Over the years, your garage door takes a beating. Not only can the cables and springs break under the repeated stress of moving that heavy weight, the door panels themselves can deteriorate from moisture or suffer impact damage. (We’ve all seen the effects of a “slight miscalculation,” when a car has been backed into a closed garage door.)

Faced with fixing or replacing your garage door, the first thing to consider is the type of damage that has occurred. If the door itself is solid, problems in the hardware that raises and lowers the door can usually be repaired at a relatively low cost. It’s not beyond the ability of most homeowners to lubricate balky rollers and track with white lithium spray grease and replace screws that have come out of position. However, replacing the lift cable or connecting the springs are jobs usually best left to professionals – accidental release of a spring under tension can cause serious injury!

If the door itself is damaged, it may not be necessary to replace the entire assembly. Some suppliers will sell single panels. You may not be able to (Read more….)