How can I know if my garage door rollers need to be replaced?
There are a few different ways that you can tell if your garage door rollers need to be replaced. The first one would be the obvious— a visual inspection of the roller tire. If it is nylon, plastic, or a form of rubber, you will see physical wear to the tire. Sometimes this could be due to a bad installation or just normal wear and tear, especially if the rollers have a lot of cycles on them.
Signs of Wear and Tear
Another way to determine if your garage door rollers need to be replaced is if they periodically or constantly pop out of the track. This means that the tire has worn down in diameter and no longer stays inside the garage door track. If any of these problems occur when operating your garage door, then the rollers will need to be replaced.
Types of Garage Door Rollers
The other types of garage door rollers would be your steel tire rollers, which have a steel or stainless steel tire. These types of rollers are commonly found on wood sectional garage doors and can almost always be found on commercial-grade sectional garage doors. The reason for this is that the foremost types of garage door rollers made of steel tend to have a higher cycle rating, ranging from 15,000 cycles up to 50,000 or 60,000 cycles.
Noise Considerations in Roller Choices
The nylon or polyurethane tire rollers are quieter than their steel counterparts, making them a better choice for residential garage doors. This is particularly important when bedrooms are located above a garage; many homeowners prefer a quiet garage door and opener. In commercial applications, quiet rollers are usually not a concern, especially in auto repair garages.
Durability of Garage Door Components
Most hardware and moving parts on commercial garage doors are designed to last longer than those on residential doors due to their higher frequency of use. The weight of commercial garage doors, along with the cost implications of replacing rollers on these doors, is often higher compared to residential units.
Physical Signs of Roller Damage
Another obvious way to tell if your rollers need replacing is that if they are plastic nylon, they can break apart and lose their round shape. If made of steel, it is not uncommon for them to simply fall apart due to wear and tear, rendering them useless.
Cost of Roller Replacement
The cost for replacing garage door rollers on a residential garage door should range anywhere from $100 to $200, depending on which company you choose for the work. I would also recommend a garage door tune-up if you are going to replace the rollers, as some companies will include rollers in a garage door tune-up.