Answering Some Commonly Asked Questions About Residential Garage Doors

A home's garage door is vitally important, as that door protects your car and lawn care equipment from theft and vandalism; an open door can also reveal an empty garage. A potential burglar may assume the house is also empty and a good target for a break-in. This is why it's important that your home's remote control door is always in good working order and easy for you to manage. If you need a new garage door, or the current door needs some maintenance, note a few questions you might have about this work and the piece itself, and this can tell you what to expect by way of repairs or replacement.

Can a single panel door be replaced with a roller door?

A roller door can offer many advantages over a single panel, swing-out door; the roller door doesn't need clearance in front of it, and may be easier to lift manually, since the sectional design helps to disperse the whole weight of the door. If you prefer a roller door over a single panel door for any reason, a contractor may need to install a different type of track than what is currently installed along the garage frame and may also need to install a different chain or spring. However, this can often be done for just about any type of garage so that you can switch from a single panel to a roller door relatively easily.

Will the door need to be replaced if there is a large dent?

Whether or not a door needs to be replaced after being dented will depend on its material and the size of the dent itself. If the door is metal and the dent is small, a contractor may be able to bump it out, just as they would with a dented car door. However, if the dent has actually broken the metal, the door may need replacing so that rust doesn't form along that area of damage and weaken the door.

If the door is wood, a small dent can sometimes be filled in with putty, and painted over. If the dent has broken the wood piece entirely, it may be cheaper to have the door replaced than repaired. The dent may have also allowed the wood to absorb moisture and humidity so that it's become soft and cannot hold a putty or other filler and may be at an increased risk of mould growth. A new door may be the only option in this case.