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Is your garage door creaking and groaning when you open it or falling off its tracks? That means you’re in for an expensive garage door replacement sometime soon. 

Fortunately, you can console yourself with the knowledge that replacing your garage door adds value to your home. 

According to the latest cost-vs-value report, replacing your garage door can yield a 94.5% return on investment when you sell your house.

So, if you manage to save on some of the cost of garage door replacement by hiring a professional to install your door, you might even profit from the exercise.

To help you figure out where you can save, read about what’s involved in garage door replacement cost. 

Factors Affecting the Cost of Garage Door Replacement

The type of garage door you opt for has a major effect on the cost to replace a garage door. Homeowners can opt for various styles of garage doors like:

  • Tilt- or swing-up doors
  • Swing-out doors
  • Sectional or roll-up doors
  • Sliding doors

The various mechanisms involved in these types of doors vary greatly in cost and they’ll also incur different labor costs. The most expensive types include French doors, carriage doors, and walk-through doors. Tilt-up and roll-ups designs come in at a lower price point.

The thicker your door, the greater the costs to install it. Single-layer doors are the cheapest although you’ll have to replace them sooner than the more expensive double- and triple-layer varieties.

Likewise, the cost to replace a double garage door outstrips the costs involved in buying and installing a new single door.

Automated doors cost almost twice as much as manual doors since they require a lot more equipment and specialized technicians. 

Materials Impact the Costs to Replace Your Garage Door

Garage door materials greatly impact costs. Custom-made wooden doors cost the most, while wood composite, vinyl, and steel doors are the cheapest.

A customized door can cost up to $10,000, while you’ll pay from $400 to $2,600 for a standard aluminum door.

Other material costs like shatterproof glass, multiple colors, and trim also add dollars to your final bill. Garage doors with hurricane-proof ratings cost a lot more than standard glass doors. 

Garage Door Insulation Costs

Some of the cheaper materials will need added insulation to regulate temperatures inside your garage, otherwise, they can affect your energy bills and cost you extra money anyway.

Additional garage door insulation can cost between $50 and $500. You can DIY this task using:

  • Fiberglass and reflective kits costing up to $100 each
  • Polystyrene kits for about $200 each
  • Polyurethane insulation at a minimum of $200 per door

Although these fixes cost less than the extra $200 to $500 you’ll need to fork out for fully insulated doors, they don’t add much value when it comes to effectively insulating your garage.

Hardware and Mechanisms Incur Extra Costs

Like garage doors, you can choose hardware and operational mechanisms in a variety of styles and materials. These also affect costs. 

High-end extras also add to the final cost of your installation.  These include:

  • Garage door openers
  • Glass panels
  • Alarm systems
  • Lighting
  • Windows
  • Screens
  • Walk-through doors

None of these are essential for the operation of your garage door, so you can simply leave them out if you don’t have the budget for luxuries. 

Extra Costs Involved in Garage Door Replacement

Any home improvement project runs the risk of unexpected costs or unplanned extras. In the case of garage door replacement, these are:

  • Adjusting electrical wiring costs at $6-$8 per linear foot
  • Architectural fees at about $2,000 to $8,500
  • Removing and rebuilding walls costs between $1,300 and $12,000

You’ll need expert licensed professionals to complete these tasks, so bear this in mind when budgeting for your garage door replacement project. 

Ways to Save on Garage Door Replacement Cost

You can save on the cost to replace garage door springs and cables by buying garage door replacement parts online and installing them yourself.

If your garage door tracks are in good shape, you can re-use them for your new installation. The cost of new garage doors usually includes new tracks. 

In the same way, you can cut down on the cost to replace rollers on a garage door by doing the work yourself. It’s vital to note that some aspects of garage repair and replacement need a trained hand.

Another way to save is by opting for garage door replacement panels instead of a full door replacement. Hardware stores won’t sell replacement panels to homeowners directly. That’s because this job’s considered too advanced for DIY enthusiasts to attempt on their own. 

Garage door replacement isn’t a task for newbie DIYers, even though you’ll save from $200 to $500 per door on labor. 

Will Your Homeowner’s Insurance Pay for Garage Door Installation?

Typically, homeowner’s insurance only covers garage door damage from plumbing leaks, vandalism, hit-and-run drivers, fire, or storms.

Your Auto-insurance will cover damage to any vehicles housed in the garage at the time of the incident. Your insurance won’t pay for damage to detached garages, extreme weather events like hurricanes or earthquakes.

Insurers also won’t pay for ordinary wear and tear, intentional damage by residents, or DIY repairs gone wrong. 

Make the Best Choices for Your Home

When you take all these variables into account, the national average cost of garage door replacement is between $500 and $1,800. 

Thanks to your newfound knowledge on the topic, you can make more informed decisions regarding the best option for your home and budget.

If you’d like some more information on how to save money on home improvements. keep browsing our blog. We feature all the best practical tips on how to get the most out of your home.