Residential Garage Door Installation
Garage door installation typically involves removing an old system and installing a new one in its place. Tracks, springs, pulleys, panels, and hundreds of pounds of weight, along with extreme tension, are involved in this process, making it more complex than many initially think.
This guide will help you in determining when it’s the right time to replace your garage door. It will also guide you through the main benefits a new door has to offer, explain why a professional should do the job for you, and provide guidance on how to prepare for your garage door consultation to obtain an accurate quote from a trustworthy company.
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Should I Replace My Garage Door?
Noticeable Dents & Dings
Sometimes (but not always), dents can be removed from your garage door. However, if the damage to your door is permanent and visible, it could degrade the aesthetics and value of your entire home.
In some cases, a professional can repair or replace parts for you without having to install an entire new garage door system.
You can often replace springs, cables, your garage door opener, rollers, hinges, and other hardware, provided that the failing parts haven’t damaged the main structure of your system or the door itself. However, if they have, you will likely need to replace the whole thing.
Another critical component to monitor is the wiring in your garage. If it malfunctions, it could cause your door to fall to the ground unexpectedly and potentially smash anything in its path.
Old Age
Slow Response Time
If your garage door doesn’t start moving after you push the button on your opener, consider it a red flag. The problem could range from simple issues like dying batteries to more serious ones like broken springs or pulleys. Regardless of the cause of your slow-moving door, it requires immediate diagnosis. Consult a professional to determine how to proceed.
Door Won’t Open or Close
If your door is stuck open, first, check its path for obstructions. Also, ensure that nothing is blocking the safety sensor beam across the bottom of your door. If your door won’t open, it could indicate a broken spring or a malfunctioning opener, so you should contact a professional for assistance.
Long-Term Noise or Vibration
Is your garage door screeching, shaking, or rattling? These issues could result from misalignment, rust, an obstruction in the door’s track, or a worn-out part that’s no longer functioning properly. If you notice the problem and promptly call a professional to fix it, your door may be salvageable. However, if the issue has persisted for a while, your door could be seriously damaged, and it might be wiser to opt for replacement rather than repair.
Sagging
If your door is starting to sag, it’s time to begin shopping for a new one. Wood doors tend to sag over time, especially if they haven’t been maintained properly. Sagging is a sign of rot and deterioration.
Outdated System
If your garage door system (including the door, tracks, opener, etc.) is aging, updating it may be necessary to modernize your home and bring it into the current decade—both technologically and aesthetically. Older systems (built before the early 1990s) didn’t incorporate the same safety features that modern systems have today, such as motion sensors and an auto-reverse function. Additionally, modern materials offer advanced features and more customization options.
If you want, you could install a fiberglass door that resembles mahogany, is more durable than steel, features two arched, satin-etched windows, and decorative hinges with a hand-hammered look. Your options are unlimited!
Frequent Repairs Needed
If you find that you have been paying increasing garage door repair bills over time, it’s worth considering whether repeated repairs are a sound investment. In some cases, it may be more cost-effective to replace the old door with a new one that will run smoothly and require less maintenance.
What Are the Benefits of Updating My Garage Door?
Installing a new garage door offers many perks. By doing so, you can increase your home’s value and energy efficiency, enhance the safety of your garage for you, your family, and your belongings, improve home security to prevent break-ins, and enhance curb appeal.
Increased Home Value & ROI
Updating your door can add value to your home. According to Remodeling magazine’s 2018 Cost vs. Value Report for Des Moines, IA, an upscale garage door replacement will recoup an average of 59.2% of the total cost.
Curb Appeal
A large part of your home’s façade can be occupied by a garage door—often 30–50% of it! An old, outdated, or ugly garage door can make a beautiful home appear mediocre or even tacky. Homeowners often overlook the imperfections of their home because they get so accustomed to its appearance. By installing a new door, you can give your entire home a fresh face and enhance its overall appearance, adding character, beauty, and charm.
Energy Efficiency
When your garage door is replaced, an insulated door with a high R-value can be chosen. An energy-efficient garage door can keep not only the garage but also your living space more comfortable throughout the year. Drafts can be prevented, and heat can be kept inside during the winter and cool air inside during the summer, lowering your monthly energy bills.
Safety
If your garage door is 10–15 years old, it could snap at any time. This is because Garage door springs wear out and eventually break if they aren’t replaced soon enough.
If a spring breaks while your door is up or in motion, the door could crash to the ground with great force, harming anything or anyone in its path.
Other parts will also wear out over time and could threaten your safety. Installing a new, safe system can give you peace of mind.
Security
With a new system, you have the option to choose automatic lighting, advanced motion sensors, keyless entry, an automatic lock, and other security-enhancing features. Additionally, you can install a garage door opener that incorporates MyQ smartphone technology, allowing you to monitor and operate your door when you’re away from home.
Find more ways updating your door can benefit you!
Why Does a Professional Need to Install My New Garage Door?
If you’re handy and like to save money, you’re not alone; in fact, you’re a pretty typical homeowner. However, installing a new garage door is not a typical DIY project that anyone can undertake. Here are several great reasons why you should leave this project to the pros.
Experience & Expertise
If you’re not a trained, experienced, and certified garage door technician, you won’t have access to the extensive training and knowledge that a professional has. You won’t be able to catch the same problems as they would. Your lack of experience could lead to having to call a repair company to fix something you broke or made worse.
Personal Safety
Installing your own garage door can pose a serious danger to you and your family. The door is under extreme tension, and if the job is done incorrectly, your door—which weighs hundreds of pounds—could crash to the ground and crush anything beneath it. Even if your door doesn’t drop to the ground, you could still sustain severe pinching, cutting, or serious injuries from panels, cables, springs, or other parts as you install the system.
Cost
If each piece of your garage door system isn’t installed precisely, it won’t operate correctly, and parts can quickly begin to break down. On top of that, damage to your new door could be caused during installation. In these cases, repairs can end up costing more than having a professional install it from the beginning.
Warranty
When you install a door by yourself, you may void any warranty and have no coverage for damage if something goes wrong. Professional installers offer warranties to back up parts and installation, ensuring coverage if you encounter a problem.
What Do I Need to Know Before My Consultation?
If you know you want a new garage door or would like to learn more about a garage door company, their process, and how much your door will likely cost, it’s time to set up an initial consultation. During this meeting, the installer will ask you a number of questions to allow them to provide you with a reliable quote. Here’s what you should have prepared for that meeting so it can go as smoothly as possible and you can get exactly what you want in the end.
Measurements
Make sure you know the size of your current door and the measurements of your garage. This information will help inform your garage door partner about what type of hardware, springs, and opener to install for you. Standard residential garage doors can range from 8 to 18 feet wide. Be sure to measure your garage door opening, as well as the sideroom, headroom, and backroom of your garage. You can learn more about these terms and measurements in our article: Garage Door Installation Technician FAQ: The Basics.
Color
What color do you prefer for your new door? With dozens of options available, you can choose from various stains, paint colors, and finishes. Explore and find the color that best complements your home!
Material
Do you prefer the charming, authentic look of wood or the modernity of contemporary aluminum? Classic steel is renowned for its sturdiness and strength, while fiberglass can mimic the appearance of other materials. With several beautiful options available, you can explore more details about each one in our Quick Residential Garage Door Guide.
Panel Style
Make sure you review your options in this category as well. Depending on the paneling style you choose, your door could have a modern, rustic, minimalist, or traditional look.
Insulation
Garage doors come with a range of R-values. A classic steel door can offer high insulation, effectively keeping cold, heat, and wind out of your garage and home. On the other hand, an aluminum door will not provide as much insulation.
When considering garage doors, you should consider a range of R-values. A classic steel door can provide high insulation, effectively keeping cold, heat, and wind out of your garage and home. However, an aluminum door does not offer as much insulation.
Consider your location and climate as well as how you use your garage when making this decision.
If you live in a region that experiences extreme high or low temperatures, seriously consider purchasing an insulated garage door.
Windows
Would you like to include windows in your garage door? Adding windows can enhance your home by allowing natural light into your garage. You have the ability to choose from numerous options including colors, coatings, shapes, sizes, and tints.
Get Your Garage Door Installation Quote!
Once you’ve made it through this guide and are convinced that it’s time to install a new garage door, simply schedule a free consultation with us, and we’ll provide you with a quote! As we collaborate with homeowners across the Midwest, we’d love the opportunity to work with you too!
Schedule your consultation today.