Some would rather get out the toolbox and try their hand at repairing their broken garage door than pay a garage door technician to do the job. At first glance, it may seem like the frugal option, but is it truly wise to attempt to repair your garage door on your own if you’re not a certified professional? Before you begin your next DIY garage door repair project, ask yourself the following questions.
What skills does the repair require?
If you don’t have the skillset required to make the repair, it can land you in the ER. Garage doors are very heavy and have high-tension springs and cables that can cause serious damage or injury to anything or anyone nearby if they snap. Besides being dangerous, attempting a garage door repair that you’re not equipped to perform could do more harm than good. It takes an entire system of parts functioning together properly to open and close a garage door. If you do a sloppy, incomplete, or incompetent job, you could cause further damage, which could cost you much more than you initially bargained for.
What tools and materials do you need to make the repair?
Some repairs require special tools that you may not have and may be expensive to purchase. You could borrow or rent tools for a job, but if you don’t know how to use them, you’re still out of luck; don’t take unnecessary risks experimenting with new tools. Additionally, you’ll likely need to pick out materials or parts to replace broken ones. If you’re an amateur, you may not choose the best option. Only proceed with a DIY project if you’re knowledgeable enough and confident in your abilities.
How much time will it take you?
Good technicians are experienced, highly knowledgeable, and know what to look for when inspecting or repairing a garage door. Do you? It's highly likely that a technician could make the repair much more quickly than you can. Decide if the valuable time it takes you to perform the repair on your own is worth the money you might save.
Will you void your warranty?
Many garage doors, when installed, come with a manufacturer's warranty that requires repairs to be made by a certified technician. If you try to make repairs on your own, you could void your warranty, and it won't cover future damage or defects.
When it comes to garage door repair, safety is our first priority. We don’t want to see anyone get hurt attempting to make a repair on their own when they could have easily picked up the phone and called us to do it for them. If you need a garage door repair in Des Moines or elsewhere in Central Iowa, contact us! WD Door is a locally owned Ankeny company, and we would be happy to offer you a free quote for your project.
