Your residential garage door isn’t just another piece of mechanical equipment on your house; it’s the gateway to your home. It’s the last thing you see when you leave for the day and the first thing you see to welcome you home when you return.
When a garage door gets damaged – or the wear and tear becomes obvious – many property owners believe they need a complete replacement. In most cases, these people just need a garage door panel replacement.
This option is significantly easier and less expensive.
At Thompson Garage Doors, we recommend the most cost-effective solution for your needs – not the one with the highest price tag.
In this post, we want to provide a complete overview of what you need to know about replacing garage door panels.
Table Of Content
1. Garage Door Panel Replacement or Replace the Entire Garage Door?
2. How Do Garage Door Panels Get Damaged?
3. How to Replace a Garage Door Panel? Next Steps
4. Ready to Get Your Garage Door Panels Replaced?
Garage Door Panel Replacement or Replace the Entire Garage Door?
The answer to this question completely depends on the current state of your garage door.
When to Replace Your Entire Garage Door
Most of the signs it’s time for a full replacement boil down to a combination of mechanical/structural failures, including:
· Structural issues like a warped or sagging door frame
· Persistent mechanical problems despite repeated repairs
· Outdated model lacking modern safety features
Replacing the entire door is a big project – and you never want to jump to conclusions without a professional’s assessment.
When to Replace Garage Door Panels
In most cases, the biggest issue with garage doors largely deals with cosmetics and energy efficiency – and replacing the panels can do a lot to extend the life of your door. Some of the most common signs it’s time to replace the panels are:
Sagging Wood
Over time, the weight of the door can cause the panels to warp or bend, creating an uneven appearance. This not only affects the door’s functionality, but also poses a safety risk.
Splintered Wood
If you notice splintered or cracked wood on your garage door panel, it’s a clear sign that it’s time for a replacement. Splinters can be sharp and dangerous, especially if you have children or pets around.
Gaps between Panels
Gaps between panels are a telltale sign of trouble. They can allow pests, dirt, and moisture to enter your garage, potentially damaging your belongings. Additionally, if you see gaps between the door and the ground or between the door and the sidewalls of the garage, it may indicate that the panel isn’t aligned properly.
Extremely Faded Color
Faded or peeling paint is more than just a cosmetic concern. It can indicate that the panel’s protective layer is compromised, leaving the wood vulnerable to rot and further damage. In short, if your garage door has lost its vibrant color, it’s time to consider a replacement.
Significant Dings or Dents
Dings and dents may seem minor, but they can affect the door’s structural integrity. Over time, they can worsen and make it more difficult for the door to function smoothly.
Inefficient Opening or Closing
If your garage door struggles to open or close, frequently gets stuck, or makes unusual noises, it’s a sign that the panels may be damaged or misaligned. These issues can not only cause inconvenience, but also compromise the safety and security of your garage.
Damaged panels compromise the aesthetics of your home – but more importantly, they affect the security and functionality of your garage. Getting individual garage door sections replaced is much more cost-effective than getting a completely new door.
Knowing exactly what needs to be replaced on your garage door – whether it’s panels or mechanical components – is not always clear. At Thompson Garage Doors, we send our technicians to your property to perform a complete assessment and provide a FREE estimate for the solution that best fits your needs.
In the best-case scenario, replacing a garage door panel alone might do the trick to fix your issue. Or, you might simply need new garage door hardware or other garage door parts if it’s a functionality problem. A new door is only necessary if there is extreme wear or damage to the point it doesn’t function.
Schedule a Garage Door Panel Replacement Appointment
How Do Garage Door Panels Get Damaged?
Most people use their garage doors every day. But regular wear and tear isn’t typically the culprit for damaged panels. Garage doors and garage door hardware are generally built to last 10-20 years.
Collisions
Replacing a garage door panel is usually necessary if they have suffered some sort of direct assault – like if someone accidently backs into the door with their car, causing dents or splits. The good news is most collision events are localized to garage door sections. Assuming there is not damage to the functionality of the door, replacing the garage door panels is an ideal solution.
Weather
Mother Nature takes her toll on every aspect of a property, and garage door panels are no exception.
A wood garage door especially can be prone to color fading from the sun, as well as cracking or sagging from long-term exposure to heavy moisture. If this damage is fairly localized, you can get by with the more cost-effective solution of just replacing a panel or two instead of the entire door.
Find Out How to Replace a Garage Door Panel
How to Replace a Garage Door Panel? Next Steps
Before we provide a snapshot of replacing garage door panels, we want to stress that DIY panel replacement isn’t recommended for the average homeowner.
The task can be frustrating, time-consuming, and even dangerous for someone who doesn’t have the proper training and equipment. Plus, if the new panel doesn’t fit perfectly with the existing panels, it could render your entire door non-functional.
Here’s a glance at how our garage door panel replacement experts manage this process at Thompson Garage Doors:
1. Measure
Most importantly, we need to make sure the new door panels will fit seamlessly into the existing garage door. This involves coming to your property to measure the spacing between the tracks and have a garage door built for you. You will keep your existing jams, casing and rails.
2. Ensure Safety
We prioritize safety above all else. This involves disconnecting the garage door opener to prevent accidental activation and secure the door in a fully open position using clamps or locking pliers on the tracks to keep it stable.
3. Remove the Damaged Panel
Our technicians unscrew the hinges that connect the damaged panel to the panels next to it. We’ll then detach any hardware connected to the panel, such as rollers and brackets, then carefully slide or lift the damaged panel out of the track to remove it.
4. Prepare the Replacement Panel
We’ll do a final check to make sure the new panel matches the size, design, and color of the existing panels. Next we’ll detach any necessary hardware, including hinges, brackets, and rollers, to the new panel before installation to streamline the process.
5. Install the Replacement Panel
Our technicians will slide the new panel into position within the tracks, aligning it with the adjacent panels. Next we’ll attach the hinges to connect the new panel securely to the existing structure, then reattach any brackets or rollers removed from the old panel to ensure proper fit and function.
6. Reconnect and Test
The next step is to reconnect the garage door opener and remove the clamps or locking pliers from the tracks. We’ll test the door by opening and closing it several times to ensure the new panel is aligned correctly and the door operates smoothly without any issues.
7. Final Adjustments
Our quality assurance expert will check all screws and bolts to ensure they are tight and secure. If needed, we’ll adjust the alignment of the panels to ensure smooth operation. This step ensures the door functions correctly and safely.
8. Clean Up
Once the job is done, we’ll properly dispose of the old panel properly and clean any debris or tools from the workspace.
The technicians at Thompson Garage Doors will also perform a thorough inspection to make sure there’s no other part of the door that needs fixing. This includes the garage door springs and even components like your keypad or garage door opener to ensure they’re in good working order.
Ready to Get Your Garage Door Panels Replaced?
If your home is located in the Northern Nevada or Northern California area, Thompson Garage Doors is your local expert. Give us a call at (775) 356-6601 today. Whether you need a single panel replacement or an entire garage door installation, we’d be happy to use our decades of expertise to help.
Get in touch today for a FREE estimate.