I Like To Exterior Services

What fails on a house, why it fails, and what it should cost

Home/Garage door installation

Garage doors · Replace or repair

Garage door installation

A new door is warranted when sections are cracked at multiple hinges, the bottom section is perforated by rust, or the door was never rated for the wind loads it sees. Springs and openers are separate purchases with separate lifespans, so price them that way.

Quick answerReplace the door when sections are cracked at multiple hinges, the bottom section is perforated by rust, or the door was never rated for the wind loads it sees. A single bad spring, cable, roller or opener is a repair, not a reason for a new door. When you do buy, ask for the wind-load rating, and on a two-car door make sure it has enough horizontal struts.

A garage door is usually the largest opening in the building envelope. In high wind a failed door lets pressure into the house, which is how roofs come off. That makes the door’s rating, and how well it is braced, more important than its color or window pattern.

Two modern garage doors on a white house in daylight
The door is the biggest opening in the wall, so its rating matters as much as its looks. Photo by GoodLifeConstruction on Unsplash.

1When a new door is the right call

What you seeUsually means
Cracks at the hinge points on several sectionsThe panels are failing. Replace the door.
Bottom section rusted throughPerforated steel can’t be patched well. Replace.
No wind-load rating on an exposed houseThe door may be the weak point in a storm. Replace with a rated door.
A broken spring, frayed cable or worn rollersHardware wear. Repair it.
Opener noisy, slow or unreliableAn opener problem, priced separately from the door.

Garage door spring brokenOpener not workingDoor won’t close

2What to ask for when you buy

  1. The wind-load ratingAsk what the door is rated for and whether that suits your area and exposure. Open ground and coastal or storm-prone areas deserve a rated door.
  2. Enough struts on a two-car doorWide doors need horizontal struts to stop the top section flexing. Builder installs frequently ship the minimum, so ask how many come with the door.
  3. Springs matched to the doorSprings are sized to the door’s weight. A new, heavier insulated door needs springs matched to it, not the old ones reused.
  4. Insulation only if it helpsAn insulated door does little if the garage walls and attic hatch are not insulated. Decide based on how the garage is used.
Springs are under high tension

Removing an old door means releasing spring tension. Torsion springs and their cables can cause serious injury. Leave spring work and door removal to a trained installer.

Torsion vs extension springs

3DIY or hire a pro

You can handle

  • Checking for cracks at the hinges and rust along the bottom
  • Cleaning the tracks and replacing the bottom weather seal
  • Testing that the door reverses when it meets an obstruction
  • Finding the wind-load label or paperwork on your current door

Hire a pro

  • Removing the old door and installing the new one
  • Anything involving springs or cables
  • Adding struts or reinforcing a wide door
  • Fitting an opener to an opening that was never built for one

4What drives the cost

FactorWhy it moves the price
SizeSingle or double width, and the height of the opening
Material and insulationSteel, wood and insulated doors are priced very differently
Wind-load rating and strutsRated doors and extra bracing add to the door price
Springs and hardwareNew springs sized to the new door, tracks and rollers
OpenerA separate purchase with its own lifespan
Opening repairsRotted jambs or framing have to be fixed before the door goes in

Garage doors cost

Getting quotes for a new door?

Talk to a local garage door installer who will quote the wind rating, struts and springs up front.

877-360-4657

5Questions

Should I replace the opener at the same time?

Not automatically. The door and opener have separate lifespans. If the opener is old or unreliable, replacing both at once can make sense; if it works well, keep it.

Is an insulated door worth it?

Only if the rest of the garage is insulated too. With uninsulated walls and attic hatch, an insulated door does little.

Why does wind rating matter for a garage door?

It is usually the largest opening in the house. If it fails in high wind, pressure gets inside, and that can lift the roof.

My two-car door bows at the top. Is that normal?

No. It usually means too few horizontal struts. Struts can often be added, but on a door that is otherwise failing, it’s a good time to replace.

Written by Jaylan Jones. I Like To Exterior Services earns a referral fee when a call connects to a contractor. See our business-model disclosure.

877-360-4657