Finding A Better Garage Door

Posted on: 20 November 2018

Your garage doors are more susceptible to damage during harsh weather, like rain or snow, and one of the ways this damage can manifest is in the form of warping or bowing. This is when parts of your door will start to bend inward or outward. Beyond being an eyesore, this can cause strain on your garage door opener, springs, and other components, so it's important to get it fixed. Here are a few ways to handle a damaged door and prevent further damage.

Replace or Repair All Damaged Panels and Components

Many doors consist of multiple panels, and if you're lucky, you may be able to get away with replacing only the damaged panel(s) rather than replacing your entire door. If you want to do this, you should make sure to do it as soon as possible, as continued use with a warped panel still on your door can start to damage the other panels. Contact your door's manufacturer to make sure you're getting exactly what you need.

Remember, however, that warping can cause damage to other parts as well. You may need to replace hinges or wheels as well, and it's a good idea to take this opportunity to examine your entire garage door opening system. Look at your garage door opener and all its parts, your springs, and your door tracks and their alignment. It's vital to take care of all damaged parts at once, or you'll only be fixing part of the problem when you replace damaged panels. If you have a single-panel door, it becomes even more important to check all your system's components because the door is so large and heavy.

Whichever type of door you have, you may also be able to repair the damage rather than having to replace any parts of your door if you catch it early enough; warped or bowed wood and other materials can sometimes be straightened back into place, so call a garage door repair contractor to see what your options are.

Have Your Doors Repainted or Resealed

Having your doors repaired is sometimes just a symptom of a larger problem, and that is what caused the warping in the first place. Weather damage is common, especially on older doors where paint and seals have faded, letting in moisture that damages the door's material. If this is the case, while you can opt for brand-new doors with new paint jobs, you can also repaint or reseal your old doors yourself.

This requires a lot of work, as you need to be thorough with your cleaning and preparation, as well as making sure that you're getting every inch of the door's surface. It might be worth it to see if repainting will actually end up less expensive than a new door. If it is, and if you have the time an inclination, you can refinish and restore your door while also keeping out the harmful elements that damage it.

Replace Old Weatherstripping

Plenty of weatherstripping is built into your garage door to keep moisture out, and this can be found in a few different places. You'll most often see it around the frame of the door, designed to make direct contact with the door on all sides. There is also usually some at the bottom of the door itself, and will occasionally be in between panels depending on what type of door you have.

Weatherstripping often fades faster than your door itself, so if you haven't replaced your weatherstripping in several years, give it a thorough check to make sure it's still a tight seal and waterproof. If it's not, it should be replaced quickly. Even if your doors themselves are properly sealed, breaks in weatherstripping can give moisture easy access inside your garage and also make it more likely to seep into the wood of your door.