How to deal with common garage door maintenance issues
Few areas of the home experience the amount of wear and tear that a garage door does. It will normally be used several hundred times throughout the year. It's also constantly exposed to the elements, which only serves to quicken the speed at which it deteriorates. As such, it's important to be prepared for maintenance issues; here is some advice on how to deal with three of the most common garage door problems that homeowners tend to encounter.
Corrosion
Garage doors come with metal parts such as springs, handles and hinges, which, when exposed to rain and humidity, will eventually begin to corrode. The resulting rust is not only unattractive, but can also have a negative impact on the structural integrity of the door, leading to the deterioration of important components, which can affect its functionality and the formation of holes that allow water to seep into the garage and cause damage. Given this, if you do happen to spot a small patch of rust on your garage door, it's crucial to deal with it immediately, before it leads to more serious problems.
To tackle this issue, you'll need steel wool, a sander, rust-resistant primer and paint. Use the steel wool pad to scrub off all visible areas of rust. Then, go over the scrubbed area with a piece of sanding paper, to create a smooth surface on which to apply the primer. Add one to two coats of the primer, allow it to air dry and then repaint the affected area.
Before you begin this task, make sure to check the weather forecast. It's best not to attempt any type of priming or painting when rain or high humidity levels have been predicted; the former could affect the finished look of the paint, whilst the latter could dramatically increase drying times.
Broken door spring
Most overhead garage doors open and close using spring tension. The majority do this with either a torsion spring or a set of extension springs; the former looks like a long bar which runs horizontally across the garage door interior, whilst the latter consists of two springs, positioned on each side of the door. In both cases, the springs are tightly wound and operate under an enormous amount of tension.
The springs can begin to deteriorate due to corrosion, extreme fluctuations in temperature or everyday wear and tear. When this happens, it can become very difficult to open your garage door. A damaged door spring is not merely an inconvenience; it can also present a safety risk to you and your family, as the spring could snap at any moment and hit anyone who happens to be standing nearby with a huge amount of force.
As such, it is absolutely vital to address this type of problem the moment you notice it. Whilst those with extensive DIY experience may be able to do this repair job themselves, it is generally not recommended that you attempt this, as you could end up with a serious injury, if the spring breaks off whilst you're trying to fix it. Instead, speak to your local garage door service company; they'll have the tools and the expertise to safely and effectively repair or replace the affected spring.
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