Finding Great New Garage Doors

Recommendations To Help You Maintain Your Garage Door

6 November 2017

Gertrude Collins

Your garage door serves you well every day on a regular basis, as you come and go from your home. The wear and tear your garage door motor receives from use and the weather's wear on your garage door's exterior can cause your door to fail early if you don't take care of them. Here are some tips to help you take care of these two areas on your garage door.

Lubricate Moving Parts

The moving parts on your garage door and door opener need regular lubrication. This will keep them working smoothly and reduce the wear they receive overtime.

First, begin by lubricating the moving parts on your garage door. Use a WD-40 or similar citrus-based solvent to loosen up the old oils and clear out dirt and debris stuck within it. Spray the lubricant of your choice onto the garage door rollers within the door's tracks, lubricating inside the tracks, and lubricate inside the hinges between each of the door's panels.

If any of the parts are sticking, squirt some kerosene into the mechanism and brush any debris loose with a toothbrush. You can also remove any visible rust with a ball of steel wool. Once you have freed up the stuck-on debris, wipe the area clean with a cloth and oil the area with a lubricant.

Your garage door spring is susceptible to breaking from regular use combined with corrosion. Spray the surface of your spring with a lubricant, such as WD-40 to clean and lubricate its exterior. Leave the excess lubrication on the spring to help prevent the build-up of corrosion.

Repair Door Damage

Because your garage door is constantly exposed to the elements and moisture, it can easily become subjected to moisture and dry rot. If your garage door is made of wood, overtime this causes your garage door to crumble and lose its integrity in the area of the dry rot. You can repair the area of your door that has succumbed to dry rot and repair it with a wood epoxy repair to be actually stronger than the original wood structure. An epoxy filler is a good material to complete your repair, as it adheres onto the existing wood of your garage door strongly, and the material is flexible so it won't shrink and pop out of its repair later on like a wood filler can.

Remove the area of damage from your garage door by cutting it or pulling it from the door, as it will crumble easily. Use the end of a screwdriver to test the surrounding wood surfaces for further wood rot and to make sure you remove it completely.

To help reinforce the remaining wood structure and prevent further decay, apply a wood consolidant onto the edge of your repair. First, drill one-quarter inch wide holes spaced an inch apart into the wood to create reservoirs for the consolidant to collect. Allow the consolidant to dry, then mix up your two-part epoxy and press it into the repair area, building back up the structure. If the area of damage takes up a large section of your garage door, attach a section of plywood into the area, then fill the surround edges with wood epoxy filler and smooth it level with a putty knife. After the epoxy has dried, sand it smooth with a medium-grit paper.

Paint the exterior of your garage door to seal in your repair and protect the rest of your garage door for further damage. It is important to repaint your garage door whenever it begins to peel, as this can cause further damage to occur to the wood of your garage door.

Use these maintenance tips to help keep your garage door's exterior well-maintained and its mechanics working well. For more information, contact companies like R & S Garage Door Inc.

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