Garage doors are one of the most useful parts of your house hands down. Many of us take it for granted, but we use the heck out of our garage door on a daily basis. Wind, rain, snow, or sunshine, we expect it to open and close when we need it to, but many of us do not take the time to maintain it.

If you are reading this article, you are probably experiencing some problems with your garage door. Maybe it is not closing as smoothly as it used to, or it is completely stucked and will not open. I have a couple of tips that you can perform yourself to fix the problem and give you some options if you need to buy a new one.

Before you run down to the Home Depot to buy a new door, check the garage tracks thoroughly. The most common problem is old lubricant build up on the tracks. This can cause the door to stick when you open and close the door. A thorough cleaning with some warm water, mild soap, and a sponge and you should be back in action. Add some new lubricant, WD-40 should do the trick, and check the tracks every six months.

If that does not work, you probably have a dent or two on your tracks. Grab a block of wood that is straight on all sides, a hammer, and your patience. You want to put the block of wood next to the bent track, and gently hammer the dent back in place. If at all possible, have someone hold the track in place while you hammer the dent back inline.

If these two things do not work, and your garage door is having problems opening and closing, there is a strong likelihood something is wrong with your garage springs. Do not try to repair these yourself. They are incredibly dangerous and many people get seriously hurt each year trying to fix them. Save up some cash and hire a licensed contractor to repair it for you.

If your door is beyond repair and you need to purchase a new one, here is an affordable garage door option to keep in mind. Look for garage doors that fall in the $600 – $750 price range. These doors are sturdy, secure, and usually come with a great warranty. They also have some basic insulation, so you will be able to use your garage during the winter months without cranking up your portable heater all the way. The only drawback is that the door is usually made from standard aluminum and comes in limited design options.