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In most cases, you do not need planning permission to change a garage door to a normal door, unless a specific restriction is present on your home’s deed. If you’re changing the door because you are trying to convert the garage into a living space, you will need to work with building control for proper signoffs to ensure your conversion meets all of the necessary construction standards.

You can prevent your garage from freezing by applying techniques like sprinkling salt onto the garage floor, installing a garage heater, shoveling snow outside the door, and more. Additional methods of preventing your garage from freezing over is to seal all potential air gaps, replace weatherstripping, and adding insulation to the surrounding walls to keep the heat from escaping.

Garage doors generally last between 15 to 30 years, depending on many factors. Your location plays an essential role in your garage door’s lifespan—doors exposed to harsh elements like heavy rain or intense heat might not last as long as those installed in a milder climate. How often you use your garage door also factors into its overall lifespan. Generally, standard garage door springs can withstand 20,000 cycles, whereas tension springs typically last between 5,000 and 10,000.

Garage door insulation can last anywhere from 20 to 100 years depending on the type of insulation. Cellulose has the shortest lifespan coming in at between 20 and 30 years, while spray foam, mineral wool, and fiberglass can last between 80 and 100 years with proper maintenance. 

Humidity plays a role in how long more susceptible insulation materials—like fiberglass—last. Once fiberglass batts reach the 15-year mark, you'll need to routinely inspect your insulation to ensure that it is in mint order.