Get matched with top garage door pros in Applegate, CA

Having a garage installed certainly adds to the value of your home. The consideration is not whether it adds value, but for many, they want to know if adding a garage yields a return on their investment or ROI. While garages can add anywhere from 5% to 20% of the total value of your property, that doesn’t mean that they return 5% to 20% of the money invested in building them. Most homeowners build garages for a purpose but know that you can recover your investment when you sell or refinance.   

On average, a garage door can last between 15 and 30 years. However, this lifespan is influenced by several factors, including the quality and material of the door, local climate conditions, and how frequently it is used and maintained.

Key factors affecting longevity include:

• Material: Wooden doors can last 20 to 30 years or more, while steel doors typically last 15 to 20 years. More robust options, like triple-layer steel, can last 25 to 30 years with proper care. The number of layers in a door also contributes to its durability, with each additional layer potentially adding five years to its life.

• Maintenance: Regular inspections, cleaning, and immediate repairs can significantly extend the life of your garage door.

• Usage and Climate: Doors in harsh climates or those used very frequently may wear out faster.

• Components: Individual parts have different lifespans. For example, automatic openers may fail sooner than the door itself without regular maintenance, and garage door springs typically need replacement every 7 to 12 years.

While the door panels are designed to last as long as the door, they should be replaced sooner if they become visibly damaged, impact the door's smooth operation, or create a security risk.

We recommend plywood and solid wood. Particleboard and MDF (medium-density fiberboard) are often too weak to hold significant loads, and could sag or deform under pressure. Plywood or solid wood are meant to last, and can handle the weight of several large items. If you want to spend a little more for a moisture-resistant material, you can consider using steel.

The cost to paint a garage door is usually $1 to $4 per square foot, which translates to around $120 to $500 for the average two-car garage door. This relatively low-cost painting project can greatly impact your home’s look and curb appeal, and you can save a good deal of money by doing it yourself.