Damage to a garage door isn't always a sure sign it needs to be replaced completely, even if the damage looks extensive. Trying to establish the best option for your damaged door involves considering everything from the severity of the damage, the age of your doors, and even the type of climate you live in.

Extent of Damage

The most important consideration is how bad the damage to your doors is. A lot of minor to moderate damage, such as dents, chips, bent segments, and even warping can be repaired with little trouble. However, if the damage is too serious, repairing may not be an option.

When trying to make this assessment, it's important to judge whether or not the door's functionality can be completely restored. While some damage can be repaired to the extent that the door will open and close again with little trouble, it's also important to look at factors like its weatherproof seal. For example, a door that's left partially bent may let in wind and rain, which can damage your home. Further, any damage to a door could add strain to your garage door opener, which can do everything from shortening the lifespan of your opener to bending your door tracks. If repairs can't restore total functionality to the door, it needs to be replaced.

Finally, consider how isolated the damage is. If you have a sectional door where only one section is damaged and can be individually replaced, then repairing it would be the best option. If you have a single-frame door with widespread damage, however, repairing it may be much more difficult.

Cost of Repairing vs Replacing

Depending on the extent of the damage, repairing may cost less than having a door totally replaced, but if it's only by a small amount, it's worth looking into whether it would be more cost-effective to buy a new door. Having your door replaced for a little more money in the short term would mean you'd get all the benefits of a brand new door, which could work best in the long run. Alternatively, if repairs are noticeably cheaper and can be done safely and completely, this could be your best option even if your doors are starting to get old.

Current Age of Door

The age of your door should factor into your decision in terms of how cost-effective it is to buy a replacement. Doors that are at least twenty years old are starting to get close to the end of their average lifespan, so consider that you might need to invest in a new door soon either way. If that's the case, there's no need to add the cost of a repair to a purchase you will be making soon.

Alternatively, doors that are ten to fifteen years old or less can still last several more years with little trouble, so if repairing your door is a clear possibility, it should be seriously considered before you spring for a bigger purchase.

Different factors like the local climate will have some impact here. Doors that bear the brunt of serious weather conditions will need to be replaced more often than doors in temperate climates, so keep this in mind when thinking about how many years your door has left.

For more insight reach out to garage door repair services.