How long does a garage door last?

You can expect a garage door to last 20 to 35 years, with an average of 30 years. Factors that affect lifespan are level of usage, maintenance and lubrication, and weather exposure. The opener has a shorter life: 10 to 15+ years, with a 12 year average. 

    Also, see our blog posts Why do I have to hold down the button to close the garage door? and How can I check my garage door to make sure it is safe? and What does a home inspector check on an electric garage door?  

    Here’s a bar graph comparing life expectancy of a garage door to other doors in a house.
   Go to our blog post What is the average lifespan of the parts of a house? for rating of other house components. To understand the basis, potential use, and limitations of lifespan ratings, see How accurate are the average life expectancy ratings of home components? Are they actually useful?  

Here’s links to a collection of some of our blog posts about GARAGES AND CARPORTS:

• Why is a garage floor sloped?  

• What is the difference between a carport and a garage? 

• Why is my garage ceiling sagging? 

• Why are there score line grooves in the concrete floor of the garage? 

• What are the common problems when a homeowner converts a garage to conditioned living space, such as a family room?
 
 • What are the code requirements for fire separation between an attached garage and the house?

• Can a bedroom door open into the garage?

• Does an attached garage that is only used for storage or as a workshop, and not for parking a car, still have to comply with building code requirements for a garage?

• How far apart should electric receptacle outlets be placed in a garage? 

• Why if the garage door track a white tube?

• Can the a garage door header bracket and torsion springs be mounted through drywall? 

• How can I tell if cracks in the garage floor are a problem or not? 

• Is tempered/safety glass required by the building code for windows and doors? 

• Why can't I use my home's central air conditioning system to cool the garage? 

• What is the unusual garage door opener mounted on the wall above the door and marked "Wayne Dalton”?

• When were GFCI receptacle outlets first required in the garage?

• Why are most pull-down attic ladders not approved by building code for installation in a garage? 

• Is the wood anchor pad for a garage door rail and torsion spring supposed to be nailed or bolted to the wall? 

• Is a ceiling receptacle outlet for a garage door opener required to be GFCI protected? 

• What is the minimum slope for a garage floor slab?

• Can you run exposed NM-cable (Romex) in a garage?  

• What causes a garage floor to crack? 

     Visit our DOORS AND WINDOWS and GARAGES AND CARPORTS page for other related blog posts on this subject, or go to the INDEX for a complete listing of all our articles. 

NOTE: These life expectancies are based on data provided by InterNACHI, NAHB, FannieMae, and our own professional experience. Because of the numerous variables that can affect a lifespan, they should be used as rough guidelines only, and not relied upon as a warranty or guarantee of future performance.