You look at the garage door on your property and frown. Though it works fine, it is looking a bit aged, worn or shabby. And whether it is made of wood or metal, you wonder if you should put in the time and effort to repaint it, or just replace it with a newer model?
That’s a good question and we offer the following points to help.
What’s the Age of the Door?
It does not matter whether it is wood or metal, what matters is the efficiency and safety of the door. Though most are metal or steel, any sort of door is more than just the material. Worn or faded, functional or a bit wonky, it is what is “behind” that door that you must consider more than its appearance.
If the hardware system is as old as the door, and there are any signs of rusted parts, especially parts along the bottom of the door, it’s time you opt to change the entire garage door system.
While we did say materials are not a key point, wood does have several problems. For one thing, they absorb moisture over time, and become heavier. This can overtax the opener. If you have a “sandwich” style, it means that there is thin wood on the inside and outside and between them is some insulation. This absorbs a lot of that moisture and becomes entirely inefficient because of it.
Interestingly enough, if the door dries out, it becomes a problem, too because it will split. Even if you paint and seal it, the wood will deteriorate when it starts to split.
What About Time?
While anyone can repaint a garage door; it is one of the simplest DIY projects. It is a huge amount of time to do the job right. You have to get the right colours if you are trying to get a good match to the original. You have to do it at the right time of the year when humidity levels are acceptable and the paint can dry fully. You have to allow for plenty of time for the paint to dry.
Ideally, the temperatures should be between 60F and 75F (15C and 25C) and it should not be too windy, sunny or rainy. You must also dedicate time to sanding, filling in cracks, and properly priming the entire door and the wooden framing. You cannot skip the primer and/or work with paints that feature both primer and paint as these are not strong enough for most outdoor conditions.
What if you have no free time? You can hire someone to do it, but that often nudges the budget much higher.
Ready to Skip to the Chase and Get a New Door?
If you are ready to forgo the painting and just install a new door with better insulation and looks, you should know that it runs at only an average cost of around $1000. If your garage door opener is new and works well, it can easily be reused and reconnected to your new garage door.
Getting Started
To get more details, just contact us. We are garage door professionals and can give you the best advice based on your needs and your budget! We are happy to send you a quotation by email to help you determine your best next step in boosting the good looks, safety and function of the garage.
Add new comment