Most garage door professionals recommend residential garage door systems have scheduled maintenance — including inspecting and lubricating moving parts, checking for hardware damages and performing safety tests — at least once every year.
Lubricating garage doors every six months helps keep them moving smoothly. You might need to lubricate more frequently if the garage door is noisy or doesn't roll smoothly, especially if you live in a harsh environment that's tough on garage doors. Avoid petroleum-based lubricants.
Routine Maintenance Can Save You Money on Repair Costs
The longer an issue with your garage door goes without repair, the more expensive it can end up being to fix it. Many garage door problems will slowly degrade and get worse over time. A simple fix now could become an expensive replacement if left unattended.
Garage doors should ideally be serviced by a qualified professional every one to two years. "Signs that your garage door needs maintenance or repair include loud squeaking or squealing, jerky movements, jamming, or running very fast on the way down and noticeably slower on the way up," Martin says.
A garage door tune-up costs $190 on average, or between $100 and $240, depending on the parts that need servicing or replacing. If your garage door squeaks, creaks, or simply won't open, you need a tune-up.
It is important to lubricate all moving parts of your garage door every six months including the garage door track.
Though many factors contribute to a garage door's lifespan, a typical garage door will last around 15 and 30 years. Your garage door's lifetime will vary depending on the type and brand you choose. Factors like the weather, environment, usage and maintenance schedule also impact the longevity of your garage door.
According to Home Adviser, homeowners have reportedly spent between $742 and $1,416 on installing new garage doors – but that price can skyrocket up to as much as $4,000 for double garage doors. It's simply much more cost effective to have your garage door repaired than to replace it.
If you need to clean a metal part, WD-40 works great. However, you will need to then clean the WD-40 off said part and apply a lubricant after. If you don't, you'll be left with metal-on-metal contact that could wear out your garage door parts quickly.
An average technician's fee for garage door maintenance is about $85. Their services will include: Checking, lubricating, and tightening screws and hinges as needed. This costs about $5.
You should replace your rollers when they stop working well. Depending on the material, that may mean 10 to 20 years, though plastic rollers will need to be replaced well before that. To determine whether you need new rollers, disconnect the door from your automatic opener.
Hinges, bolts, and other hardware wear down over time, making it harder for your garage door to operate properly. Usually, you just need to check the hardware and tighten anything that has become loose. Then spray silicone-based lubricant to ensure everything is moving smoothly.
All garage doors require regular maintenance and servicing to work properly. Lubricating the chain is an essential maintenance task for all chain-driven garage doors as it reduces strain on the opener motor and ensures the door opens and closes effortlessly.
Garage doors can last for years with minimal upkeep. However, if they go unchecked for an extended period, major garage door repair issues can develop, causing significant inconvenience. It pays to have a technician inspect and maintain your garage door regularly. Various everyday circumstances can lead to damage.
The rate to hire a garage pro ranges from $75 to $150 an hour. This results in a total labor cost between $150 and $450. For an easy fix, the repairperson may charge a service call fee of $50 to $75.
Since properly functioning garage doors typically run smoothly without a lot of noise, sudden sounds in the form of grinding, crunching, grating, squeaking or banging can be a warning sign that it's time for a replacement.
Installing a new garage door is an investment in your safety and the appearance of your home. Depending on the type of door, the materials and the location, replacing your garage door typically ranges from $1,500 to $6,000, with the average cost hovering around $2,500.
Fall: As summer ends and the focus shifts towards preparing for winter, demand for garage doors tends to decrease. This decrease can lead to potential price reductions and attractive deals as manufacturers and retailers try to clear out inventory. Winter: Winter generally sees the lowest demand for garage doors.
Most garage door professionals recommend residential garage door systems have scheduled maintenance — including inspecting and lubricating moving parts, checking for hardware damages and performing safety tests — at least once every year.
Recent research says yes. According to Zonda Media's 2023 Cost vs. Value report, homeowners who replace their garage doors see a nearly 103% return on investment (ROI). On average, homeowners spent about $4,300 on a garage door replacement and saw a resale value of almost $4,420.
Squeaky or stuck garage doors can be super annoying. To make sure that your garage door has a long life, the most effective way to maintain it is by lubricating the moving parts regularly with a trusted product like WD-40®.
If your aluminum garage door is in perfect condition, then a semi-gloss or high-gloss finish will work. If, on the other hand, the door has some dents, or scratches on it, then a satin finish would be best since it hides blemishes better than a gloss.
Remember, we recommend using only lithium grease as a garage door lubricant instead of WD-40 or oil.