Garage door repair is a standard part of doing business for homeowners. Garage doors are frequently used day-to-day, making them susceptible to a wide variety of problems. In addition, garage doors can be expensive to purchase and repair. Some repairs can be done by the homeowner, while others require the assistance of a professional. Garage door repair is generally not covered by standard home warranties, so it is essential to make sure you purchase a warranty before performing any garage door repair. In addition, certain garage door services may be covered through your contract, depending upon the service location of your garage door.
A standard service call will typically include a basic visual inspection of your garage doors. This includes visually inspecting the rollers, track, and pulleys. If you notice any damage or wear, you can have all of these components replaced. In most cases, repairs to roll-up doors involve replacing the rollers, roller tracks, and occasionally the hinges.
Most people realize that keeping their property well-maintained is key to long life. However, garage doors are often overlooked when it comes to regular maintenance. Regular maintenance includes a thorough inspection to detect any problems as early as possible. Then, appropriate repairs can be performed, including replacement of parts, spring tension and chain/ belt tension, and lubrication.
Costs for garage door repairs can vary widely. Some repairs require the assistance of professional contractors. While this may be more costly than doing the repairs yourself, many homeowners feel it is necessary due to the specialized nature of this item. The average costs of repairs can range from a few hundred dollars to thousands of dollars, depending upon the severity of the problem, the type and number of parts needed, and the frequency of routine maintenance.
If you are having trouble with your garage doors, one of the first things you should do is have them inspected by a professional to determine whether or not they are in working order. Many repairs to these items can be done without the help of a repairman. In fact, many problems with these items can be fixed by simply observing the proper safety precautions. For example, if the spring tension is too loose, then you can adjust it yourself. In addition, if there is a dent in the door, then you can easily tap the dent out.
There are a number of common repairs that can be completed without calling a professional, including broken springs, loose tracks, damaged pulleys, and even worn hinges. While broken springs should be repaired immediately, worn pulleys can sometimes be repaired by replacing the entire mechanism. Likewise, damaged hinges can often be fixed with a little work and the cost of a small part.
The next thing you should do before calling a garage door professional to repair your door is to make sure that the item is completely shut and the hinge has fully closed. If the door does not lock into place properly, then the problem may lie with the balance system. Similarly, if the door is not opening and closing correctly, then you should most likely check to see if the motor has been replaced. Garage doors are powered either by an extension spring or a torsion spring. If one of these parts is malfunctioning, it is important that it be replaced immediately as a damaged spring could potentially cause serious damage to your door.
Once you have made the decision to replace or repair your garage doors, then you should determine the approximate replacement cost. This will depend on many factors, including the brand, material, and year of manufacture. However, there are several websites that offer pricing information for common brands of garage doors, which can help you to determine an average cost. You should also keep in mind that garage doors can be very expensive to purchase, so you should be sure that you are not spending more on the repairs than you need to. For this reason, it is very important that you take some time and compare the price of your repair versus the cost of the replacement.