How Often To Replace Garage Door Rollers?

How Often Should Garage Door Rollers Be Replaced?

On average garage door, rollers will last 10-12 years but may last longer or shorter depending on the type of roller your door has such as plastic, nylon, or steel.

What Do Garage Door Rollers Do and Why Replace Them?

Garage door rollers or commonly called garage door wheels, are a pivotal part of your garage door assembly. These rollers are attached to the garage door itself and help efficiently and smoothly move the garage door up and down on its tracks. 

Without garage door rollers your garage door simply wouldn’t slide along the garage door tracks. Cracked, broken or bent rollers end up putting pressure on the garage door opener and eventually will cause other issues.

How Many Rollers Are On A Garage Door?

On average a garage door assembly contains 10-12 rollers depending on how many panels a garage door has. More panels mean more rollers.

Over time, these garage door rollers wear out which can lead to bent or cracked wheels ultimately causing your garage door to malfunction, such as not closing properly or extra wear on the opener. 

How Long To Garage Door Rollers Last?

Just like garage door torsion springs, garage door rollers have a lifespan measure in lifecycles. Typically 10,000 lifecycles depending on the type of garage door roller. 

One lifecycle is measured as one full open and close. 

There are generally 4 types of Garage Door Rollers:

• Stell with bearings
• Steel without bearings
• Plastic
• Nylon Rollers  (The Best Rollers)

How Long Do Steel Rollers Last on A Garage Door?

Steel rollers come in two forms, with and without bearings. Steel rollers without bearings tend to last only a few years whereas with bearing can last 12-15 years.

Pros and Cons of Steel Rollers:

• They last about 10-15 years which is an average length.
• Unfortunately, they can be quite noisy
• Should be lubricated 1-2 times per year.

How Long Do Plastic Rollers Last on A Garage Door?

Plastic rollers are the cheapest type of rollers and their lifespan reflects it. A plastic roller typically lasts only a few years.

Pros and Cons of Plastic Rollers:

• They are the most affordable type
• They don’t last as long as nylon or steel rollers
• Need regular maintenance 
• Break,  crack and bend easily
  

How Long Do Nylon Rollers Last on A Garage Door?

Nylon rollers with bearings are the best rollers for your garage door and last 12-20 years or longer with regular maintenance.

Nylon rollers, also called silent rollers, contain steel bearings and a nylon wheel that slides up and down the garage door tracks. This makes them the longest-lasting rollers and typically the best for your garage door. It is also what we recommend on when getting a garage door replacement through German Garage Doors.

Pros and Cons of Nylon Rollers:

• Ultra Quiet  in comparison to other roller types
• Longest lasting of all garage  door rollers
• Durable due to the steel bearings and nylon wheel
• No Cons

How To Check If Your Garage Door Rollers Need To Be Replaced.

Signs that your rollers need to be replaced include cracks, bents  wheels or loose rollers. Regularly check your garage door rollers and look for cracks or signs of wear and tear.  If you notice that your rollers are bent, cracked or loose it is time to have them replaced before they break, causing your garage door to get stuck open or closed.

If you are considering replacing your garage door rollers choose a nylon roller and if you are looking for assistance in the Houston area our team of experts can help you choose the best rollers for your door.

How To Extend Lifespan of Garage Door Rollers?

The average door opened 3 times a day or roughly 1500 times a year. If you live a busy lifestyle your rollers will be under more pressure and likely wear out sooner. The easiest way to extend the life of your garage door rollers is to lubricate them and your garage door tracks 1-2 times a year.

If you are unsure, one of our professional team members can come out for a complete garage door maintenance including lubrication of rollers, chains and ensuring your garage door is working properly.

Learn more here.

How much does it cost to replace rollers on a garage door?

If you are curious about the costs to replace your garage door rollers or any other repairs on your  door you can see our complete guide on garage door repairs here.