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If you open your garage manually, you don’t need sensors. If you have an automatic garage door opener, sensors are required by law. The federal law UL 325 mandates that all residential garage door openers in the U.S. must include sensors. Designed to prevent accidents and reduce the risk of entrapment, the sensors should be able to reverse the motion of the garage door within two seconds of detecting an obstruction. The sensors are there to keep you, your family, and your belongings safe from a door that might otherwise come down too hard or too fast.

It’s usually a good idea to use a metal primer before painting a metal garage door, and, even if you do, you’ll need a paint that’s specifically designed to coat metal for the best results. Metal primer helps create a good surface for the paint to stick to your metal garage door, and it will help prevent bubbling, chipping, and peeling after it dries. It’s a bit more expensive to prime your door before painting, but it’s usually worthwhile, as the paint will last longer.

How long garage doors last depends on the type of doors you buy and how well you care for them. But most often, garage doors will last between 15 and 30 years, on average. You can maximize their life span by performing regular maintenance and inspections and repairing problems immediately. A more robust material, like triple-layer steel garage doors, may even last 25 to 30 years with proper care.

The style of the garage door that's best for you depends more on your needs. Are you driving in and out of the garage daily, or are you just storing tools and holiday decor there? For regular use, you'll want a door that is easy to operate and durable. If you only wish to use the garage for storage, go for a less expensive style or one that maximizes curb appeal over functionality.