Garage Door Replacement Costs
As a kid, I was fascinated with our remote-controlled garage door. I loved to hit the buttons and watch the doors go up and down. (Of course, this led to it breaking and my dad yelling at me. Good thing he had a home warranty in place.) Now as an adult homeowner with mischievous kids, I can identify with his frustration.
Here’s what I found:
Costs of the door itself
It's important to point out that in most cases, the garage door isn't specifically the most expensive thing when you're having it installed or replaced. The door itself can cost as little as $200 as an a la carte purchase from the hardware store, though the bill can jump up as high as $4,000 if you need to buy two or more doors for a multi-car garage.
Materials are the main thing that affects the price tag of a garage door. The models made of wood or composite wood are most often the costliest options. Other options include aluminum, which is strongly rust-resistant and thus ideal for homes in humid climates, and steel, which can be fairly inexpensive or on the higher-priced side depending on whether you seek out an insulated and multi-layered door or not.
The door's mechanism also plays a role: For example, models that tilt up on hinges will be much cheaper than the "sectional" garage doors that roll up. These are also better suited to older home designs than the modern layouts you're more likely to see. Simply put, price shouldn't be your only consideration when you're buying a new or replacement door.
Installation pricing
There are a lot of different factors involved in installing a garage door. For one, the opening mechanism must be mounted on the garage's ceiling and connected to the home's electrical system, as well as the joints (or track and rollers) that actually move the door, which makes it necessary to have a reasonably strong knowledge of electrical wiring and carpentry.
If you have all of those skills, it's possible to install everything on your own, but since it's a relatively delicate operation, you will probably be better off hiring a professional. (Also, according to Fixr.com, garage door installation is generally considered a two-person job because of how complicated it would be for one person to juggle everything the process requires - including the heavy door itself. On average, DIY homeowners may take nine hours to complete all of the necessary tasks, whereas professionals can usually get it done in five hours.)
Warranty protection options
Having a home warranty plan in place before breakdowns occur is always a smart idea. For example, having a TotalHome Warranty Appliances Plan from HomeServe can provide some peace of mind. This covers components and parts of the garage door opener for up to $1,500 a year, spread across as many service calls as you need.
And don't forget: You can receive more peace of mind for covered repairs on other household appliances and systems when you prepare with a TotalHome Warranty Combo Plan.
Find out what TotalHome Warranty plans are available in your area!
