’s curb appeal, the project generates the best return-on-investment (ROI) when it comes to recouping cost at resale. With proper maintenance, your garage door typically only needs to be replaced every 15 to 30 years, but if you’re unsure if it’s time to replace your garage door, consider:
- If wood garage doors are cracked, warped and damaged or have cosmetic issues like peeling paint or holes
- Check if aluminum doors have noticeable dents and dings
- Does the garage door sag or is it near the end of its lifespan?
- If the door shakes or is noisy during normal operations
- If the garage door is slow to respond or difficult to open or close
- Are you making frequent repairs or noticing broken or rusted parts?
- If you simply want improve the look or curb appeal of your house
- If you change the way you use your garage and need more insulation
Ways to Increase Your Garage Door’s Life Span
While many of the factors that impact a door’s life span are out of your control, you can take several steps to help it last longer:
- Examine safety features: Your door should have a sensor-activated auto-reverse mechanism to keep the door from crashing to the ground. Ensuring your door system has the correct safety features and verifying that they are working properly can help prevent door damage.
- Inspect hardware: The door’s springs, cables, pulleys, bolts and other hardware can loosen over time. Checking these items can help your door function correctly and lower the damage risk.
- Test the door’s balance: A properly aligned door will operate smoothly, reducing the likelihood of mechanical issues that could shorten its life span.
- Clean and lubricate moving parts: Well-lubricated components generate less friction, reducing the chance of premature wear.
- Wash the panels: Keeping the panels clean will prevent dirt and corrosion from harming the finish and causing the door to deteriorate faster.
- Clean the tracks: The tracks and rollers allow the door to move smoothly. Cleaning them regularly will contribute to a longer garage door life span.
- Care for the weatherstripping: The rubber weatherstripping at the bottom and sides of the door keeps dirt, debris and insects from entering the space. Ensuring that this feature stays intact — and replacing it when necessary — will help to preserve the door.
Do You Need a New Garage Door? Contact the Pros at Best Overhead Door
Are you a resident of the Portland, OR, or Vancouver, WA, areas in need of a new stylish and durable garage door? If so, We offer estimates via phone, email and video conferencing or we can bring our showroom to you with hand samples and brochures. We’re a local company with over 30 years of garage door sales, installation and maintenance experience. We’re open to all residents of the metro area and we stock a full selection of Clopay® garage doors — guaranteeing the best quality construction and modern design. We can educate you so you make the smartest ROI for your house. To learn more about our products and services, complete our online contact form or call us today at (503) 620-1205 to speak to one of our specialists.
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