How Long Does a Garage Door Last in Las Vegas Weather?
Typically, garage doors are warranted for a lifespan of 15 to 30 years by their manufacturers. However, in the hot Mojave Desert, those statistics don’t mean much. Especially with temperatures frequently soaring above 115 degrees Fahrenheit. In such conditions, your garage door is no longer an ordinary garage entry, but a major defense against the heat.
Just because a steel structure can last forever doesn’t mean your garage door has to deteriorate in no time. Las Vegas has a high UV index and wide temperature swings, which create high stress on springs, rollers, and seals. Here, we will explore what a reasonable life span for a garage door is and look into some desert-specific problems. Those can turn some normal wear and tear into expensive repairs. Is your door prepared for the high heat?
The Lifespan Breakdown
The Door Panels (15–25 Years)
In the Mojave Desert, the material used in your garage door can greatly determine the life of your garage door. Steel and aluminum garage doors will provide the most durability in resisting water damage and warping. However, they are not impervious to ultraviolet rays, which will cause finishes to eventually fade.
Wood garage doors are aesthetically pleasing. However, in the desert climate, the high sun can dry out the wood and require constant maintenance, such as refinishing.
The Springs (7–10 Years / 10,000 Cycles)
As a rule, the cycle on a garage door tends to be the indicator of the lifespan of that part; how long it will last before it needs to be replaced.
However, most Nevada residents have been known to leave their garage doors open late on those hot summer nights. There can be another factor in play: thermal expansion.
This can cause metals to become more brittle over time until, without warning, they can snap with a loud ‘crack’ just as summer is hottest.
The Opener (10–15 Years)
Garages in Las Vegas can rise into triple digits, often reaching temperatures of over 130 degrees on hot summer days. This makes for a perfect oven for delicate circuit boards and fragile plastic components, used in many modern garage door motors. Because of these high internal temperatures. It’s vital that garage doors are serviced in the best way possible in order to extend the life of the unit itself. Specifically, making sure that the motor is properly lubricated and protected from the heat.
Weatherstripping (2–4 Years)
Your garage door’s paint or wrapper is the first line of defense for your garage. Typically, it has the shortest lifespan of any part of your garage door. Vinyl and rubber materials found in garage door wrapping are attacked by the desert sun, stripping away moisture, causing cracking and flaking. After a period of time, once it has dried out and turned to flakes, it will no longer keep dirt and heat out of your garage.
Top Factors That Age Your Vegas Garage Door
UV Radiation & Paint Degradation
The sun beats down relentlessly in the desert. It is, however, worth remembering that the intense rays of the UV spectrum can wreak havoc on your home’s exterior finishes. While paint or other protective coatings may seem durable enough, UV exposure can break down these protective layers. For the average garage door, this can mean a significantly reduced lifespan.
Thermal Expansion
Since Nevada has such extreme temperatures, the garage door goes through a cycle of expansion and contraction. This causes tremendous stress on the various fasteners and components. After a period of time, this can cause essential components to become loose or even cause the garage door’s tracks to become misaligned. Both of which greatly affect the lifespan of your garage door in Las Vegas.
Monsoon Dust & Debris
The rainy season is a time for wind. In the desert, this means the fine desert sand is whipped into powerful gusts that pound rollers and hinges on garage doors all over the city. The result is a series of greasy messes that require frequent cleaning in order to maintain the life of your garage door in Las Vegas.
Material Matters: What Lasts Longest in the Desert?
Steel (The Winner)
Steel garage doors are the undisputed champions of the desert. Because steel doesn’t warp or become damaged from heat, they are ideal for Las Vegas. Paired with a high R-value insulation package, steel garage doors become a formidable thermal barrier as well. Choosing a high-quality steel garage door will protect the longevity of your door for years to come.
Aluminum (The Runner-Up)
Aluminum garage doors are rust-resistant, which makes them a good choice for exterior garage doors in most climates. Even so, aluminum is a soft metal that can be prone to denting during those periodic intense monsoon windstorms that sweep through the Las Vegas Valley. As a result, they have a tendency to decrease the lifespan of a garage door.
Wood (The Challenge)
In the Mojave Desert, wood is a luxury that is maintained at great expense. It is because dry air causes wood fibers to dry and crack, causing significant weakening of the material. If left unsealed and unstained, any wood model you have will last significantly less time and need to be resealed and restained more often. This is especially true when it comes to the garage doors in your Las Vegas garage.
Maintenance: How to Push Toward the 30-Year Mark
Lubrication is Key
Protect the life of your garage door by not putting grease on it. Grease acts as a sponge to absorb blowing sand. On garage doors, we recommend using a silicone-based lubricant and spraying it on the hinges and the bearings of the rollers. When you spray this lubricant, it will keep the parts clean and allow them to move smoothly. This can save the garage door from abrasive desert dust and grinding.
The “Vegas Tune-Up” Schedule
When you live in Las Vegas, your garage door receives a lot of punishment. But even a few seconds of maintenance can save your garage door from catastrophic failure. Identifying warped springs and tilted or misaligned tracks through regular inspection. Professional inspections are a good way to prevent future problems, and by taking a few minutes each year to give your garage door some much-needed maintenance. You could add thousands of years to its lifespan.
Protective Coatings
Protecting your painted garage door panels from the sun is important for integrity. Painting your garage door and applying a UV-resistant paint or a high-grade wax coat will help to reflect the sun. But shielding the panels from the sun is the best way to prevent chalking of the paint and ensure the longevity of your garage door and paint coat.
Signs Your Door is Nearing Retirement
Even after you have lubricated all moving parts, your garage door is still making a grinding or squeaking noise. Then the bearings or rollers are probably worn out and ready to be replaced. These worn parts can be a sign that the overall life span of your garage door, made for Las Vegas’ hot climate, is coming to an end after years of wear and tear.
Visual Sagging
Is your garage door looking a little uneven lately? Is it sagging in the middle? This could be a sign that the framing or the internal tracking system has been damaged by years of expansion and contraction due to thermal changes. This is a very serious safety concern and indicative that the life span of your garage door has been reached in our high desert climate of Las Vegas.
Frequent Component Failure
We regularly replace sensors, cables, and capacitors every few months. By the time we replace these parts on a relatively modern garage door, it is time to retire the garage door and have a new one installed. The Las Vegas summer sun has already taken its toll. It is cheaper in the long run to install a new door versus continually fixing the same tired garage door.
Conclusion
While the desert environment is undoubtedly harsh, your garage door doesn’t have to be a casualty of the climate. You can help your garage door last much longer in the heat by choosing strong materials. Like insulated steel and following a desert maintenance plan. Never ignore the red flags like loud noises or a sagging door, as these show that it might be time for a new one.
Taking care of your door now keeps your home safe and cool, helping you beat the Nevada sun for many years
Protect Your Investment with a Professional Tune-Up Today
Do not let the hot Nevada sun damage your home’s entrance. Our team provides the required careful maintenance to help your garage door last longer. Get in touch with us now to book your service and make sure your door stays quiet, safe, and ready for the heat.
