Research proves two interesting facts about garage doors. For one, garage doors are the heaviest objects in our houses. Secondly, the average garage door opens and closes about 1,500 times in a year. An equally important fact, though not proven by research, is that several people are not sure how long a new garage door lasts.
The short answer is that the average lifespan of a garage door is about ten years. The long answer, however, is that the life of your garage door depends on several factors. These include the climate, maintenance, usage of spring types, and more.
Let’s walk you through a detailed answer of how long a new garage door typically lasts
Life of an average garage door
Estimates say that an average garage door lasts for ten years. Most experts go on to say that a garage door can go on to last for 15-30 years. However, this depends on maintenance, construction quality, and local climate conditions.
If all these factors are in your favor, your garage door can serve you for a long time. Moreover, you get what you pay for. Therefore, if you invest in good construction quality and pay close attention to regular maintenance work, then you can expect your garage door to last for a long time.
The same applies to getting any damage repaired in time. If you note any part of the garage door is damaged or broken, then it is best to call in professionals to fix it before it multiplies and grows into a bigger problem, rendering the entire door useless.
A new door typically comes with a warranty. But these warranties generally don’t last longer than three years. The rest of the years that add to the life of a garage door come from factors that are highlighted below.
Factors that add to the life of the garage door
Several factors play a significant role here. The chief ones are:
- The life-determining springs
Firstly, an important component of the garage door family is the spring mechanism. These include tension springs and torsion springs. Typically, garage door springs are designed to last for 20,000 cycles.
On the other hand, the tension spring has a life ranging from 5,000 to 10,000 cycles. In layman’s terms, each cycle is represented by the times the door opens and closes. Hence, the more your garage door opens, the more cycles of the springs are completed.
In other words, the more the garage door opens, the sooner the springs will break. In rare cases, springs can break in less than a year. A general estimate includes:
- A garage door that opens and closes two times daily lasts for 14 years
- A garage door that is used four times daily exhibits a life of 7 years
- A garage door that operates six times every day has a life of 5 years typically
- A garage door that opens and closes nearly eight times a day can last for about 3 years
The price factor
Secondly, the price of the new garage door also impacts its life. If you select a door that lies on the non-pricey end of things, then be prepared for getting an inferior quality door. Such a door won’t last long, and you cannot expect it to be a permanent solution for your garage.
All the materials that makeup such a garage door including the pulleys, hinges, and springs among other things are made with inferior quality material. Such a garage door also has a cheap motor, and you can expect problems only a few years after the installation. For this reason, you will want to consider a sturdier option like sectional garage doors that are strong and durable.
Care and maintenance
Thirdly, maintenance is essential. Some steps to take include keeping your garage door well-lubricated and clean. Using a Garage Door Cleaning Solution will revitalize the appearance of your garage door in just a few easy steps. In addition to cleaning, always look out for worn-out parts. Once you locate these, contact a professional to get them replaced. If you are not sure, who to contact, start by searching company names online in your area.
The effect of climate
Lastly, the local climate also chips in its share in the life of your garage door. For instance, extremely hot weather sheds direct sunlight onto the garage door, fading it quickly. On top of that, it can negatively affect the door’s mechanisms and sensors.
Similarly, salty and moist weather can culminate in salt-induced rust and corrosion on garage door tracks and hardware. Humid weather can also encourage the garage door to expand and contract, which can challenge its proper operations. Your insulation, security, and garage door appeal can also be compromised due to it.
Wrap up
In a nutshell, a good-quality garage door has a typical life of ten years or more. It is only in some cases that a garage door doesn’t last for long. On your part, don’t forget to maintain the door, repair or replace its parts whenever needed, and use it with care.
Author Bio:
Evie Harrison is a blogger by choice. She loves to discover the world around her. She likes to share her discoveries, and experiences and express herself through her blogs. Find her on Twitter:@iamevieharrison
Great article! Very educational.