Several garage door styles are available to suit the architectural style of your home and fit different garage shapes and sizes. The most common modern garage door, sectional doors, are four to eight horizontal panels hinged together to roll along a vertical track. Sectional doors provide a clean, contemporary look and the panels can contain windows or mimic carriage house doors.
The operating components also affect functionality. Torsion springs mount horizontally above the door to counterbalance weight. Extension springs run vertically along the track to provide lifting assistance. High tension means springs require professional service yearly. Steel lifting cables connect the bottom of garage doors to the spring mechanism, requiring inspection and occasional replacement over time. Nylon or steel rollers fit within panel hinges to smoothly guide doors along the tracks, needing lubrication and adjustments eventually. U-shaped metal tracks secured to walls contain vertical tracks and horizontal tracks, allowing rollers to shift direction and requiring alignment if tracks get bumped over years of opening and closing. Hinges join panels together while additional hardware connects to the tracks and springs. Proper tightening and fastening prevents noise or damage. Rubber seals around panel edges block air, dust, rain and snow from infiltrating garage interiors. Motorized openers mount to ceilings to automatically lift doors via remote controls, keypads or smart devices for convenience and mobility.
Safety and security represent two key motivations for upgrading aging garage systems in residential settings. Automatic reversal sensors prevent accidental crushing of people or pets. Encrypted rolling code remotes virtually eliminate unauthorized remote signal theft once allowing break-ins. Durable steel doors with tamper-resistant brackets prevent forcing doors open manually. Glass and ventilation panels use reinforced frames to deter smash-and-enter break-ins. Door sensors paired with smart home platforms provide notification about open doors after use or while homeowners are away. For commercial settings, sectional steel doors contain reinforced mounting and heavy-duty panels plus monitored operators to withstand impacts and tampering.
Like most home projects, preparation with reasonable budgets helps homeowners make sound investments. New insulated steel door installation with openers, sensors and remote controls typically runs $1000-$3000 depending on factors like size and accessories. Wood carriage style or custom specialty doors range from $5,000-$20,000 installed depending on materials, hardware and preparations. Garage door tune-ups average $150 including lubrication and adjustments to extend lifespan. Opener/spring replacements due to age average $400-$800 in parts and labor. Emergency structural damage repair bills typically exceed $250 for prompt mobilization. While economical initially, low quality doors may deteriorate faster than durable steel or composite doors that maintain appearances and safety longer despite higher initial costs.
Garage doors contain steel, aluminum, wood, fiberglass or vinyl panels mounted within a frame. Decisions around materials impact cost, insulation, durability, and appearance. Steel is an affordable and durable option but prone to dents without additional protective coatings and can have foam insulation added. Aluminum resists rust and is very low maintenance but more prone to dents so mainly used for panel accents versus full doors. Wood requires regular staining or painting but provides a classic, custom wood look, although it is not very energy efficient. Fiberglass and vinyl mimic the look of wood without the maintenance. Insulated fiberglass/vinyl models improve energy efficiency. Glass panels provide natural lighting inside the garage while enhancing curb appeal, as double pane glass insulates while allowing light through.
Today’s garage doors allow ample room for personalization to match your home’s architectural aesthetics through design, windows, hardware and color options. Woodgrain textures, canvas prints or other decorative finishes mimic styles from traditional barn doors to modern glass and steel designs without the actual weight, cost or maintenance of real wood or glass. Full or partial window inserts enhance natural daylighting inside garages.
Your garage door is one of the most frequently used entrances to your home. Selecting the right style, material, safety features, and service provider is key to enjoying years of reliable, low-maintenance, secure access to your garage.
Even rails that can be adjusted don't work as intended. That's why every time you replace an automatic garage door opener, you must also replace all of the parts, especially the rails. The entire system will need to be rebuilt to suit the new automatic garage door opener to ensure that it works properly.
Your door tracks and rollers provide the pathway for your garage door to open and close. So if either the tracks or rollers are bent or blocked, it may prevent the garage door from closing. The solution to blocked tracks or rollers is to remove the blockage.
Common reasons your garage door opener may not be working properly: The batteries in the remote control need to be replaced. The door needs lubrication. The safety sensors are out of alignment.
15 to 30 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.
Install a horizontal brace along the full width of the door, near the top. A vertical brace should extend the height of the top panel. If possible, attach the braces to each other for more support. Garage door reinforcement kits may be available through a dealer or hardware store.