Have you thought about your garage door lately? Your garage door may be due for an upgrade or need basic maintenance.
Letโs talk about the types of garage doors, their components and when an upgrade could be in order.
Q: My garage door has no insulation and is looking tired. What decisions will I need to make to update or replace it?
A: You will need to consider the door material, insulation and working components. You may be able to replace just some of the door depending on your budget and the condition of the door and door hardware. Here are the basics.
Door types
While there are hundreds of garage door designs, the materials doors are made of make a difference.
- Wood doors. The look of an actual wood door is hard to beat. However, there are some downsides to solid wood doors. Exposure to the Arizona climate, especially in Phoenix and Tucson, will mean you have to spend time and money maintaining the wood. Exposure to the sun and weather, coupled with lack of upkeep, can lead to splintering, twisting and cracking of the wood.
- Steel doors. Steel doors are strong and durable and can provide greater security as they are more difficult to break into. Steel is also low maintenance and generally costs less than wood or vinyl. A downside to consider is they can dent and scratch more easily than, say, a vinyl door.
- Vinyl doors. Vinyl is another low-maintenance option, but may not work well in Arizona and are rarely used here. They are not as strong as steel doors and tend to cost slightly more.
Insulation
There are four basic levels of insulation for a garage door.
- Level 1. The simplest garage door has no insulation and is one layer of door material, and that layer can have varying thicknesses. You are likely to find this with a builder model.
- Level 2. The same as the above door but with a styrofoam layer added. Adding a styrofoam layer is often a DIY project. Glue is commonly used to adhere the styrofoam to the inside surface of the door as opposed to mechanically fastening the foam panel. This is a two-layered door.
- Level 3. A three-layered door is manufactured with a front and back panel. A styrofoam panel is encased between the panels to form the third layer.
- Level 4. The next level also has a three-layered door with an upgrade. It has a front and back layer, only this door has polyurethane foam injected between the layers. Polyurethane is denser and stronger than styrofoam and works better at keeping noise out and as an insulation system.
TIP: If you add insulation to your existing garage door, be aware that you are adding weight to the door and may need to change your springs to accommodate the added weight.
Have you thought about your garage door lately? Your garage door may be due for an upgrade or need basic maintenance.
Components
Upgrading your door may require an upgrade to the moving parts of the door and those parts that make it move. Upgrading the door may increase the weight, and that change may be significant enough to benefit from having a professional look at all the pieces.
Two significant factors affected by weight are:
- Motor size: it may need to be increased.
- Springs: may need to be stronger.
If your garage door is in good condition, consider upgrading all the hardware associated with it. Roller replacement can keep your doors operating smoothly and safely. All the items mentioned below can be upgraded to extend the life of your door.
Q: Should I replace or repair the door?
A: Repair โ If the cost of upgrading your door is outside your immediate future, we suggest looking at reinforcing the door for added strength. If there are tears, cracks or dents, repairing and repainting the door will help preserve it. Be sure to have a professional come by for regular maintenance and check the following:
- Lubrication: Rollers and drive chains need regular lubrication.
- Tracks: Clean and grease the tracks to keep the system moving safely.
- Sensors: Make sure the lenses are cleaned and properly aligned. The alignment of the sensors can be affected when the sunlight changes for the seasons.
- The pull chain or rope that disengages the motor for manual door operations is not frayed or, worse, missing.
Replace โ If you decide to replace your door, you can expect some benefits.
- Lower energy costs: Better insulation means lower energy costs.
- Sound control: If you use your garage for any activity other than storing your automobile, you have better sound control from road noise.
- Better security: An upgraded locking system and a stronger door add to your peace of mind.
- A level 1 door is made to last for 10,000 cycles. An upgraded door can double the life span.
- Return on investment: the garage door replacement is high ... as high as 193%!
