Garage doors benefit your home in many ways — providing security, access and curb appeal. That’s why you should keep yours in top condition. Knowing how long your overhead door and its core components last can help you better understand how to improve your garage door’s life span and when you may need to replace it.
What Is the Average Life Span of a Garage Door?
The average garage door life span is between 15 and 30 years. However, this estimate may vary based on various factors.
- Usage: While garage doors can last a long time, constant heavy usage can shorten their life span. Your overhead springs influence how many opening and closing cycles your door has. The more you use your door, the more wear you place on your springs, resulting in a shorter life.
- Care: Routine maintenance is one of the best ways to prolong your door’s life.
- Quality and price: Investing in a higher-quality door will enable you to enjoy a longer life span and get more from your investment.
- Local climate: Inclement weather like snow, wind and rain can sometimes damage your door and wear it out faster.
What Materials Provide the Longest Garage Life Span?
Some of the most durable overhead door materials include the following.
- Steel: Steel is one of the most reliable garage door materials. It is durable, low-maintenance and keeps your garage cooler. A steel overhead door can also maintain its shape over time, making it resistant to wear and tear.
- Wood: Many homeowners choose wood because of its aesthetic appeal and durability. Wood resists dents due to its natural strength.
- Fiberglass: Besides being resistant to warping or chipping, fiberglass can mimic textures like wood, making it an attractive and durable option. Fiberglass also resists corrosion, allowin you to take full advantage of its durability.
- Aluminum: Aluminum is fade- and rust-resistant, making it an ideal garage door option. Like fiberglass, aluminum is corrosion-resistant, allowing a longer life span.
- Wood composite: A wood composite overhead door has recycled wood fibers, giving it the look and texture of polished wood. Since this material is not 100% wood, it resists moisture and warping.
How to Increase the Longevity of a Garage Door
Preventive maintenance is one of the easiest ways to extend your garage door’s life span. Start by following these eight garage maintenance tips.
1. Be Mindful of How Much You Use an Older Door
The easiest way to prevent an older door from aging too fast is to use it less often. Your door and its components can only handle so many opening and closing cycles, and more frequent use exposes your door to extra wear and tear. While you don’t have to stop opening and closing your door entirely, try to use your garage door only when necessary and keep your remote away from children.
2. Check Safety Features
Regularly testing your door’s safety features is an excellent way to verify it works correctly, giving you peace of mind in an emergency. Double-check the sensors by putting a small object in their path during an opening or closing cycle. Pull the emergency cord to confirm you can manually move the door along its track.
3. Inspect All Your Garage Door’s Hardware
Your garage door has various screws, pulleys and springs, which can become loose or wear down over time. Checking the tightness of the hardware every few months and for wear every two years will allow you to quickly spot issues and ensure your door remains in excellent condition for longer.
4. Test the Door’s Balance
When you check your door’s emergency cord, you should also verify its balance. Pull the emergency cord and manually open the door halfway. A balanced door will remain in place, while an unbalanced door will fall. If you have an unbalanced door, call a technician to fix it.
5. Inspect the Door’s Weatherstripping
The rubber weatherstripping around the door’s outer edges prevents wind, water, bugs and debris from entering your garage. However, weatherstripping can wear down over time, so inspect and replace it as soon as you notice an issue.
6. Keep Your Garage Door Clean
A dirty garage door can cause corrosion or lose its pristine appearance. Washing your overhead door and the tracks can prevent rust and keep it looking beautiful.
7. Monitor the Cables
A garage door’s cables must be strong enough to lift the door without breaking. Frayed cables can fail, harming the door, yourself or your home.
8. Lubricate All Parts of Your Door
While every overhead door experiences natural wear and tear, lubrication can prevent damage from occurring too quickly.
When to Replace a Garage Door
Sometimes, it can be hard to tell whether your garage door has a few more years left or needs a complete replacement. Some signs you need to replace your door include:
- You want better insulation.
- Your door is noisy as it opens or closes.
- Your door opens or closes slowly.
- The door sags.
- You notice corrosion.
- The door has numerous dents and dings.
- If you have a wooden door, it is warping, cracking or peeling.
- The door no longer opens or closes correctly.
Find Long-Lasting, Durable Garage Door Options at Quality Door Company
If you need repair, maintenance or installation services, the team at Quality Door Company is proud to go above and beyond to keep your garage door in excellent condition. We have years of experience providing exceptional repair and maintenance services, and we can easily help you extend your overhead door’s life span.
When it’s finally time to replace your garage door, we’re a Clopay® Master Authorized Dealer® and offer durable, long-lasting overhead doors and openers to maximize your investment. Explore our wide selection of doors to find the right option for your home today!
