3 Essential Tips to Stop Your Garage Door Freezing This Winter

How to Keep Your Garage Door From Freezing to the Ground

During the winter months, there’s nothing more annoying than trying to leave for work and having to find a way to leverage your garage door open because it’s frozen shut to the ground. That’s when we normally get the de-icer and lubricant out and go crazy to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

However, that can sometimes provide you with more issues than solutions. Here we’ve provided you with three essential tips to prevent your garage door hinges from freezing this winter.

1. Apply garage door lubrication with a silicon or lithium-based lubricant

We use grease to lubricate bike chains and door handles, so why wouldn’t you want to use it on the hinges of your garage door?

The issue is that in freezing temperatures, grease will freeze just like water, which doesn’t really help your situation at all. Instead, it’s best to find a silicone lubricant which won’t turn your hinges to ice when the weather gets colder. We’ve found that WD-40 is very effective at lubricating garage door hinges, and you’ll find it in stock pretty much anywhere.

Be sure to remove the previous application of grease before applying the new lubricant, though, otherwise, you’ll still encounter issues. You should spray some garage door lubrication to your tracks and rollers while you’re at it, to ensure that they don’t cause any issues when opening the door, too.

2. Apply salt to your garage door

Salt reduces the freezing point of water, which means that it’s really handy for warding off the ice where it’s not wanted. Although it’s difficult to apply it to the hinges of your garage door, you will be able to put it on the garage floor around the door to prevent water from getting under it and freezing the garage door to the floor. This is another common occurrence and will prevent you from getting to work on time!

To avoid any corrosion, it’s recommended that you use table salt. Also, if you’re ever inside the garage and realize that the hinges are frozen you can apply salt to them help you quickly melt the ice.

3. Move the car out of the garage straight away

We’ve all been there. It’s a cold day, so you turn the heaters on in the car before you get in, so that it’s nice and toasty when you get in so you can set off on your journey without chattering teeth.

However, it will also raise the temperature in your garage, melting any ice on your garage door, which will run to the bottom and reform to ice once you leave. This will definitely cause issues when your return, as your garage door will be frozen to the floor.

To prevent this, move your car out of the garage as soon as you start it. There’s no point applying garage door lubrication to your hinges if you’re going to freeze the door to the ground anyway!

Consider Preventive Winter Garage Door Maintenance Service

If you’re unsure what you’ll need to do to prevent your garage door from freezing to your garage floor or malfunction during the cold winter months, consider scheduling a preventive maintenance appointment.

A professional garage door technician can come perform a routine tune up and provide you with additional tips. If you’re in Madison, WI or the surrounding areas, call or contact Madison Local Garage Door Pros online to schedule your service today!

Summer Garage Door Maintenance

Garage doors today are built to last 15 to 20 years. If you want to maximize the use of your door, you will need to give it a periodic summer garage door maintenance, to ensure that you catch any problems early. And with the summer months, comes summer maintenance for your home. There are important summer maintenance tasks to be done. The heat and humidity of the summer can make a garage extremely uncomfortable and this could be dangerous if combustible supplies are stored in a garage. Here are some of the ways we would help in maintaining your garage doors during the summer.

Check the Hardware for wear and tear: during summer, it is important to check for signs of broken or bent hinges, wear or tear, rusty rollers, rusty springs and other hardware that needs to be tightened well. You need to check for all the lifting cables that are not operating properly and fix them. Regardless of the number of years you have been using your garage door, it should open and close smoothly. If yours doesn’t, the springs may need some adjustment or greasing. We would check the brackets at the bottom, the pulley and cable system to change the ball bearings of the pulleys that might have worn out with constant usage.
Clean and lubricate the hardware: it is advisable to inspect all the parts of the door every weekend during the summer months. The hardware of the door should be free from debris or build-up caused by lack of proper lubrication. If you find out that there is dirt in this area, use an old toothbrush or paint brush to remove the dirt build-up and lubricate the door if necessary. All the other parts of the door should be well lubricated always in order to prevent a noisy door when it is been opened or closed. It is advisable to use a grease based lubricant such as a lithium or silicon spray.
Test the Garage door balance: if your garage door is not properly balanced, the garage door opener will have to work harder, this won’t make the door last as long as required. You can check your garage door balance by disconnecting the door opener by pulling the release handle (which is usually a red cord), manually move the door about halfway up. If it doesn’t stay put, the counterweight system is improperly balanced. We can help in repairing this particular problem.
Remove rust: if you can see any visual signs of rusting on any part of your unit, then it is time to do some work. After using sandpaper to remove the rust, a coat of exterior latex is added to prevent further rusting
Painting: it is the idea to wash and paint your garage door during summer months. Steel and aluminum door can be washed easily with household detergent. Steel doors should be painted with 100 percent acrylic latex exterior paint, no oil based paint. Make sure you clean the door first so that it is free of dirt or oil.

Proper summer time maintenance can help keep your items away from extreme temperature changes and also extend the life of your garage door.

How to Avoid a Garage Door Scam

To avoid a garage door scam, you need to ensure that you choose a service provider very carefully when upgrading, or opting for a new garage door installation. Simply put, there are “scammers” on every corner nowadays, and many unsuspecting victims fall prey to their devious ploys without even realizing until afterward, when it’s too late.

Homeowners, in particular, are susceptible to a garage door scam because they tend to accept quotations at face-value but thankfully there are many ways that you can ensure that the chosen service provider is legitimate, and it is certainly well worth the effort to validate credentials for the business in question.

Remember, you need to get this right from the beginning because if you make these decisions without checking the bare essentials, there is very little to no chance of you recovering your money paid.

Verifying Garage Door Service Providers

Don’t just call the first business that comes up on a Google Search or is listed in your local classified ads. Instead, make a list of all of the businesses and then do some research. Does the business have a website with a full street address listed, as well as a contact number other than a mobile phone? If not, move on to the next business because it is easy to create a website from free templates to make a business look credible.

If the website looks credible, call in and establish if they will come out to discuss your requirements and quote you at no charge. Continue your research until you have at least three garage door service providers who will come out to see you to discuss your requirements and give you a detailed quote.

When the representatives come to see you, look for company branding on their vehicles or clothing. Most reputable companies will invest in that type of branding for marketing and credibility.

Comparing quotations

With your three quotes in hand, your research is not yet done if you are to avoid a garage door scam. Compare the quotes and regard any major difference in price (much higher or lower) as a potential red-flag. Check the quotes for written guarantees on work done for a specific period after completion. If the quote contains a clause which accepts no responsibility for any ‘damage or loss’ while on your premises, discard the quote.

Once you have decided on one or two of the quotes, call the company and ask for customers they have previously worked for where you can get references. If their website lists testimonials, ask if you can contact those customers. No company who prides themselves on their quality and service will deny you this information. If they do, the testimonials are possibly fake and certainly questionable.

Choosing the Right Garage Door Company

You are now well informed to avoid a garage door scam, and you can contact the service provider who has business premises, a contact number with staff to take your call, offers a guarantee on work done, and all this confirmed by previous customers who assured you of their satisfaction. For the small bit of time and research you put in, you now know that your garage door work will not only be safe and to your satisfaction, but also that your money will be well spent.

How to Determine a Garage Door Spring Life Cycle?

How Long Does a Garage Door Spring Last?

It’s a good practice to take the utmost care of your garage door. Most people think garage doors once fixed last forever. Garage doors are held in place by springs. These springs are of different sizes and life cycles. The life cycle is based on use, which is the number of opening and closing of a door. The more a garage door is put into use the more its lifespan depreciates and vice versa.

There are mainly two types of garage door springs, torsion and extension, and each one has its own unique installation method and life cycle.

Torsion Springs’ Life Expectancy: Torsion springs are installed at the top and middle of the garage door. They function by lifting the door as well as holding it in place. They need to be replaced by a professional when damaged. Torsion springs usually have 5,000-20,000 cycles which means they can last between 7 to 12 years (and even more).

Extension Springs’ Life Expectancy: Extension springs are installed at the side of the door and act extend, rather than contract (as does the torsion spring). They have 15,000 and 20,000 cycles which equate 7 – 12 years of life expectancy.

How can I determine the garage door spring’s lifespan?

One opening and closing is considered one life cycle. So how can we determine the overall cycle?

To determine the life cycle of a garage door spring, you need to consider the most important factors listed below:

The size of the wire
The diameter of the spring
The length of the spring
The weight of the door

In most garage doors for residential homes, the life cycle of springs is mostly 10,000, 20,000, or even 30,000 cycles.

The selection of springs for your garage doors begins with knowing the weight of the door.

Say your door weighs about 185 Ibs with the weight of the insulation include, to get a 10,000 cycle, a combination of 207x2x20 will be required.

Springs with longer life cycles have thicker wires. These wires are tougher and can withstand more stretching and bending than thinner wires do. The thicker the wire the more expensive the spring.

An illustration is given below

Let’s assume the weight of a door is 165 Ibs you have two few options of spring system to adopt.

- To get 10,000 cycles the dimension of spring to be used should be 207x2x22
- To get 20,000 cycles the dimension of springs to be used should be 218x2x26

To get 30,000 cycles the dimension of springs to be used should be 225x2x33

You will get approximately 7 years on every 10,000 cycles before the spring reaches its limit and breaks.

It’s far better using the sturdier springs for your garage door than the smaller ones. You will end up spending more money if you use the smaller springs, ending up replacing them more often.

Some factors are not put into account when determining the life cycle of a garage spring. Such factors are extreme corrosion, high humidity climate, and chips in the metal. The life span might not reach the expected amount of cycles when these factors are present. To increase the spring’s life span, frequent lubrication of the door mechanism and appropriate maintenance are required. This should be done for all the moving parts of the garage door. Get a high-quality lubricant (lithium-based) from your local hardware store, or call a professional for a tune-up.

You can get a spring replacement for your garage door from a local company. However, make sure the replacement is done by a reputable company, that you make sure the door operates smoothly right after the replacement, and that you get a warranty. We do not recommend replacing a garage door spring by yourself; springs can be dangerous due to the high pressure they operate on, which can harm you if not done properly. Special tools and skills are required.

Let Us Replace Your Garage Door Springs

If you’re in Madison, WI or the surrounding areas and you need to replace your garage door springs or convert from extension to torsion springs, give Madison Local Garage Door Pros a call at (608) 515-1449 or contact us online to schedule your service today!

Types of Garage Door Rollers

Types of Garage Door Rollers to Consider

When is the last time you sat down and really considered what type of garage door roller you’re currently using? If your first thought was something like “What is a garage door roller” or “What difference does it make”, then you may want to continue reading! Garage door rollers are composed of a steel stem with a wheel on one end which can be made of various materials, all of which provide their own unique benefits and disadvantages. Examples of commonly available materials for roller wheels are:

Plastic
Nylon
Steel with bearings
Steel without bearings

When contemplating what material to use, one must consider aspects such as the material of the door, how quiet you want the door to remain, what type of weather will the roller endure, and how many open/close cycles do you want the roller to last through? Selecting a wheel with ball bearings will ensure the wheel will last significantly longer, especially when the wheel itself is comprised of steel. However, a steel wheel will not be quite as quiet as a nylon wheel, which is reminiscent of a skateboard wheel in consistency. Plastic wheels are a cost-effective alternative to steel or nylon, although they will undoubtedly atrophy more quickly. Replacement costs will accrue as quickly as the wheels break!

The final consideration when determining what type of garage door roller to purchase is the diameter of the wheel and the length of the stem which varies from door to door and must be measured either by oneself or by a professional. To measure the diameter yourself, simply use a ruler and measure from edge to edge of the roller. Roller sizes are typically one, two, or three-inch standard sizes. The stem can be measured with the same methodology. If you just can’t seem to figure out what material or size would be ideal for your next garage door roller, there’s no shame in consulting the pros!

For more information about garage door rollers, check out DDM Garage Doors.

Garage Door Springs

Types of (Common) Garage Door Spring Mechanisms

Did you know that there are two (main) different types of spring mechanisms you can install in your garage door? One can either choose to have torsion or extension springs on their garage door, each of which boasts its own benefits. But how does one determine which type of spring mechanism is the most efficient or, at the least, is the most fitting for them? In order to answer this, you must ask yourse

lf whether efficiency or cost-effectiveness is paramount to you. Below you will find an in-depth comparison of the different types of garage door spring mechanisms.

Extension Springs

Extension springs are somewhat ubiquitous in the commercial garage door industry; they are remarkably cheap and provide ample tension for lifting a typical residential garage door. As the name of these springs implies, they create the tension to lift the door by extending along the horizontal tracks above the door (typically). Extension springs must be paired with safety cables in order to prevent them from being launched in any direction when they finally break. Although these springs are cheaper and will suffice for a residential garage, they are significantly more dangerous than torsion springs, bearing more exposed parts, and will not last nearly as long. Extension springs will last an average of 10,000 cycles (open and close motions).

Torsion Springs

Torsion springs are installed above the garage door as extension springs are, although the method of raising and closing the door varies. Torsion springs implement torque to move the door by slowly coiling along the shaft. The use of torsion springs ensures that your garage will open and close with a controlled motion, as opposed to the potential jerking motion extension springs will provide. Additionally, since torsion springs do not extend, they are able to last much longer than extension springs, enduring between 15,000 and 20,000 cycles on average. They are also able to lift significantly more weight than an extension spring, which is more practical for users with more cumbersome doors. Torsion springs present little danger when they break, whereas extension springs present the potential to shoot in any direction and cause harm to anyone standing in their path. They are available in a myriad of different sizes to fit your individual door. The only drawback to torsion springs is their higher price, although you are getting what you pay for in regards to overall quality and efficiency.

What to Do When I Back Into the Garage Door?

“I Backed Into My Closed Garage Door – Now What?”

As confident as most people tend to be in their parking skills, sometimes we all have some spatial relations issues to put it lightly. Suppose you’ve decided to back your car up to the garage just as you have dozens upon dozens of times before. This time, however, you experience an involuntary lapse in judgment, and next thing you know, you’ve backed into the garage door and dented the bottom two panels of your precious investment.

You’ve hit your garage door with your car, so how do you fix it? Should you attempt to fix the issue yourself, consult a professional to fix it for you, or simply replace the damaged panels?

To resolve this issue, you must begin by asking yourself two questions:

How severe is the damage? (Is it a minor bend or is the panel on the verge of falling off?)
What material is the garage door composed of?

How to Fix a Bent Garage Door

DISCLAIMER: Madison Local Garage Door Pros does not recommend fixing a garage door without a professional garage door technician. Serious injury can occur.

If your garage door is composed of steel or aluminum as most typically are (aluminum is more prone to denting due to its lack of durability), you may not have to replace it after backing your car into it!

Take a moment to evaluate the extent of the damage done. Run the garage door through a couple of cycles (opening and closing) to determine whether it is capable of running smoothly or not. If the damage is not too substantial, you may be able to fix the door by adding steel struts, which are reinforcements installed on the back of the door.

Steel struts prevent the door from bowing and, in turn, disrupt its cycle. This is a simple and remarkably cost-effective alternative to replacing the door or even a single panel when not necessary. This will not resolve aesthetic-based issues, so those of us who cannot stand to look at a damaged door without cringing may feel obliged to purchase a replacement for the damaged portion of the door.

Install Steel Struts to Fix Bent Garage Door Panels

Adding horizontal steel struts to your garage door is a relatively simple and cost-effective way to improve its performance.

The first thing you’ll need to do is measure the width of your door to gather its dimensions. Steel struts are typically available at local hardware stores and extend across individual panel sections. Garage door struts help prevent automatic openers, cables, and rollers from overworking while opening and closing.

Your installation should be about 2 inches shorter than the width of the garage door to allow plenty of clearance near the tracks.

The installation process consists of the following steps:

Purchase the correct number of struts: Horizontal reinforcements can be attached along each panel section. Check the extent of the damage to decide which sections require straightening.
Find self-driving hardware: To mount each strut, you’ll need self-tapping screws to drive into garage door materials.
Disconnect your automatic opener: Keep your garage door in the closed position before starting the project.
Align struts and fasten: If possible, recruit a second person to help keep struts in place for fastening. You want to make sure each piece is level.
Balance the garage door: It is crucial to have a professional visit your home to set the balance of the garage door and adjust the springs accordingly. Your garage door will be heavier once steel struts are in place, so reduce unwanted stress by scheduling a maintenance appointment with a technician.

Replace Panels

Fixing your garage door dent can be as seamless as swapping out panels. We recommend contacting your original garage door installer to see if your make and style are available. Then, have a technician visit your property to assess the damage. A professional should be able to complete a replacement job in just a few hours.

What About Wooden/Fiberglass Doors?

If you are the proud owner of a lavish wooden or fiberglass garage door and have undergone the misfortune of backing your car into it, you may not possess the option of fixing the door. Whether or not you are able to add reinforcements to the door is wholly dependent on the extent of the damage, which you can either determine yourself or with the assistance of a professional.

If the damage is too much and the door cannot run efficiently, then it may be time to purchase a new door.

Replacing Your Garage Door Assembly

Depending on the age of your garage door and the level of damage, a new assembly may be the best route. It’s important to have a local technician give you a rundown of the damage, as collisions can interfere with more than just the panels.

A garage door inspection will give you insight into the condition of the tracks, torsion and extension springs, and support cables. Remember that garage door systems handle an incredible amount of weight and tension.

Do not attempt to repair cables or springs yourself — call a professional!

Does Homeowners’ Insurance Cover Garage Doors?

Every policy is different. You may decide to call your home and auto insurance agent after running into your garage door. You should read up on your current policy to see what types of accidents are covered.

If you or a family member back into the garage, sending photographs of the accident will help you file a claim. In the event that someone else hits your garage door, their insurance is responsible for your repairs. Acts of vandalism or theft may require you to file a police report.

Contact Us to Repair or Replace Your Damaged Garage Door

Need assistance after accidentally backing into your garage door? Madison Local Garage Door Pros specializes in repairs, maintenance, and installations in Madison, WI, and the surrounding area.

Check out our list of service locations and contact us online to request any of our services today.

What Should I Do When Someone Steals My Remote?

Did you know that one of the most prominent means of breaking into a house nowadays is by stealing someone’s garage door remote and entering through the garage?

Imagine approaching your car only to notice that the remote is no longer clipped to your visor or located where you typically keep it. You search around for a moment to no avail. Someone has stolen your garage door remote. This may seem insignificant until you remember that the registration papers for your car (usually conveniently stored in the glovebox) contain your home address.

As of 2016, approximately 88% of all burglaries in the United States are residential and 77% of all crimes are property-based crimes. Identity theft is indisputably the most rapidly growing crime throughout America and you do not intend to become an addition to this statistic because someone stole your garage door remote.

So how does one fix this issue or prevent it from ever occurring again?

Lost Your Garage Door Remote Control? Start by Retracing Your Steps

It’s easy to get bent out of shape over a missing garage door remote. First, remember to take a deep breath and retrace your steps. It’s possible that someone in your household borrowed your device if a backup ran out of battery power.

Think about the last time you had your garage door remote control. You may have left this device on a counter or table, in your car’s glove compartment, or in your purse or backpack. Be sure to check between the seats in your vehicle or even along the floor. Garage door openers are usually compact and can easily slide between surfaces.

When to Reset a Garage Door Opener

The key to maintaining home security is to act immediately when you notice your device is gone. If you’re positive that someone stole your opener, take action as soon as possible. Resetting a garage door system is as simple as pressing a button, so take this step first before purchasing a brand new remote.

How to Deprogram a Garage Door Opener Remote

Every garage door remote works in the same manner: a signal is sent to a receiver in the housing unit of the opener. If your opener was manufactured after 1993, then the remote will most likely use a rolling code, meaning the transmission code changes with every use.

If you are certain that your garage door opener has been stolen, you should consider deprogramming the remote so the potential burglar is not capable of stealing your precious possessions.

You can erase your automatic opener’s memory with the following steps:

Go to your mounted opener hanging in the garage.
Remove any access panels to see control buttons.
Hold the “SMART” button for several seconds until you see a flashing light.
Blinking lights indicate your system’s memory is clear.
Confirm the erased memory by testing with another remote or keyless entry unit.

Temporarily Disabling a Garage Door Remote

Another method of ensuring your possessions stay safe is to lock the opener.

If you have a control panel, it will have a “LOCK” button which will disable the opener from being used without deprogramming any of the remotes. You may still use the control panel itself to open and close the door. This option is perfect if you leave your opener at work or in someone else’s vehicle.

If you do not have a control panel, then simply unplugging your garage door opener until you’ve resolved the issue will suffice.

In order to continue using the door, you will need to pull the emergency release cord (which will typically have a red handle). This allows you to manually operate the door.

Note that unplugging your garage door opener will not reset the unit’s memory.

How Can I Link My Replacement Opener?

Can’t find your automatic opener manual? Fortunately, most manufacturers upload product-specific guides and troubleshooting documents online, usually free of charge.

If your garage door opener has physical buttons or an LED display, search for an option that says “LEARN.” Take a look at the following steps to pair your replacement device or spare remote:

Press the “LEARN” button on your opener and release it.
Check for blinking LED lights or audible sounds coming from the mounted opener.
Press and hold the open button on your remote device.
Pay attention to flashing lights indicating your opener is linked.
Repeat these steps for each new remote.

Garage door openers from LiftMaster follow this process, but keep in mind that other garage door openers may be slightly different.

Also, please note that linking a replacement opener may only work if you purchase the same remote. Your best bet is to take your old remote with you to the store so you can compare. Another option is to purchase a universal remote, which comes with an instruction manual. However, a universal remote isn’t compatible with every opener.

Security Tips If Your Garage Door Opener Was Stolen

To prevent future theft and/or burglars from accessing your garage, you can install extra locks and security features to monitor the activity of your opener. Consider the following preventive measures to increase security:

Install cameras and alarms: If a thief returns to the scene of the crime, you can record footage in real-time as well as monitor your garage via your smartphone, tablet, or computer.
Set up motion detection lights: Motion detection lights are excellent ways to scare off thieves and unwanted visitors. Configure your sensors so you have a clear view of cars and people approaching your property.
Minimize use of digital codes: Garage door codes are convenient for entry, but thieves have a fair shot at guessing your pin number. Reset these devices from time to time, and limit the number of remote openers linked to your system.

Contact Madison Local Garage Door Pros for Repairs and Installations

Need assistance with your garage door in Madison, WI, or the surrounding area? Our team has over 10 years of industry experience with garage door repairs, installations, and openers. To learn more about increasing the security of your garage, contact us online to request a service visit.

Choosing a New Garage Door Opener

Is your garage door opener squealing or working much slower than it used to? You aren’t alone. It’s not difficult to forget about your opener and the fact that it will eventually need to be replaced in the midst of other daily tasks; when it happens, though, you’ll understand how irritating it can be. Selecting the right garage door opener is not the simplest of tasks, however. When is the last time you researched the specifics of garage door openers?

Selecting the Opener

Which Type of Drive is Best?

The first question you must ask yourself when choosing a new garage door opener is what type of drive you would prefer. There are three types of drives:

Chain: Chain drives are the traditional garage door opener drives. They are composed of a durable metal chain. They are essentially your go-to drives since they are reliable and reasonably priced, although they do make a bit of a raucous.
Belt: Belt drives are the pride of the industry. The premise is almost the same as a chain drive: a belt which pulls the garage door along its tracks. The benefit of the belt drive is that it is significantly more quiet than a chain drive! They hone the reliability of the chain drive without the noise, but they do come at a higher price.
Screw: Last but not least, the screw drive. This is the cheapest of the alternatives, although this does not come without the sacrifice of quality. Screw drives are louder than belt or chain drives and are more likely to malfunction if the weather conditions in your area are too erratic. If you don’t mind the extra noise and are looking for a discount, then a screw drive opener is ideal for you.

How Powerful Should the Motor Be?

When determining how much power you should have in the motor, take into consideration the material from which your garage door is comprised of. Is it light aluminum, sturdy steel, or an extravagant but heavy wood? For standard steel/aluminum doors, a ½-horsepower motor should work proficiently. For heavier doors or wooden doors, a ¾-horsepower motor should be taken into consideration. DC motors are more efficient than AC and sometimes offer battery backups.

Ceiling Height and Safety Features

Take an accurate measure of the height of your garage door. Is it about 7 feet or is it taller? If your garage door is about 7 feet tall (the standard), then you will be fine purchasing a typical motor. If it is any taller, you will have to invest in an extension kit to ensure the motor works proficiently and safely. In regards to safety features, you must be certain that your motor is equipped with at least the standard features which include: automatic reversal, photoelectric sensors, an emergency manual release, and rolling-code technology. We cannot overstate the importance of safety for your garage door, which should be a precedent to everyone.

Convenience

Don’t just settle for any motor. Treat yourself. Consider motors which offer convenient aspects such as keyless entry, smartphone capability, or motion-sensor lights. Be sure to consult us about the many available options which add to the convenience of working your garage on a daily basis. You may not think you need any of the bells and whistles, but you won’t know what you’re missing until you try it out!

Replace the Entire Garage Door?

Should you replace your entire garage door?

It’s inevitable: your garage door is going to get banged up through the years. Whether you slightly (or not so slightly) misjudge how close you pulled the car up to the door or the neighbor boy decides it’s time to do some target practice with it, you will eventually have to replace your beloved door. However, before you shell out the money for an entire brand new garage door, take some time to evaluate the damage. Is the whole door in shambles or is it simply one panel of the door? If you only need to replace a section of the door, here are a few things you’ll need to determine when selecting replacement sections:

Door model (if the door was manufactured within the last ten years, you will find a 15-16 digit model number on the inner bottom section)
Which section needs to be replaced?
What are the dimensions of the section?
What color do you need it in?

Once all of those questions have been answered, you’re ready to contact your local garage door company and have the replacement section(s) installed. Keep in mind that although replacing singular panels of your garage door may be cheaper, you might have to purchase an entirely new door.

When might you have to purchase a new garage door?

The door is irreparably damaged in its entirety
Your garage door is outdated and no longer has readily available replacement sections on the market
You are not content with a new panel being a slightly varied shade (since the other panels have become weathered)

If necessary, replacing the whole door is not a bad thing. It is more expensive initially than replacing a single section, but it yields one of the most significant ROIs (return on interest) of your entire house! Shelling out the extra cash may not be an enjoyable experience, but you will undoubtedly get your money back. If any additional information regarding replacement sections or installation for your garage door is needed, don’t hesitate to call or email the Garage Door Repair Madison WI today! Check out our Clopay garage door brochures in the following link (in the Brochures tab):

Check out our Clopay garage door brochures in the following link (in the Brochures tab): https://madisongaragerepair.com/service-repairs/garage-door-installation/