Should I Repair or Replace My Garage Door?

If you are having a problem with your door it is important to know what can be repaired and when a replacement is needed. The following common problems can often be repaired:

Dents and Dings.

Steel garage doors can accumulate dents and small dings over time, which greatly detracts from the door's appearance. To help minimize unsightly dents, Clopay® garage doors are constructed with true 24, 25, or 27-gauge steel. Thicker steel lasts longer and dents less. The lower the gauge, the thicker the steel. However, a "sandwich" constructed steel garage door with two 27-gauge steel skins and a bonded insulating core will be stronger than a "steel frame" door with a single layer of 24-gauge steel.

With non-insulated garage doors you may be able to push out the dings from the inside of the doors. If you are unable to do this, you may need to replace the dented sections or the entire garage door. Clopay sells replacement sections for most models, including panel sections with windows.

Garage Door Feels Heavy or is Hard to Open and Close

Garage doors have a lot of moving parts, and if your door is opened and closed frequently, many of those parts will wear out. If your garage door feels very heavy and is difficult to open, it can be the result of a broken or improperly tensioned spring. Garage doors use two main types of spring systems - torsion springs or extension springs - and a spring issue on either of these systems can make them difficult to open, while also putting additional stress on your automatic opener.

This can often be fixed by Paton Garage Doors, your local Clopay Dealer. We strongly advise against DIY spring repair or replacement, as attempting to repair springs on your own can cause severe injury.

Door Opens Unevenly

If your door is opening and closing unevenly, it is likely an issue with only one side of your garage door. This could be a worn spring or another problem with your track or rollers. When this occurs, it can create additional wear and tear on your opener's motor, compounding the problem.

As with the spring issue mentioned above, it is best to call a dealer for your safety and to avoid doing further damage to your garage door. If you are concerned that your door's problem could be dangerous, or cause additional damage to your door and opener, contact Paton Garage Doors to schedule a service call to provide peace of mind.

Signs That It May Be Time to Replace Your Garage Door

Peeling or Cracked Paint on Wood Doors

Wood garage doors will need to be refinished periodically in order to protect them from the elements. The painted or stained finish can break down over time, which causes the wood to rot. The finish can also discolor or fade due to UV exposure from the sun. If you find the wood has cracked, there are holes in your door or moisture has wicked up from the bottom, it is time to replace it.

Sagging or bent garage door sections

Wood garage doors have a tendency to sag over time if they are not properly maintained. When the door is closed, you'll see large gaps under the ends of the door. If your wood garage door is sagging, we recommend replacing it. Door sections can also be damaged by an automatic opener if they are not adequately reinforced.

Garage Door is Not Energy Efficient

Older garage doors or doors installed on new homes may not be well insulated or may not have full perimeter weather-stripping to seal out the elements. An insulated, well sealed door is especially important if you have living space above or adjacent to the garage. The insulated garage door will help keep those rooms warmer in the winter, cooler in the summer, and can also help reduce energy bills. Clopay® offers insulated garage doors with R-values up to 20.4 (R-value is a measurement of thermal efficiency of a door, or how well it insulates) Click here for an overview of our products. Wood garage doors will need to be checked every year for cracking, peeling paint or fading. Wood garage doors must be painted or stained on all sides before installation, and refinished every few years depending on the exposure and weather conditions in your area. Steel, composite or aluminum garage doors do not need to be repainted unless you want to change the color. Painting instructions specific to your door model can be found in your owner's manual.