What is the average life of a garage door?

What is the average life of a garage door?

Garage doors provide homeowners with protection and comfort, while sheltering vehicles from the elements. If you ask anyone how long the newly installed roof on their home should last them and they will more than likely tell you right away without even thinking about it, about 25 to 30 years. If you were to ask that same homeowner how long their garage door is expected to last them and they will probably respond with “I don’t really know.” The answer to that question however, depends on how much you use your garage door and what type of door that you have installed as well as how well you care for your garage door.

The average garage door with multiple daily uses should operate with no troubles for about 10 plus years. Usually in planned subdivisions the doors are usually chosen by the builder of the home and are usually picked on price and not on quality. Therefore you may have problems with these types of doors sooner as opposed to later.

No matter where you live or what kind of garage door system you have, you can take steps to maximize its lifespan. Here are a few quick tips for maintaining your system:

Garage door openers

Garage door openers fall in the same life expectancy category as water heaters, toilet mechanisms and garbage disposals. With the exception of paint and sump pumps, the garage door opener is one of the shortest-lived components of the home. Your automatic opening system likely comes with its own warranty, typically between 10 and 15 years. The designs of the garage door and opener are standard, so replacing the door opener should not require major modifications.

Torsion Spring Life

Garage door springs will only work for a set number of cycles. Torsion springs typically last for 10,000 cycles. That means if you open and close your garage twice a day, seven days a week, your torsion springs will work for almost 14 years. Extension springs usually last for at least 15,000 cycles. You may be able to get 20 years out of this type of spring.

Keep track of when your springs were last changed, and roughly estimate how often you use your garage door. This will tell you when it’s time to call a technician for torsion or extension spring replacement.

Replace Parts

Inspect your garage door seal regularly, and replace the gasket if necessary. It’s a simple repair, but it’s important because it keeps moisture out of your garage and away from the door.

You should also abide by manufacturer guidelines and apply lubricant to the springs and rollers when needed to ensure the smooth functioning of the entire system.

Maintain the Exterior

The door panel itself may be made of aluminum, steel, wood or vinyl, all of which require a different maintenance approach.

Read the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions and wash the door on a regular basis.