When is it Time for a New Garage Door?

Is your garage door making new noises when it opens or closes? If so, you’re probably wondering if it’s time to get a new one.

The staff at Dodds Garage Doors can help you decide if it’s time to invest in a new door, or if you can simply fix your current door.

Today we’re going to answer some of the most common questions our customers ask when they come to us wondering if they can save their old door, or if it’s time to upgrade.

Is it Time to Replace it, or Fix it?

Generally speaking, a garage door will last anywhere from 15 to 30 years before it needs to be replaced. That’s a broad range, and there are lots of factors that dictate how long it will last. For example, a door that has to stand up to cold and wet Canadian winters may not last as long as one in a warmer climate.

If you’re noticing things like the door making loud noises, moving slower, struggling to open or close, or not responding at all, give us a call before you start shopping for a new door. We offer 24/7 garage door repair services and will do everything we can to extend the life of your door.

Is My Door Still Safe?

In this day and age, a garage door needs to be able to do more than open and close reliably before you can really call it safe.

How old is your garage door? If you have any sort of heritage or vintage home, you might have an antique garage door. It probably looks gorgeous, but it’s probably not safe.

In the early 90s, garage door technology added a sensor to make sure your door would not close while something was in its path. This was especially important for people with young children and pets who may not be mindful of the fact that they’re in the way.

This became the industry standard and minimum for safe garage doors. If your current garage door predates the 90s and it doesn’t have that sensor, you definitely should think about an upgrade — especially if you have young children or pets at home.

Today, garage door openers and their technology have come along way, thanks to advancements in wifi and the Internet of Things.

You can now use a mobile app to open or close your door. But more importantly, you can also use it to monitor any activity going on with that garage door. That means when the kids get home safely, you will be notified. It also means that if an intruder is trying to gain access to your garage, you will be notified of that.

What is R-value and Why Does it Matter?

R-value measures how well your garage door insulates the interior of the garage from the outside.

You may find yourself spending a lot of money on your utility bills because of your older garage door:

• Is not insulated, or is made of a material with a very low R-value
• Does not close fully, or make a tight seal at the bottom or sides
• Has cracks or holes from wear and tear

This is especially true if you live in a climate that sees both hot and humid summers, as well as bitterly cold winters. You’re probably already very mindful of how high your utility bills are every month and upgrading the R-value of your garage door can make a big difference.

Do you have a home office or guest bedroom above your garage? You might find that you have a difficult time controlling the temperature of the room, partly because your climate control is leaking out of the bottom of the door.

We offer many different garage door styles with high R-value. This includes insulated garage doors, which go a long way towards lowering your utility bills. These might cost $100-$150 more, but you can easily recoup that in utility bill savings during your first year of owning it.

How much Can a Garage Door Help My Home’s Resale Value?

If you are looking to sell or flip a home, replacing the garage door can show you a great return on investment when compared to more expensive home renovations.

If the exterior of your home needs the most improvement, you may find that updating the garage door will have a much bigger impact than other things like finishing the basement, adding new appliances, or remodelling the bathroom.

Your garage door can take up as much as a third of your entire home’s front façade, which means it makes up about 33% of your curb appeal. If you add a new and stylish garage door, it will catch people’s eyes before they even park in the driveway.

In a lot of situations, upgrading your garage door can help you sell your home quicker, and maybe even get a higher asking price.

We have worked with people who wanted to give their entire exterior a refresh so they could sell their home. They started with choosing a new garage door and based everything else around it. That way, all of the accent colours on their home windows and other architectural features looked flawless.

How Much Should I Spend on a New Garage Door?

This is another question with no simple answer. It all depends on exactly what you need. We encourage you to browse what’s available or get a free estimate.

You might also qualify for our financing options. You might be able to get a brand new beautiful garage door, with 0% financing and no interest, with both 12-month and 24-month payment options available.

So, if your garage door is showing signs of ageing, give us a call and we may be able to fix it.  We would never sell you something you don’t need. But, if the time has come to replace it, we offer the GTA’s best prices and selection.