How Long Do Garage Doors Last?

Garage doors are essential to our everyday lives. They provide a way to safely store your vehicle and other items, and they can enhance the overall appearance of your home. It’s important to keep up with regular maintenance so that you can prevent costly damage and increase the lifespan of your door.

What is the lifespan of a garage door?

The average lifespan of a garage door is between 15 & 30 years. The life expectancy of your garage door depends on a variety of factors like:

• Usage: The type of springs you have determines how many open/close cycles your garage door is good for. The more you use your door, the closer you come to the end of that cycle, and the shorter the lifespan will be.
• Quality: If you purchased a high-quality garage door from a trusted retailer, your door will most likely last longer than a lower-quality door.
• Local climate: Bad weather like storms, hail, and high winds can result in damage that could lower its lifespan or cause it to need repairs.
• Care: If you practice proper maintenance on a regular basis, your door will likely have a longer lifespan and age slower.

Manual vs. automatic garage doors

Both automatic and manual garage doors can last well over a decade with proper care. Usually, manual garage doors have longer lifespans than automatic garage doors since they have fewer parts to take care of. Today, most houses use automatic doors in their garages. These require more regular maintenance to keep them working for a long period of time.

Regardless of the type of garage door you have, you can expect to have your garage door for many years if you:

• Check it regularly.
• Lubricate the moving parts every few months.
• Perform yearly maintenance.
• Replace parts at the end of their cycles.

How to make your garage door last longer

To make it last as long as possible, you should have a garage door professional check the door for damage and maintenance once a year. These tune-ups keep your door running smoothly and safely, giving you more value from your investment.

You can also perform a DIY inspection every six months. This includes:

• Washing & cleaning the door, track, and windows.
• Lubricating the hinges, lock and keyhole, metal rollers, armbar, bearing plate, and garage door spring.
• Checking the operating systems for any cracks or damage.
• Inspecting the weatherstripping.

When to replace your garage door

Sometimes, it can be difficult to determine whether your garage door is at the end of its lifespan. There are a series of factors you can take into consideration to decide whether or not you should get a garage door replacement.

You should invest in a new door if your current garage door is exhibiting any of these symptoms:

• The door is not functioning properly
• Your wood door is cracked, damaged, warped, or peeling
• Your aluminum door has dents or dings
• Rusted or broken parts
• The door is slow to open or close
• Poor insulation (resulting in a hot or cold garage, and potentially driving up your energy costs.)

Need an inspection or a new garage door?

If you want to enhance your curb appeal, better insulate your garage, or simply tune up your existing garage door, turn to the professionals at Lensing Garage Doors.

At Lensing Garage Doors, we offer unparalleled residential garage door service backed by decades of experience in the business. Our experienced experts can ensure that you get the garage door that you need and desire. To learn more or to clarify any questions about the installation process, give us a call at (812) 423-6891 or visit our showroom on West Franklin Street in Evansville!