A Guide to Garage Door Maintenance in The Spring
While wooden garage doors undeniably add timeless charm to a home, over time, exposure to the elements – such as rain, snow, extreme temperatures, and UV rays – can cause deterioration. Spring is the perfect time to give them some much-needed maintenance after months of exposure to harsh weather. With proper care, of surfaces and moving parts, they can remain looking great for years to come. Our handy guide explains what you’ll need to do to keep your door functioning and looking good.
Repaint Your Wooden Garage Doors
Harsh weather conditions can cause paint or protective coatings to chip, peel, or fade, leaving the wood vulnerable to moisture damage and decay. Inspect the door for signs of warping, water damage, or peeling paint. If you notice any issues, remove the old paint, sand the surface smooth, and apply a fresh coat. For the best protection, use an exterior-grade acrylic or oil-based paint designed for wood, as these provide durability against the elements. Wood stain, sealer, varnish, natural oils or even cladding can also be considered to refresh or enhance the grain.
Observe Your Door in Motion
Take some time to observe your wooden garage doors opening and closing. Do they open smoothly or is there a jerkiness to their motion? Are they quiet or do you hear scraping noises as they move? If your doors are not opening smoothly and quietly then check the system, including springs, cables and pulleys, to make sure that they are all clean and symmetrical.
Clean and Clear the Tracks
In order to easily open your garage door, the tracks need to be clean and free of any blockages such as debris. Use a level to determine if the tracks are perfectly even. Any bends or damage can put stress on your doors.
Check For Loose Hardware
There are many moving parts that make up the opening mechanism for your wooden garage doors. Over time these parts can loosen, which poses a risk to how well your doors operate. Using screwdrivers and an adjustable wrench, make sure to tighten any loose screws and bolts holding your brackets and fasteners in place.
Inspect the Rollers
Over time your garage door rollers will become chipped or loose, making your doors harder to open. Replace any damaged rollers you find by removing them from the brackets and inserting a new one. Keep in mind that you should not remove the bottom rollers as these are attached to the garage lift cables. If you need to replace these, always call a professional.
Check Pulleys and Cables
Your lift cables and pulleys help lift the wooden garage doors, and if these become damaged the doors will be harder to open. Inspect the cables attached to the bottom roller brackets as well as any cables or springs in the pulley system overhead. If any loose parts or fraying is detected, only fix it yourself if you are an expert.
Clean and Lubricate Moving Parts
Use a lubricant spray such as lithium grease on rollers, brackets and tracks and other moving parts that are stiff and hard to move. This will help reduce stress and improve their lifespan.
Test Garage Door Balance
If your wooden garage doors are off-balance then they will force your opener to work harder, leading to possible early failure. To test the balance, disconnect the door from the opener via the safety cord and manually lift it to halfway. If you let go and the door remains in place then it is well balanced. If it slides up or down you will need to turn to an experienced specialist to rebalance it.
Test Auto Reverse Features
All modern garage doors have a safety feature that stops them from closing when an object is detected. Test the pressure sensor by placing an object such as a board under the door as it closes. The door should reverse when it touches. Afterwards, test the door’s photoelectric sensors by waving a broom handle in front of them. If this movement does not trigger a reversal, check there is nothing blocking the cameras. If the problem persists, bring in a pro.
Check the Weatherstripping
Weatherstripping is necessary for keeping your garage doors insulated throughout the year. Check the bottom and sides of the doors to see if the stripping is clean and in good condition. If it has become worn down, replace it by removing any nails to disconnect the old weatherstripping and put in a new one. You can purchase weatherstripping from any hardware store.
Eastern Garage Doors
At Eastern Garage Doors we have a range of products and services that will provide you with the perfect garage door for your home. To find out more about our bespoke wooden garage doors contact our friendly team.
