What to Do If You Crash Your Car Into Your Garage Door

What to Do If You Crash Your Car Into Your Garage Door

It can happen in the middle of winter when you hit a patch of ice as you approach pull into the driveway. It can happen in the middle of summer when your car lurches as your garage door opens.

It can happen.

The important thing is what to do after you hit your garage door with your car. Even if it seems like there’s not much damage to your door, it can be worse than it looks. And if your car has somehow connected to the door, moving it can cause more damage to the door and your car.

Steps to Take After Hitting Garage Door With Car

You can use the following steps as quick guidelines for what to do if you ever drive into your door. Of course, you should always check to make sure you and any passengers are OK before doing anything else.

1. Assess the Damage on the Inside and Outside of the Door

Whether you run into the door from inside or outside the garage, damage can happen on both sides.

Whether outside or inside, check for damage to the door panels and look for spaces between each panel and between the door and the door frame along the top, bottom and both sides of the door.

Because more of the working parts of the door are inside, that’s where you might find more damage.

You should check the rollers and tracks along which the door runs when opening and closing, the extension springs, cables and pulleys that help balance the door, and the door hinges that connect the panels together.

2. Check Your Car & Where it is in Contact with The Door

Especially for a collision on the inside of the door, check to make sure the car isn’t hooked to a cable of hinge that can make the damage worse if you move the car. Whether the crash happened inside or out, and if the car isn’t somehow hooked to the door, move it away from the door very slowly at first to make sure you’re not damaging the door by doing so.

3. Try to Operate the Door

If by all appearances things look okay with the door, test it to see if it still works. Stand well away from the door and operate the opener with the remote control. If you hear or see anything unusual, stop the test.

If you find anything wrong with your door after a crash, it’s best to get a professional garage door repair person to take a look. Fixing a garage door can be a dangerous job. If you need any repairs or maintenance for your garage door, whether its from an accident or it’s just time to do it, give us a call at 905-665-8668. We’ll have your door back to normal as quickly as possible.

Why Won’t My Garage Door Close Completely on One Side?

You have enough on your plate on a daily basis. The last thing you want to deal with is a garage door not closing evenly or having a gap on the side that makes it difficult to close. 

But what comes to mind when you think about your garage door? Maybe its design appeals to you, or you think about the security it provides. Or, you might think about the garage door opener and how cool it is that the door opens ‘magically’ as you drive up. ‘

Either way, you need your garage door to perform its function without any issues. Sometimes, you will experience them regardless, so you should be prepared to identify any potential problems to help you deal with them efficiently. 

Broken Cables

The main reason your garage door has a gap on one side is likely because one or both cables are broken or have snapped. The cables endure most of the strain during operation since their role is to lift and support an extremely heavy garage door. Coupled with years of use and exposure to contrasting weather elements inside and outside the garage, the strain can take its toll. The cables are also more susceptible to snap if they are old. 

When one cable snaps, the tension places immense strain on the other cable. It ends up hanging lopsided, causing the garage door to close unevenly. Upon close inspection, you may see the steel cable strands frayed as a result of constant friction as it turns on the drum. This could be an indication that the cable has snapped or is about to. The cables serve the same purpose for both spring types, although they work slightly differently:

• Torsion springs: In torsion springs, the cables are wrapped around drums at either end of the spring. The spring is located inside, above the garage door in the center. When the door rolls down, it unwinds on the drum and rolls up when the door closes.
• Extension springs: Extension springs are located on both sides of the interior part of the garage door, with cables pulling the springs on a wheel attached to an S-hook that pulls and releases tension as the door opens and closes.

Another reason one or both cables could be broken is due to rust that has accumulated on them, making them weak and prone to breakage. You may even mistake the cable for being broken when it’s actually the fixture at the bottom that’s unhinged, leaving the cable hanging loosely.

Where cables are concerned, you want to avoid injury or damage by asking a professional garage door company contractor to assist with replacing them. 

Faulty Springs

Your garage door springs are an important part of your door. They are needed to balance the weight of the door and make it easier to open and close. So, without the springs, you might not even be able to open your garage door.

But the springs that are part of your overall garage door system balance the door in two ways. Balancing the weight of the door is the job of the garage door spring or springs, which are mounted along the top edge of the door. The cables and springs work together and should be inspected as one unit if either is faulty or broken.

If your garage door has a gap on one side or the other when it’s closed, one of the extension springs could be damaged or broken. 

There are a few signs to look out for that could indicate a faulty or damaged torsion spring or even snapped cables:

• The garage door makes a strained sound when it opens and closes.
• The garage door feels heavier and opens slower than usual.
• There’s no resistance when you pull the door down or push it up.
• A popping sound can be heard when the cable is at full tension and the spring breaks.
• Springs are visibly rusty or weak due to the cold and wear and tear.
• The garage door won’t close or open at all.

If you notice any of these, inspect the springs immediately to determine the damage and extent, if any. You want to be safe rather than sorry to avoid the costs involved in repairing the springs. Avoid attempting to fix it yourself, as it’s dangerous and could injure anyone who uses the garage door. It is best to get professional help when replacing the garage door springs.

Damaged Tracks And Rollers

Doors also need to stay evenly balanced in the tracks they roll along. If one side of the door is not in line with the other, the door won’t run smoothly in its tracks. When closed, one side of the door won’t close completely, leaving an open gap. 

Side-mounted extension springs are installed above the horizontal roller tracks on both sides of the door. The extension springs are evenly matched and installed to keep the garage door properly aligned so it runs smoothly along the entire length of the track and closes evenly.

Like with torsion springs, you should look out for signs that your tracks are misaligned or damaged:

• Upon inspection, you will see the tracks are bent or curved out of place when they should be straight and flat.
• A visible gap could cause your rollers to become disconnected from the track.
• Your garage door closes unevenly.

You could try lubricating the tracks if they are not bent or warped to help them operate smoothly. Clean them first to ensure there is no dirt or grime that could jam them. Then apply a small amount of silicone-based lubricant or lithium-based grease inside the tracks. 

Regularly inspecting and greasing all moving parts of your garage door is useful in maintaining it and increasing its longevity. This includes the hinges, chain and belt, springs, and rollers. 

Dirty, Loose, Or Defective Sensor

Although not physically responsible for operating the garage door, the sensor plays a pivotal role in ensuring the opener does its job. If the opener can’t do what it needs to, it affects the rest of the mechanisms needed to operate the door. If you noticed the garage door not closing evenly, it could be linked to the sensor.

Dirty Sensor

The sensors are exposed to more external elements than other parts since they are located close to the ground. Wind and rain blow dirt into your garage, which accumulates and settles on the sensor’s lens. Fortunately, they are easy to clean. Just wipe them with a cloth to remove the dirt obstructing their connection to the remote.

Loose Sensor Or Loose Sensor Wiring

Sometimes the sensor or sensor wiring can get loose, causing the connection to fail. This is also a quick fix — check that they are secured in place correctly and tie any visible wires that are loose.

Defective Sensor

If you have cleaned the sensor and tied any loose wires, but it’s still not working, it could be faulty or defective. This could have happened during installation or someone could have knocked the sensor in passing or when entering or exiting the garage. You might have to get a reliable garage door company contractor to check it out and replace it if necessary. 

Contact Whitby Garage Doors For Garage Door Repair

Repairing your garage door springs can be a dangerous job due to the weight of the door. If you suspect you need to adjust one or both of the extension springs on your door, or one or both of the springs are broken, give us a call at 905-665-8668. We’ll have your door running smoothly soon.

How to Show Your Garage Some Love

How many times have you seen the inside of a garage highlighted in a magazine or website that showcases homes? And if you think about what you would like in your dream home, where does the garage come in?

We’re only asking these questions to highlight the lack of love and respect garages get in most homes. No matter how faithfully it serves you, with that loyal door going up and down a coulpe times a day, asking nothing in return, in the end, garages in most homes are just a place to park your car or throw things that you can’t find a place for elsewhere in your home.

Why You Should Show Your Garage a Little Love

It might be one of the largest single spaces in your home. If you think about the potential of your garage, to be a home gym, games room, office – or anything you imagine – you can start the transition, and open up all the possibilities, by making it a more inviting place to be right now. And here are just a few ways to do that:

1. Shed Some Light

One of the reasons that your garage gets no respect is that’s it’s just too dark. Simply using fluorescent tube lighting would brighten things up, but don’t be afraid to add task lighting if you’re planning something like a work bench.

2. Finish the Floor and Walls

Yet another reason for the garage’s spot at the bottom of the home reno list is its bare concrete floors. Part of the problem is, with the need to handle a car, and anything that might leak from it, whatever you do to the floor needs to be beautiful, tough and easy to clean. There are epoxy and polyuria coatings that’ll stand up to grease and tires and they’re available in a surprisingly wide range of colours.

On the walls, especially if you’re planning something like a playroom, think about insulating them and building a stud wall with drywall to make the garage as comfortable as possible. An insulated garage door would help too.

3. Upgrade Your Storage

Without a proper place for everything, it ends up in a messy pile on the garage floor – which is one more reason that the garage suffers a bad rap. Add shelving, cabinets and overhead storage to keep your garage organized.

If all you do in your garage in brighten it up, paint the walls and get it organized, you’ll be amazed at how different it feels and how much more enjoyment you’ll get from it.

Why Your Garage Door Went ‘Off the Rails’

Considering its weight, size and how often it needs to open and close, the system that supports your garage door and its operation is relatively simple.

First, because it would need too much space to open like a conventional door, your garage door is built with hinged panels that let it roll up and down, as opposed to swinging open and closed.

To make the rolling action happen, the door is connected to a spring that balances its weight, and it has rollers on either side that move along tracks, which essentially keep the door aligned with the opening of the garage and support the door when it’s open.

That’s it.

The only problem with a simple system is that each part of the system plays a major role in how the system works. For your garage door, when one part of that system breaks down, the entire door won’t work.

Why Your Rollers Might Come Off Their Tracks

Obviously, if the rollers that support it can’t do their job, your garage door won’t work. Here are the main reasons why your rollers might come off the rails.

1. The Roller Tracks Go Out of Alignment

Considering your door opens and closes a couple times a day, the roller tracks can be under a lot of stress. Over time, especially if they were even slightly misaligned during installation, the tracks can come so far out of alignment that the rollers on the door will pop out of them.

2. A Lift Cable Stretched or Broke

The lift cables, one located on each side of the door, convey the tension of the torsion spring to the door itself. If one of them frays and stretches or breaks completely, the door won’t open evenly and that could force the rollers from their track.

3. A Roller Wears Out

The constant opening and closing of the door is tough on the rollers too. If a roller breaks, the other rollers might stay in their track for some time, but they are under added stress because they now have more work to do and that stress is somewhat unbalanced. That can put the tracks out of alignment and, you guessed it, force the rollers off the track.

While knowing what caused your rollers to go off the rails won’t help you fix the problem, it will make you aware of what to look for to hopefully prevent the problem from happening. If you do need to fix your garage door rollers and get them back on track, give us a call at Whitby Garage Doors and we’ll have it fixed in a jiffy.

Why Fixing Your Garage Door Shouldn’t be a DIY Project

You’re not one to pay someone else to do something you can do for free. And probably do a better job too. If this is you, and you’re a confirmed DIY specialist, there’s at least one thing that you should probably not fix yourself.

Why it’s So Dangerous to Fix Your Garage Door

Your garage door is the biggest moving part of your home. It’s also usually heavier than most people realize. When you combine its size and weight, that alone makes it something you should think twice about fixing.

But it’s the cause of many garage door problems that should also deter any fixing it yourself.

The size and weight of your door is managed through one of more torsion springs located above the door. The torsion spring was balanced by the garage door installer to make it easier to open and close the door. That’s why people often misjudge the real weight of the door – the spring makes it so easy to open and close.

If you have any problem with opening or closing your door, there’s a good chance it has something to do with the spring, which could either be out of balance or broken.

But fixing or replacing a spring is not a straightforward task. Every garage door has different operating requirements, which means the right torsion spring must be used and it has to be balanced specifically for your door.

If you have a double garage door and one spring breaks, you’ll still need to replace both. Chances are that the springs are the same age and, if one broke, it’s likley that the other one is not going to last that much longer. When you replace two springs, not only do they have to be adjusted to put the door in perfect balance, but they must be balanced to each other to make sure the door opens evenly.

When you combine the balancing needed, on something that is very large and heavy, using specialized tools, and the risk of personal and property damage, it simply isn’t worth the risk to fix your own garage door.

5 Questions to Answer Before You Epoxy Your Garage Floor

So how much salt, sand and dirt does your car drag into your garage in winter? And how easy is it to clean the floor afterwards? In order, your answers to those questions are probably, “a lot” and “not very”.

The problem is that the concrete on most garage floors is porous and the grime from your car can literally sink into it.

But if you gave your floor a coat of epoxy, it could resist anything your car throws at it, even engine oil, to make the floor way easier to clean and much better looking too.

However, before you begin, you need to answer some important questions that can make a big difference in how much work you do and how much enjoyment you get from the new floor.

1. DIY or Hire a Pro?

Yes, you’ve seen the DIY epoxy kits in the store. But that doesn’t mean it’s necessarily an easy project. If you have a large garage or there are any issues with the concrete or floor, the cost of hiring a professional might be worthwhile.

2. Epoxy or Polyurea?

Similar to epoxy, Polyurea finishes are similar to epoxy but they are becoming increasingly popular due to some advantages they offer. Polyurea is more ‘elastic’ than epoxy, it cures faster and is more scratch-resistant. But it’s about three times more costly too.

3. How Porous is the Concrete?

If it is very smooth or coated with a sealant, you’ll need to grind the surface to increase porosity before applying the epoxy.

4. Are There Cracks in the Floor?

If yes and they are too wide for the finish to cover completely, you’ll need to clean them out and fill them with sealant.

5. What Will You Do With Everything in Your Garage?

You’ll need to empty your garage before beginning the project, and it can take many days to prepare the floor, apply the epoxy and let it cure. You’ll need to find space for the contents of your garage, either somewhere in your home, or through a short-term storage space rental.

Some of these are not easy questions to answer, which might need more research on your part. But once you do find the answers, you’ll be well on your way to having a great looking and highly durable garage floor.

The Most Common Reasons Why Your Garage Door May Need Replacing

When Garage Door Replacement is a More Cost-Effective Option than Repairs

Despite their size or cost, and notwithstanding the amount of care and maintenance they receive, any devices or pieces of equipment that are used routinely and repeatedly will simply not last forever. Just ask anyone who has ever purchased anything from a home appliance to a vehicle and they can likely chronicle how long they owned the item before its performance began to decline and ultimately failed completely.

Under these circumstances, and often in direct proportion to the size of the investment, these owners would at first likely pursue the repair route; this would certainly be the less expensive option and it can result in extending the lifespan of their purchase. Eventually however, the cost of repairs might outweigh the benefits of any prolonged performance, to the point when it becomes a situation of throwing good money after bad; hence from a financial perspective alone, it would be a more prudent decision to replace the faulty or defective item entirely.

This model also applies to garage doors. In most cases, professional repair services like those provided by Whitby Garage Doors, will be sufficient to return a garage door to its optimal working condition, thus extending the door’s lifecycle and saving the homeowner the cost of replacement. Unfortunately, as in the case of an appliance, a vehicle, or any other type of device/equipment, there will be times when garage door replacement may be the better course of action.

Some of the more common reasons why a garage door might need replacing include:

• Residual damage from a broken spring/snapped cables
• Panel damage such as rotting, corrosion, dents, or holes
• Splintering or cracks around the perimeter (wooden doors)
• Age, wear-and-tear, and/or lack of maintenance or neglect
• Shaking or banging sounds while the garage door is in motion
• Door is bent/warped and does not open/close smoothly or fully

To determine whether their garage door needs repair or replacement, homeowners in Durham Region can rely on the expertise of Whitby Garage Doors. The technicians from Whitby Garage Doors are trained and experienced in assessing any immediate issues in relation to the age/overall condition of a garage door; based on this inspection, they will be able to recommend the most appropriate and cost-effective course of action.

Replacing Garage Doors Offers Numerous Benefits to Durham Region Residents

As suggested above, the time for replacing a garage door might be dictated by the door itself, i.e. by its age, condition, and/or diminished performance. At other times however, the decision in favour of a garage door replacement may be the result of personal choice rather than necessity.

Many different factors can influence Whitby and Durham Region homeowners to replace their current garage door – these would include changes in such dynamics as:

• Modern styles
• Contemporary colours
• Technological advancements

In turn, choosing to replace a garage door at their own discretion could provide area homeowners with one or more of the following benefits:

• Enhanced curb appeal
• Better energy efficiency
• Less maintenance time/costs
• Increased property/resale value
• Improved home security measures
• More efficient street-noise reduction
• Compatibility with newer door openers
• Potential discount on home insurance rates

Regardless of the reason or reasons, when Durham Region homeowners opt to replace their current garage door they are also making a substantial investment in their home as well as their lifestyle and personal safety. To help achieve the maximum return on their investment, they will need and want the installation of the new door to be completed in a most professional manner; to this end, they can count on the team from Whitby Garage Doors.

Whitby Garage Doors distributes and installs a wide range of garage door styles from all of the leading manufacturers, allowing homeowners to find the right garage door that suits their needs and budget. And the skilled technicians from Whitby Garage Doors will ensure that the new door is properly installed, so that its appearance and benefits can be enjoyed both immediately and well into the future.

For further information on the full range of garage doors distributed and installed by the team from Whitby Garage Doors, please go to https://whitbygaragedoors.com/products/

Whether you need or want to replace your garage door, call the specialists from Whitby Garage Doors today at 905-441-1512 or contact us at [email protected] to request a complimentary consultation.

Signs That Your Garage Door May Need a Tune-Up

A Garage Door Tune-Up Can Prevent Unnecessary Damage and Costly Repairs

The vast majority of vehicle owners pay particular attention to the maintenance schedule for their car/truck. Oil and filter changes, tire rotations, and belt replacements are done at milestone dates or distances traveled as suggested by the vehicle manufacturer; and if these owners suspect, feel, or hear that something seems amiss under the hood, they will act swiftly to book a service appointment with a licensed mechanic.

From all angles, this responsibility for vehicle care makes sense; a car/truck represents a significant financial investment, and routine servicing/tune-ups play an important role in protecting and extending the life of that asset. Furthermore, proper vehicle maintenance can also contribute to driver safety, for the vehicle owner and those who share the road.

But for vehicle owners who are also homeowners, why is this degree of maintenance and care not routinely or even automatically extended to the garage door? In fact, many of these same homeowners pay very little heed to their garage door until something goes awry and a service call becomes a necessity.

Though some have described a garage door as a large object or wall that just moves up and down, it too should be considered a major investment, in parallel fashion to a truck or car, and this door should therefore be given its due attention in order to:

• Prolong/extend its lifecycle
• Maintain optimal performance
• Ensure homeowner safety/security

Similar to a vehicle owner having suspicions that something is not right with their motor, there are several signs that are indicative of a garage door in need of a tune-up; these might include:

• Unusual or peculiar sounds/noises when the door is in motion
• Resistance or heaviness felt when trying to open door manually
• Door bumps and bangs rather than moving up or down smoothly
• Door falls heavily or even bounces off the floor when it is lowered
• Rollers vibrate, jam, stick, or slip as they move within their tracks
• Door opener makes straining noise/struggles as door opens or closes
• Door does not raise or lower symmetrically/equivalently on both sides

When homeowners become aware of one or more of the above circumstances, it would be prudent to call upon a garage door services provider like Whitby Garage Doors. The trained technicians from Whitby Garage Doors can readily identify the source of the issue or problem, and complete any maintenance or repairs necessary to rectify the situation.

Additionally, Whitby Garage Doors can perform an overall garage door tune-up to ensure that the door and its parts are all in optimal working order. By investing in these types of garage door services, homeowners can also prevent unnecessary damage to the door and likely expensive repairs or even door replacement costs.

Our Professional Garage Door Services Include a Comprehensive Door Tune-Up

When garage door maintenance is neglected or only performed on an infrequent basis, it can have serious repercussions beyond the inconvenience of a malfunctioning door or a faulty automatic door opener. There are also factors relative to personal safety, family security, contents protection, and unexpected expenses that can and will come into play.

Homeowners can alleviate most/all of these concerns by engaging Whitby Garage Doors to perform a garage door tune-up on an annual, if not semi-annual schedule – much like the regular service schedule that is recommended for a new vehicle. When performing a garage door tune-up, Whitby Garage Doors technicians will address the following:

• Inspecting and tightening all hardware if/as required
• Studying the door panels for signs of rot or weakness
• Assessing the tracks for dents, twists, or misalignments
• Cleaning all cables and checking for frayed/broken strands
• Cleaning the spring and ensuring that it has the proper tension
• Lubricating the rollers and examining for cracks, bending, or tilting
• Lubricating the door opener and certifying the stability of the tracking

The importance of keeping a garage door and all of its parts in optimal working condition cannot be overstated, and a vital component to ensuring its peak performance is a tune-up on a regular basis by an expert garage door services provider such as Whitby Garage Doors.

For further information on the full range of garage door services provided by the skilled technicians from Whitby Garage Doors, visit to our Services page.

For all of your garage door service needs, including garage door tune-ups, maintenance, and repairs, call the experts from Whitby Garage Doors at 905-441-1512 or contact us at [email protected] to schedule an appointment today.

What To Do If Your Garage Door Opener is Broken

Possible Steps for Confirming and Repairing a Broken Garage Door Opener

Most homeowners who have installed an automatic garage door opener will attest to the fact that these devices are quite reliable and, in many cases, will wonder aloud why they waited so long before making the decision to add this convenience to their daily routines. Furthermore, a vast majority of these homeowners will likely state that their garage door opener has been in place for a number of years, and used several times a day, with little to no issues or concerns.

In fact, it is the dependability of a garage door opener that can become the issue, in the sense that homeowners may grow complacent with its performance. Until one day, and perhaps at the most inopportune time, their garage door opener fails to respond and the homeowner is left somewhat dazed and confused.

Now they may wonder aloud how and why this happened; they could regroup sufficiently and try changing the batteries in the remote, but if this has no effect, they may come to a dire realization that their very reliable garage door opener just may actually be broken. All may not be lost, however; homeowners might want to try the following steps to make sure that they do indeed have a broken garage door opener:

• Check the power supply – is the breaker tripped?
• Test all remotes in case just the main one is faulty
• Change all batteries in all remotes and test them again
• Check to see if the door opener responds to the wall switch
• Unplug then reconnect the power supply to reset the opener

If the garage door opener fails to function after the homeowner attempts all of the above steps, it would be a reasonable assumption that there is a problem/issue with the device or one of its component parts. Once again though, there are some basic repairs that the homeowner might consider and attempt in a do-it-yourself fashion. These could include:

• Cleaning or replacing the safety sensors
• Replacing the circuit board for their specific device
• Changing the gear-sprocket assembly on the drive shaft
• Investigating and, if necessary, replacing loose/damaged wires

Conversely, if a homeowner suspects that they have a broken garage door opener but cannot identify the cause of the problem, they can call upon the insight and expertise of a garage door repair service provider such as Whitby Garage Doors. Trained technicians from Whitby Garage Doors will be able to quickly and accurately diagnose the reason for the failure or malfunction and remedy the situation to minimize any inconvenience to the homeowner and their family members.

If you would prefer to have a trained technician service your broken garage door opener, contact Whitby Garage Doors at either 905-441-1512 or [email protected] to schedule a service call at your convenience.

Some Garage Door Repairs Will Require the Expertise of Trained Professionals

Sometimes, when a garage door opener does not operate as expected, it may be due to a problem with the actual door itself or one of its component parts. In these instances, activating the door opener can result in far more extensive damage, albeit inadvertently, and in rather expensive repairs or perhaps even full replacement costs.

Several door-related or parts-related factors can contribute to the failure/malfunction of a garage door opener. These could consist of:

• Snapped or loose cables
• Broken or weakened spring
• Door jammed or out of alignment
• Damaged or bent rollers or tracking
• Incorrect horsepower to support door weight

For any such circumstances, homeowners would be well-advised to contract the services of a garage door repairs specialist, like a trained technician from Whitby Garage Doors, rather than attempting any do-it-yourself repairs. This would be particularly applicable to those situations involving a garage door spring, whether directly or indirectly, due to the risk factors that can/will come into play when working with any devices requiring a high degree of tension.

For more information on the complete range of garage door repairs provided by Whitby Garage Doors, including the assessment and repair of broken garage door openers, go to our Services page.

For professional repairs of a broken garage door opener, call the specialists from Whitby Garage Doors today at 905-441-1512 to schedule a service call from one of our skilled technicians.

What To Do When Your Garage Door Has a Broken Panel

Removing & Replacing Broken Garage Door Panel

It would be safe to say that very few products will actually last forever, despite the best efforts of the manufacturer or the quality of the material. Some construction can indeed endure for centuries, such as Stonehenge or the Egyptian pyramids, but unfortunately, a homeowner cannot expect any such longevity from their appliances, furnishings, or other amenities.

With this reality in mind, consumers still retain certain expectations about durability and performance whenever they invest their hard-earned money in any type of merchandise or product. Regardless of the item or the amount invested, people simply want value in return, and will often take whatever steps they deem necessary to protect or extend the lifespans of their purchases – vehicles, swimming pools, furnaces, and valuables are just a few of the items that come to mind.

A parallel mindset can also be applied to a homeowner’s investment in their garage door. Due to its constant exposure to the elements, as well as its repetitive use, a garage door can be subjected to wear-and-tear; yet with regular and timely maintenance and repair, its longevity can be prolonged, and thereby continue to deliver its return on investment.

One of the common needs for garage door repair stems from damaged or broken panels. Regardless of their composition, there are several reasons why garage door panels can warp or sustain cracks, dents, or holes – these would include:

• General aging and deterioration of the door
• Parts failures – broken springs, cables, hinges
• Lack of maintenance (especially wooden doors)
• Quality of the material; quality of door installation
• Amount of direct exposure to the sun/the elements
• Impact damage, as a result of encounters with:
  • Family members
  • Vehicles, bicycles
  • Wind-blown debris
  • Hockey pucks, baseballs
  • Power tools, step ladders, etc.

Fortunately, the majority of such damage can be repaired without the need to invest in an entirely new garage door. Through the expert repair services offered by the team at Whitby Garage Doors, broken or otherwise compromised garage door panels can usually be removed and replaced right on the premises.

It should be noted, however, that the age and style of the garage door could complicate matters somewhat, especially in relation to matching the exact colour of any new panels to that of the original door. In such cases, it would essentially mean that the entire door might need to be repainted or re-stained, hence indirectly adding to the ultimate cost of the repair for the homeowner.

Include a Full Garage Door Inspection When Repairing Broken Garage Door Panels

Although the removal and replacement of broken or damaged garage door panels can be a relatively straightforward process, it will also require the removal and reinstallation of the garage door springs. The springs are designed to operate under high tension, which in turn should be taken out of the equation, so to speak, for reasons of technician safety and to facilitate the overall repair process (the door must be in the down/closed position while the work is being completed).

As noted above, a faulty spring could be the root cause of a broken or damaged garage door panel, and as a result, both issues would need to be addressed. Because the repair technician will already be on site, it might be prudent to also include a full garage door inspection as part of the overall service call.

This would permit a complete assessment of the condition and operation of the door and determine whether any other damage has occurred. It would also allow the technician to recommend and/or perform any additional repairs or preventative maintenance to further extend the lifecycle of the door.

A garage door inspection by Whitby Garage Doors will assess the state of the following:

• Springs
• Hardware
• Cables/Pulleys
• Tracking/Rollers
• Energy Efficiency
• Weather Stripping
• Garage Door Opener

For further information on the garage door repair and maintenance services provided by Whitby Garage Doors, including the replacement of broken/damaged garage door panels and complete garage door inspections, visit our Services Page.

If your garage door has any broken or compromised panels and is in need of professional repair services, call the experts at Whitby Garage Doors today at (905) 441-1512 to request a no-obligation consultation and quote.