Your garage door impacts your home’s visual appeal and security, so when something goes wrong, you should never procrastinate with repairs. The machinery gets used a lot, and eventually, things break down. Maybe it’s a broken spring or motor, or perhaps a sensor fails, and your door won’t open.
You might have physical damage to the door. Damage to garage doors can happen in various ways, from hitting them with your car to banging into them with the lawnmower or a bicycle. Tree limbs can dent them, as can a stray basketball. Some people accidentally close the door on an object higher than the sensor can detect, which often happens when loading a truck with extended objects. Panels can warp from temperature fluctuations too.
Regardless of how the damage occurred, you don’t always need to replace the whole garage door when physical damage happens. Instead, garage door panel replacement may be the best option. Such replacement is dangerous, however, and should only be attempted by a professional. Here’s a guide to help you understand how your garage door works and why you should get your panel replaced.
How Many Panels Does a Garage Door Have?
Image via Flickr by dr.coop
Every garage door has at least four panels and could have six or more. These panels run the length of the door horizontally and connect via hinges that allow them to bend around the corner at the ceiling in your garage. They sit within a track that keeps them in position.
The top panel attaches to the pulley system that raises and lowers the door. The next panel attaches to the bottom of this panel and to the panel beneath it until you reach the last panel. The final panel will have a rubberized bottom attached to it to seal the door from the weather. This bottom panel has the greatest risk of damage as it gets closed on objects or gets banged into by things due to its low position.
How to Measure a Garage Door Panel
You need to measure the length of the panel from end to end. Never measure the width of the garage opening. Measurements typically run in whole numbers. You’ll need to measure the height of your panel too. Standard sizes are 18, 21, and 24 inches, but you may have a specialty door. Last, you need to measure the thickness of your panel. Common sizes are 1-3/8 and 2 inches.
Where is the Brand Name on a Garage Door Panel Located?
Most manufacturers put a sticker on one end of the bottom or top panel where the rollers meet the track. With any luck, your sticker will include the brand name, panel style, color, serial number, and measurements. It should also have a phone number or website to call or visit to order parts or service.
If you can’t find this information, you will have to find who installed the doors. If you don’t know who installed the doors, it’s time to call a professional garage door replacement panel company like us at Overhead Garage Door.
How Much Does Garage Door Panel Replacement Cost?
A garage door replacement panel’s cost varies by size and material but typically costs less than $200. You should never attempt to fix it yourself, though, as it could be dangerous. We’re here to help; at Overhead Garage Door, we handle all types of panel replacement and machinery repair and maintenance, plus we install whole new doors and systems. We encourage you to contact us to learn more about our products and services.
We have proudly served the Chicagoland area for over 50 years. There isn’t a door out there that we haven’t worked on, and our selection of brand-name new doors will please the most discriminating tastes. You can contact us, and one of our friendly, knowledgeable staff will be happy to answer any questions you may have. We also offer 24/7 emergency service. If your garage door malfunctions for any reason, we’ll send someone out right away to fix the problem. We are fast and friendly and reasonably priced.