It is always a good idea to visually inspect your garage periodically, looking for loose, damaged or frayed cables, the smoothness of the garage door’s raising and lowering, and the movement of the wheels and rollers with the track, as well as the door opener chain or belt. It is also a good idea to check the garage door’s safety features such as the automatic reverse and stop features. However, routine maintenance of our garage doors is not something that we typically consider, until we need garage door repairs, and despite our best efforts problems can still occur.
The functionality of the overhead garage door depends primarily on the force of its springs, to raise and lower the weight of the door. With tremendous force within those springs, should the door encounter a problem within the track or belt system while raising or lowering, the power of the garage door spring can still force the door to open or shut. This can cause the garage door to suddenly buckle. When a garage door buckles, damage occurs to the door; in that one or more of its panels become bent and unmovable.
Of course, you’ll want to call your local garage door service company immediately to make arrangements for garage door repairs. You should know, however, that it may not be necessary to replace your entire garage door; it is usually possible to simply replace and install the damaged portion or panel of the door. This can be done relatively easily and at a much lower cost that replacing the entire door. Some painting or staining may be required to match the newer panel to the remaining older, weathered, part of the garage door but it is doable.
