Garage Door Warranties: What They Typically Cover

Whether you have recently paid for a new garage door installation or you're planning to in the near future, you may be interested to learn what the average garage door warranty covers these days. In this blog post, C & M Garage Doors looks at the most common benefits to be found in warranties for overhead garage doors, whether those doors were purchased here in Loveland or somewhere else in the USA. This information was compiled by our experienced repair technicians, as they often help local homeowners decipher garage door manufacturer warranties.

What's Included in the Warranty That Came With Your Garage Door Installation?

While we cannot know for sure what the terms and conditions of your warranty are, we can make a very good guess (assuming that your installation was completed by a reputable company). In the majority of cases, and certainly as far as every garage door installation in Loveland that we complete is concerned, the following benefits are included in the accompanying manufacturer's warranty.

Coverage for Hardware Defects

Everything from the knobs, handles, and hinges, to the torsion springs, tracks, and rollers, should be covered as far as manufacturing defects are concerned. In the event a hardware failure can be traced to a fault that originated in the manufacturing process, the manufacturer should arrange for the part or parts in question to be repaired or replaced. This is the case with our garage door installation warranties and those of other reputable companies in the area. If you check your warranty and it does not include such coverage, we recommend using a different company when the time comes to replace your existing door.

Door Construction Coverage

In addition to covering for manufacturing defects in all of the components that make up your garage door, the warranty that came with it should also cover any defects in the construction of the door itself. In other words, if it should start to fall apart, or deteriorate in any other unacceptable way, and the cause can be traced to a fault in the door's construction, you will not be out of pocket. The manufacturer, assuming they honor their warranty, will cover the cost of restoring your door to its previous condition. All reputable manufacturers honor their warranties so as long as you buy a well-known brand, you should not have any worries on this particular score.

Opening Mechanism Coverage

Your garage door opener is an integral part of the door and one of the most important parts as far as many people are concerned. Without it, an overhead garage door can become more of a hindrance than a help. Luckily, all good manufacturers include cover for their door openers in the warranties that they supply. In the event of a stuck garage door that is due to a fault with the door opener (a manufacturing defect/fault), you will not have to pay to fix the problem yourself. The supplier or manufacturer of the door will foot the bill for any repairs or replacements that need to be carried out.

Coverage for Defects in Windows

Manufacturing defects in garage door windows may cause premature failure or they may simply result in an unappealing appearance. Whether the issue you are facing is one of aesthetics or unexpected breakages, you won't have to worry about the cost as long as the windows are included in the cover provided by the manufacturer's warranty. While this type of cover is common for more expensive or prestige models, it may not be found indoors at the cheaper end of the market. Whether it is worth paying significantly more money for is questionable. In the event of glass breakages, it is notoriously difficult to establish whether a manufacturing defect was to blame or whether it was simply an unexpected accident.

Finish Coverage

Whether you have a varnished wooden door or a painted metal door, defects in the finish (either the varnish or the paint) should be covered by the manufacturer's warranty. If they are not, any premature flaking or discoloration will have to be fixed at your own expense. Garage door repair costs for damaged finishes can be quite high so it is well worth making sure that this type of cover is included in the warranty before buying a new door. When such cover is included, you do not have to worry about the elements causing your door finish to fail prematurely.

Coverage for Remote Control Defects

Garage doors that come with an opening mechanism and remote control usually also come with a warranty that covers any manufacturing defects in said remote control. In the event, you are faced with a stuck garage door and the fault turns out to be down to a manufacturing defect, you will not have to pay for the repair or replacement costs as long as you have such a warranty. While this is an undoubtedly useful benefit, we are not sure we would make a purchasing decision based solely on its presence or absence in the associated warranty. The reason is simple: the majority of remote controls can be replaced for a relatively small outlay, which means their inclusion in warranty cover is not a crucial consideration.

Coverage for Associated Repair Costs

In some cases, a manufacturing defect in one part of a garage door may result in damage (and therefore the need for repairs) to other parts. If you have a comprehensive warranty of the type that is commonly supplied by top manufacturers, such a turn of events should not cause you any sleepless nights.

If you encounter any faults that are due to normal wear and tear, or issues that occur after the warranty for your door has expired, you can call your local garage door repair team and ask for help. For those of you who happen to be living in Loveland or the surrounding area, C & M Garage Doors is ready and waiting to provide the assistance you need.