A damaged garage door section doesn’t always require replacing the entire door. You may be able to repair the damage or replace just that section.
Whether to repair the section, replace it, or install a new door depends on where the damage is, how extensive it is, the condition of the entire garage door, and what each option will cost.
What Determines Whether a Damaged Section Can Be Repaired?
Surface damage, such as scratches or small dents, may only need cosmetic repairs. However, sharp bends, cracks, or damage around hinges and brackets may weaken the section or interfere with the door’s operation.
Here’s what can be done about some of the most common types of damage.
- Scratches and chipped paint: Touch-up paint or refinishing may be all that’s needed if the underlying material is intact. Surface rust can also be removed and the affected area refinished if it hasn’t significantly damaged the metal.
- Shallow dents: Minor dents in some steel sections can be reshaped, depending on how the section is built and whether the damaged area can be reached. If the dent can’t be repaired properly, it may be left alone if it’s only cosmetic, or the section can be replaced for appearance.
- Deep creases, cracks, or buckling: In some cases, a bent or buckled section can be straightened and reinforced with struts. If the damage is too extensive for a sound repair, the section may need to be replaced.
- Damage around hinges, joints, or brackets: Damaged hinges or brackets can often be replaced without replacing the section. But if the attachment points are torn or can no longer hold the hardware securely, the section may need replacing.
Damage near the bottom brackets is more concerning, since that’s where the lifting cables attach. A significant impact can damage more than one garage door section, as well as the tracks, hinges, rollers, and garage jambs. If the impact leaves the door off its tracks or stuck open, emergency garage door repair may be necessary.
If the door is crooked, buckled, or looks unstable, stop using it until a technician from a licensed garage door repair company has inspected it.
The door’s material and construction also affect which repairs are possible. For example, a dent in a single-layer steel section may be easier to repair than similar damage to an insulated, multi-layer steel or wood section.
When Can Just the Damaged Section Be Replaced?
Many sectional garage doors are designed with separate sections that can be replaced individually, without installing an entirely new door. The main challenge is finding a replacement that fits and works properly with the existing sections.
Matching the section’s width and height isn’t enough. The replacement must also have a compatible thickness, construction, joint profile, and hardware mounting points. Its weight matters too, since changing the door’s weight can affect the spring system.
Manufacturers may discontinue older models. Even when a replacement section is still available, some design details may have changed, such as:
- Design and layout: The arrangement and spacing of the decorative elements.
- Windows: The size of the windows and the design of their inserts.
- Surface texture: Differences in wood-grain patterns or smooth finishes.
Even an exact replacement may look different next to the existing sections. After several years of exposure to sunlight and weather, the paint or finish on the original sections may have faded. The new section may come with a factory finish that doesn’t match the existing sections.
A garage door technician can check the door’s make and model to see if a compatible replacement section is available. If one is available, they can check how soon it can be delivered and schedule the installation.
When Does Replacing the Entire Garage Door Make More Sense?
Replacing the entire garage door may make more sense in these situations:
- Multiple damaged sections: When two or more sections need replacing, the combined cost of parts, labor, and additional repairs can approach or exceed the installed price of a new door. On a custom or higher-priced door, however, replacing only the damaged sections may still cost less.
- Poor condition of the remaining sections: If the other sections are badly rusted, cracked, or deteriorating around the joints, replacing the entire garage door may be more practical than repairing or replacing each section separately.
- Unavailable replacement sections: If a damaged section can’t be repaired and compatible replacements are no longer available, the entire door may need to be replaced, even if the other sections are still in good condition.
What Should You Compare?
Two estimates can have very different prices if they don’t include the same work or materials. Check whether parts, labor, additional repairs, adjustments, and removal of old materials are included in the quoted price or charged separately.
Before you agree to the work, also check the following:
- Appearance: Will the repaired area or replacement section match the existing garage door, or will additional painting or refinishing be needed?
- Availability: If replacement sections need to be ordered, how long will delivery and installation take?
- Warranty: What parts and labor are covered, and for how long?
Under California’s SB 969 law, a replacement residential garage door cannot be connected to an existing opener that lacks the required battery backup. If the door opener needs replacing, that cost should also be considered when comparing repair and replacement options.
Garage Door Section Repair and Replacement
Need to repair or replace a damaged garage door section in Orange County and South LA? Visit our Garage Door Panel Repair & Replacement service page to request an inspection and estimate.
Call us today or contact us online to schedule service.
