Garage Door Panel Replacement: Your Guide to Repair or Replace

Mehr’s Garage Doors is the best garage door service in St. George, Utah, and we know how important your garage door is to your house’s functionality, safety, and curb appeal. As your garage door panels deteriorate over time or sustain unexpected damage, you may wonder whether garage door panel repair or replacement is the best course of action. 

In this detailed guide, we’ll go over the most important things you need to consider to make an informed choice and return your garage door to how it looked.

Signs Your Garage Door Panels Need Repair or Replacement

Your garage door is more than just a wall between your home and the outside world. It’s a complicated system with many moving parts that need to work together perfectly to do its job. It’s crucial for you as a homeowner to know the signs that your garage door panels might need some work:

1. Visible Damage: Dents, cracks, rust, or warping on garage door panels are apparent signs that a repair or replacement is required. These flaws not only make your home look bad, but they can also weaken the door’s structure.
2. Difficulty opening or closing: If your garage door stutters, jerks, or doesn’t open and close quickly, the panels may be damaged. Your garage door opener and other parts may experience undue stress from misaligned or defective panels, which could result in more expensive fixes.
3. Cosmetic issues: Even if your garage door works properly, old or unattractive panels can make your home look less appealing from the street. Replacing dated or broken panels can have a big impact on whether you’re thinking about selling your home or just want to improve its aesthetic value.

If you see any of these signs, you should determine the extent of the damage and discuss your repair or replacement choices.

Factors to Consider When Deciding Between Repair and Replacement

When deciding whether to repair or replace your broken garage door panel, there are some essential things to consider:

1. Age and lifespan: Depending on how often it is used and how well it is taken care of, the standard garage door lasts 20 to 25 years. If the damage isn’t too bad and the door isn’t too old, repair may be the best way to save money. Getting a total replacement may be better if your door is near the end of its useful life.
2. Extent and cause of damage: Minor dents, scratches, or rust spots can frequently be repaired without replacing the entire panel. However, replacement may be necessary to ensure your door’s structural integrity if the damage is widespread or results from a significant impact (like a car accident).
3. Availability of matching panels: If your garage door is older, finding replacement panels that match the ones you already have can be challenging. Some styles or colors may no longer be made by the company, which makes it hard to make a seamless repair. Changing the whole door might be the best way to keep the look consistent.
4. Cost comparison: Depending on the damage and the materials used, repairing a single garage door panel can cost anywhere from $250 to $700. On the other hand, a full garage door replacement costs about $1,000 on average. At first, repair might seem cheaper, but consider how much a new, better garage door will be worth in the long run.
5. Safety and security concerns: A broken garage door panel can make your home less safe and secure. Replacement is the responsible option if the damage is bad enough to make it easy to get into your garage or put your family in danger.
6. Energy efficiency and appearance upgrades: If you’re already considering garage door panel replacement, now might be a good time to buy a new door with better insulation, more up-to-date safety features, and a more modern look. These improvements can make your home safer, more energy efficient, and look better from the street.

At Mehr’s Garage Doors, our skilled technicians will carefully check the condition of your garage door panels and advise you on the best way to handle your case.

DIY Garage Door Panel Repair Tips for Minor Damage

If the damage to your garage door panels isn’t too bad, you might be able to fix the door panel yourself with these easy tools and methods:

1. Wood filler and paint: Wood filler can quickly and easily fix minor dents, cracks, or holes in wooden garage door panels. Just put the filler on the damaged area, wait for it to dry, sand it smooth, and paint over it to make it look like it was never there.
2. Paintable caulk: Paintable caulk is frequently used to repair tiny cracks or holes in metal or vinyl garage door paneling. First, clean up the area around the damage. Then, use a caulking tool to smooth out the glue. Once it’s dry, paint over the glue to match the rest of the panel.
3. Aluminum foil and heat: To fix minor dents in metal garage door panels, use a hairdryer or heat gun to apply heat to the hole and cover it with aluminum foil. Metal will often pop out of the dent because of the heat.

These do-it-yourself methods can work for minor fixes, but knowing when to call a professional is essential. You should get help from a reputable garage door service like Mehr’s Garage Doors if the damage is significant, stops your garage door from working, or risks your home’s safety.

How to Change a Garage Door Panel: What to Expect

When you work with the professionals at Mehr’s Garage Doors, you can expect the following if you decide that garage door panel replacement is the best choice for your home:

1. Customized solutions: We know that each house and garage door is different. Our team will work closely with you to create a panel replacement option that perfectly complements your current door in style, color, and material.
2. High-quality materials: Because we work with the best makers in the business and the best makers in the industry, you can choose. We can help you select the ideal material for your home’s needs and aesthetic, from traditional wood to low-maintenance vinyl to energy-efficient insulated steel.
3. Expert installation: Our skilled techs have years of experience with garage door panel replacement, so you can rest assured that the job will be done correctly and quickly. We’ll carefully measure your space, remove your old panels, and carefully install your new ones, paying close attention to every detail.
4. Timely completion: We recognize how disruptive a garage door panel replacement can be, so we work to finish the job as quickly as possible without compromising quality. We can replace your panels in just one day so that it won’t affect your daily life too much.
5. Competitive pricing: At Mehr’s Garage Doors, good work and low prices should go hand in hand. For our garage door panel replacement services, we offer reasonable prices so that you get the most for your money.

No worries. Thanks to our professional advice and skilled work, your garage door panel replacement will be a stress-free and satisfying experience.

Extending the Life of Your Garage Door Panels with Proper Care

A garage door panel repair or replacement is essential to keeping your home in good shape. Follow these important care tips to make sure your panels look and work their best for years to come:

1. Prompt damage repair: If you see any damage to your garage door panels, you should immediately fix them. In the long run, ignoring minor problems can lead to more significant, expensive fixes.
2. Regular maintenance: Mehr’s Garage Doors can do a professional tune-up and check off your panels and other garage door parts once a year to keep them in great shape. Our experts will grease any moving parts, tighten any hardware, and look for any problems that might happen before they get worse.
3. DIY cleaning: If you want to clean your garage door panels yourself, use a soft-bristled brush, light soap, and water to clean them regularly. Make sure to rinse well, and don’t use harsh chemicals or high-pressure sprayers on the panel finish; they can damage it.
4. Preventive measures: Simple preventative steps can help you avoid many problems with your garage door panels. Teach your family to be careful when they handle the door, not to hit it with cars or other things, and never to try to open it when something is in the way.

If you follow these care tips and work with the professionals at Mehr’s Garage Doors, you can make your garage door panels last longer and have a beautiful, helpful door for many years.

Conclusion

Your garage door is integral to your home’s usefulness, safety, and curb appeal; broken panels can worsen all three. By knowing the signs of damaged panels, weighing the pros and cons of repair vs. replacement, and following the care and maintenance instructions, you can make an informed choice that will keep your garage door looking and working great.

Mehr’s Garage Doors is dedicated to offering the people of St. George top-notch garage door services, such as skilled panel repair and replacement. Thanks to our expert advice, high-quality products, and professional work, you can trust that the whole process will go smoothly without any problems.

Contact Mehr’s Garage Doors immediately if you have broken garage door panels or just want to improve the look and function of your door. Our helpful, experienced staff is ready to answer your questions, figure out what you need, and offer custom solutions to make your home look better, keep it safe, and increase its value.