A garage door is an investment on which any homeowner wants a return, but it’s impossible to determine garage door ROI without knowing garage door lifespan. To help you better understand the garage door lifespan you can expect — as well as the resulting return on investment — here are answers to the common question: How long do garage doors last?
The Difference Between Doors and Springs
First and foremost, it’s important to define exactly what a door is. What most people think of as a garage door is actually two components: the door itself and the springs that operate it. A garage door’s springs will likely need repair and replacement multiple times during the lifespan of a garage door. That is, the garage door itself should last far longer than the springs that allow it to raise and lower.
Of course, there are all sorts of extenuating circumstances that can affect how long both a garage door and its springs last. But in general, a garage door lasts longer than springs.
The Years and Cycles of a Garage Door Lifespan
Okay, so how long do garage doors last? The short answer to that question is somewhere in the neighborhood of 20 years. Most traditional steel and aluminum doors can be counted on for about two decades of service. Wood can last the same amount of time, though it requires more maintenance and care.
How long will the springs last? That’s a trickier question, and it really depends on how often you use your garage door. Most springs are good for 10,000 to 20,000 cycles (one full opening and closing of the door). That’s a wide range, but keep in mind that the lifespan of springs is going to depend in large part on the quality of those springs. If you want to know how long springs will last, somewhere between eight and 12 years is a decent estimate.
How to Extend the Lifespan of a Garage Door
The way in which you care for and maintain your garage door will also affect how long it lasts. There are two primary ways to extend a garage door lifespan:
- Quality: Choose quality from the start. When you begin with quality springs and a quality door, you’re more likely to get far beyond just 20 years of use out of the overall door. That’s a nice run for homeowners seeking value.
- Maintenance: This can’t be stressed enough: If you sign up for regular garage door maintenance, your garage door is far more likely to outlive its expected lifespan. Signing up for yearly or twice-yearly service can help prevent wear and tear on your garage door from shortening its usable life.
Trust DistribuDoors With Your Garage Door Needs
Whether you’re searching for quality doors or proactive maintenance, you can find what you need in the Seattle area by choosing DistribuDoors. We’re a Clopay® Master Authorized Dealer. In other words, we can offer access to the best products on the market. What’s more, our team of repair and maintenance technicians can help keep your garage door operating at its peak potential.
Contact us today about garage door products, repairs and maintenance.