replacing and/or decorating your front door

You thought that your garage door would last a lifetime, but it's starting to show signs of age. Unfortunately, your idea of a lifetime and your garage door's idea of a lifetime might be two very different things. If your garage door has decided that it's lifetime is coming to a close, it's time to start planning for a replacement. If you're trying to wait until the last possible moment, you might not want to wait too much longer for that replacement, especially if your current door is displaying any of the signs described below.

Your Springs Don't Fit Right

Take a look at the torsion springs attached to your garage door. In order to provide the right amount of pull and protection, your springs should fit snugly. That means when you grasp them, you shouldn't be able to move them around. If your springs aren't fitting properly or they appear to have too much play in them, your garage door may not be fitting properly anymore. This is particularly true if you have an aging door. The door could have shifted in the frame, or it may have warped due to exposure to the elements. Either way, if your springs are no longer fitting properly, it's time for a new door.

You're Experiencing More Frequent Jams

Warping, bowing, and shrinkage can do more than just cause the springs to fit improperly. Warping, bowing, and shrinkage can also cause your garage door to jam more frequently. That's because it's no longer fitting properly in the door frame, which means it's no longer moving along the tracks properly. When that happens, there's only one solution; you need to replace your garage door.

There's Visible Vibration During Opening and Closing

If there's a whole lot of shaking going on when you open and close the door, it's time get a new door. Your garage door should move smoothly along the tracks, and there should be little, to no, vibration. If your garage door is vibrating so much that it looks like it might jump the track, you're going to need to have the entire system looked at. You might have a problem that involves the door, the tracks, and the motor.

Your Door is Slipping

If you have an automatic garage door, it shouldn't slip when it's partially opened. That means that if you open the door halfway, it should stay in that position until you push the button again. If your garage door is slipping, you've got a problem that will require immediate attention.

For more information about evaluating your garage door and for help with replacement, contact a professional overhead door company, such as Anderson Door Co Of Michigan.