No one likes to spend money if they don’t have to. So as you consider repairing or replacing your garage door, here are some factors to consider:

Age: If the garage door is older than 15 years, it is time to replace it.

Wear & Tear: Your garage door is a design feature of the exterior of your home. When there is significant wear and tear, it takes away from your home’s aesthetic. But if touching up paint or replacing a panel will do the trick, then that will be a much easier and cost-effective solution. But if multiple panels begin to fade or rust, or if multiple panels need replacing, that may be a good sign you should consider replacing your garage door completely.

If you have a wood model, look for warping and cracking. These are tell-tale signs you should consider a garage door replacement.

Damage: Damage is different than wear and tear in that it occurs due to a specific incident, such as a collision with a vehicle or high winds. A garage door includes many different parts that allow it to operate seamlessly, and significant damage to these parts can make your door unsafe — with the cost to repair exceeding the cost to replace.

Be sure to review your insurance options if you experience garage door damage. Homeowner’s or car insurance may cover a portion of the replacement cost, depending on the nature of the damage and how it occurred.

Operation: Has your garage door completely stopped working altogether? This could be any number of issues. If it was working fine yesterday but has stopped operating today, the fix may be straightforward and simple. However, if your garage door has been struggling for some time and its non-operation feels like the culmination of a long-term problem, the issues may be more significant — and one that necessitates a full replacement.