Discovering an inoperative garage door can be stressful, especially in light of the often hefty costs of replacement. An untimely weather event or accident damage will quickly worsen your plight if you don’t address the matter promptly. Beyond the unpleasant appearance, a damaged garage door can impact security and function at your home.
There are several reliable measures to take to mitigate the issue, however. Let’s look at the best approach for addressing garage door damage with these five essential steps.
- Don’t Overreact
A recently damaged garage door will put a damper on anyone’s day. Upon encountering an inoperative garage door, the initial shock can provoke emotions that range from frustration and anger to confusion and despair. Such reactions, while understandable, won’t aid in resolving the issue. Just take a deep breath and keep your composure. This is vital for both your safety and the next steps for resolving the matter.
When we act on stress alone, it tends to cloud our judgment. This can lead to a brash decision that might exacerbate the problem. For instance, you might want to tinker with your door to determine if you can fix it yourself. Aside from risking personal injury, this could cause additional damage to your garage. A simple and calm assessment of your situation will help you make reasonable decisions on how to proceed.
Maintaining a level head also helps you secure the area around the door. Moreover, it makes it easier to assess its condition without introducing safety risks. The wrong approach may cause you to overlook critical property damage that requires professional attention. A calm and methodical response to the damage is the best strategy for ensuring safety and security at your property. This also puts you in the best position to decide between replacing or repairing your garage door.
- Avoid Operating Your Damaged Door
If your garage door has sustained damage, your first instinct might be to test its functionality. Many homeowners will try opening or closing the door, but this is ill-advised, especially if the damage is severe. We recommend you resist the impulse after discovering a compromised door. Operating it in this condition poses significant safety risks and can lead to personal injury or even structural damage to your garage.
Using your door while damaged may exacerbate existing issues and could lead to a catastrophic failure. Let’s assume that your torsion spring is broken. Operating your door in this instance could cause it to come crashing down in the absence of a counterbalance support. If rollers or tracks are bent, forcing the door will cause further bending or buckling, potentially leaving your door irreparable.
Underlying structural damages are often not immediately visible. Components such as cables or alignment brackets that seem intact could be nearing a failure point due to stress or damage. Engaging the door opener with these vulnerabilities at play only introduces the chance of the mechanism breaking down to where you need to replace this item as well.
For these reasons, avoiding using the door until a professional can assess the full extent of the damage and perform the necessary repairs is crucial. Remember to keep a safe distance, and cordon off the area if it looks hazardous. If possible, ensure that no one accidentally operates the door during this time.
- Complete a Cursory Inspection
Once a garage door failure becomes evident, a quick visual inspection can be helpful. This is a necessary step if the cause of the damage isn’t clear. For a door that has become inoperative due to wear and tear, you would have been hearing unusual noises while using it. In the case of more extreme damage, remember to keep a safe distance from your garage if it appears to be toppling.
Avoid touching or attempting to adjust any components yourself, as this could be dangerous. Look for visible signs of wear or damage. Start with the cables. Check to see if they are frayed or have snapped. Next, move on to the tension springs for signs of breakage or unwinding. Verify the condition of brackets and rollers for bends, breaks, or misalignment.
Keep a safe distance from these components and, if necessary, use a flashlight for better visibility. Avoid using tools or ladders that could put you in harm’s way. Take photos with a digital camera or mobile phone to document your observations so that you can share them with a professional before the service appointment. These visual details of the damage will help the service provider prepare for the inspection and potentially make the repairs on the first visit.
- Schedule a Professional Assessment
After you’ve evaluated all the damage, it’s time to call a professional. Garage door repair and installation companies will give you a detailed report on the best approach for mitigating the damage while itemizing the cost to cure.
Experienced providers start the inspection by ruling out the most common issues first. This includes addressing any misaligned tracks, worn-out springs, and malfunctioning openers. A professional can usually repair or replace frayed cables and service or replace broken rollers on site.
A garage door installation and repair specialist can also address any structural issues with your door panels. An expert opinion eliminates the risk of improper repairs and guarantees that your door won’t immediately fail again.
- Determine if You Should Repair or Replace
Deciding between repairing or replacing your garage door depends on several factors. Foremost, you’ll have to weigh the extent of the damage. Consider the door’s age, as well, before evaluating the cost implications of both options.
When the damage is superficial, as in minor dents or peeling paint, you can get away with a simple repair service. Mechanical issues like broken springs or a malfunctioning opener are also readily fixable. Generally, if the door’s integrity isn’t fundamentally compromised, restoring it is the most cost-effective choice.
Extensive damage, on the other hand, typically requires replacement. This usually occurs after extreme weather or when your garage door connects with a vehicle. You may also consider replacement when repairs are no longer practical due to recurring problems.
If your garage door has reached or surpassed its expected lifespan and is increasingly unreliable, investing in a new door might be the best long-term solution. Replacement also lets you enhance your aesthetic presentation. This often pays for itself by improving energy efficiency and your home’s curbside appeal.
There are benefits and drawbacks to both options, however. A professional can give you a detailed evaluation and cost estimate to help you make the most informed choice. At the end of the day, consulting a trusted garage door service provider offers everything you need to find a budget-friendly and lasting solution to your garage door woes.
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