It’s a question on the minds of many homeowners: will the price of garage doors go down now that the pandemic is over? There are several factors to consider in answering this question.
In this blog post, we’ll examine the factors that have contributed to rising garage door prices, and whether or not those same factors will continue to impact prices in the future.
Will the Price of Garage Doors Go Down?
There is no doubt that garage door prices have skyrocketed in recent months. In fact, according to some reports, they have increased by as much as 50% since January 2021. The main reason for this is the high cost of lumber and steel, two major materials used in the construction of garage doors.
Fortunately, there are some signs that prices may start to come down soon. For one thing, the high demand for garage doors has begun to slacken off a bit, which could put pressure on manufacturers to lower their prices.
Additionally, the price of lumber has started to level off after reaching record highs in March of 2022 (source).
Steel prices peaked back in the fall of 2021 (source) and have been falling since then.
So while we can’t say for sure that prices will go down anytime soon, it’s certainly possible that we could see some relief shortly.
In the meantime, if you’re in the market for a new garage door, be sure to shop around and compare prices from different retailers. And if you’re able to wait a few months, you may be able to get a better deal down the road.
How the Pandemic Caused Garage Door Prices to Spike
There are several reasons why garage door prices increased so dramatically during the pandemic. Let’s dive into a few of the main ones.
Pandemic-Related Factory Shutdowns
The first reason is that the pandemic caused many factories to shut down, both in the U.S. and abroad. This led to a shortage of garage doors, which in turn caused prices to increase.
Labor Shortages at Factories
In addition to factory shutdowns, the pandemic also caused labor shortages at many factories. This was due to various factors, such as workers getting sick and having to quarantine, or not being able to come to work because of childcare issues.
The combination of factory shutdowns and labor shortages meant that there was less production of garage doors and their many associated input parts and materials, which led to higher prices.
Contractors and Installers Are Fully Booked
Another factor that contributed to higher garage door prices is that contractors and installers are fully booked. This is because the pandemic has led to a boom in home construction and renovation projects, as people are spending more time at home and looking for ways to improve their living spaces.
The increased demand for contractors and installers has led to longer wait times and higher prices for their services. And since most garage door installations are done by contractors, this has also contributed to the overall increase in garage door prices.
Inflation Spikes in Raw Materials
Another cause for the increase in garage door costs is that many of the materials used in their construction have seen a significant price rise.
This is due to a variety of factors, including higher demand for all home improvement project materials, increased transportation costs, and disruptions to global supply chains.
Lumber Prices
In the spring of 2022, lumber prices jumped dramatically as a result of the huge increase in house construction projects and the lengthy time between cutting down trees, processing them into the wood, and transporting them to stores that sell them.
This is one of the key inputs into garage doors, and as lumber prices increased, so did the price of garage doors.
Steel Prices
Steel is another major material used in garage doors, and its price has also been on the rise. This is due largely to increased demand from the construction and automotive industries.
The higher price of steel has been partially offset by a recent decline in the price of aluminum, which is also used in garage doors (source).
So while there has been some relief on the raw materials front, steel prices are still elevated and are likely to remain so for the foreseeable future.
Transportation Costs Rising
In addition to raw materials, transportation costs have also increased due to the pandemic. This is due to a variety of factors, including higher fuel prices and disruptions to global supply chains.
These higher transportation costs have led to an increase in the price of garage doors, as it now costs more to ship them from factories to retailers and from the retailers to your doorstep.
Is There a Chip Shortage for Garage Door Openers?
No, the types of chips in the news that have seen shortages are the more complex chips found in-car computers.
Garage door opener chips can be made by more manufacturers and are shipping within 1-2 weeks of purchase. For instance, you can buy an HCS301 garage door remote chip from this supplier (source) and they’ll ship it within a week. That’s one of the chips used for the “rolling code” security technology in garage door openers.
In other words, this chip is one of the more complicated chips and if that’s in supply this isn’t holding up the costs for garage doors.
Other Supply Chain Issues
In addition to the structural issues caused by the pandemic, there have also been several other supply chain issues that have contributed to higher garage door prices.
One issue is that many manufacturers are finding it hard to source other critical components like polyurethane, hardware, and insulation.
Another issue is that lead times for garage doors have lengthened considerably. This is because manufacturers are backlogged with orders and it takes longer to produce and ship doors when you’re starting from behind.
This has led to longer wait times and higher prices for garage door installation services. And since most garage door installations are done by contractors, this has also contributed to the overall increase in garage door prices.
Looking Ahead
It’s unclear how long the current situation will last. The pandemic has caused a lot of uncertainty and it’s difficult to predict what will happen in the months and years ahead.
However, one thing is certain: garage doors are not going to become any cheaper shortly. So if you’re thinking about buying a new garage door, you might want to do it sooner rather than later.
Cheapest Place to Buy a Garage Door?
There are a few places you can purchase a garage door. The cheapest place would be at a wholesale club, like Costco or Sam’s Club. You could also buy one from a store that specializes in selling garage doors, like Overhead Garage Doors.
You could also try and find used garage doors for sale. However, it’s important to make sure that the door is in good condition and that it’s the right size for your garage.
Conclusion
The pandemic has caused a lot of uncertainty and disruptions to the global economy. This has led to higher prices for many goods, including garage doors.
While there is some relief on the raw materials front, steel prices are still elevated and are likely to remain so for the foreseeable future.
In addition, transportation costs have also increased due to the pandemic, which has led to an increase in the price of garage doors.
Several other supply chain issues have contributed to higher garage door prices, including long lead times for production and installation.
So if you’re thinking about buying a new garage door, you might want to do it sooner rather than later.
