It’s finally time to lay back, relax, and enjoy the summer sun! Well, it would be if it wasn’t for all the house projects that we ignored during our winter hibernation. To be fair, it was cold out this year, so no one can blame us for ignoring the outdoor chores. Now that it’s warm, we should start off the housework by focusing on the functional and aesthetic centerpiece of our home, the garage door.
Clear the Outer Area
Before we get started on the centerpiece, we should probably make sure we can access it. If there are any vehicles in or near the garage, they should be removed before getting too engrossed in our work. The same goes for any boxes, brooms, memorabilia, or any other object that might get in the way. Consider giving the area a good sweep as well so it makes it easier to navigate through.
Cleaning the Door
Now that we can get a good long look at our garage door without any distractions, we can see all the dirt and mud that’s caked into it over the winter. That’s not doing anything to boost our curb appeal! So, you may be tempted to pressure wash your garage door along with the rest of your house’s siding, but DON’T! Pressure washing a garage door could damage its paint, dent metal garage doors, or strip the stain off a wooden garage door. As satisfying as pressure washing can be, the best way to get dirt and grime off is to handwash. Just grab a large soft sponge, either some car or dish soap, and a bit of water to clean off that grime. Afterward, just spray off the suds with a hose and we’re all set!
Finally, if you really want a metal or faux wood garage door to pop out, you might want to look into waxing your garage door. Not only will this improve the look of the door, but much like waxing a car, waxing your garage door will help to protect it against ultraviolet rays, salt, snow, and other harmful elements. Also, make sure to wash the inside of the garage door as well. Just because it doesn’t get out much, doesn’t mean that it couldn’t go for a good bath every once in a while.
Maintenance
It would be a shame if our freshly spruced up garage door came smashing down, so we should take some time to check its weak points. Not only will your handiwork be destroyed if we skip this step, but we’ll also risk property damage or personal injury. So, there are two critical parts that we will pay special attention to, and those are the hinges and springs on our garage door.
Hinges
Depending on how many panels your garage door has, there may be over a dozen hinges that need to be checked. There are several issues that may be present in a garage door. The first and easiest to fix is loose bolts. Over time, the bolts on your garage door may need to be tightened, so make sure you check to make sure they are firmly in place.
The second issue with hinges occurs on hinges with rollers attached at the ends of the door. Sometimes these rollers will begin to struggle and need a bit of lubricant to help them along.
Finally, you want to check and make sure that none of your hinges have begun forming cracks. A cracked hinge will eventually break and potentially cause more damage, so make sure to replace that immediately.
Springs
Springs are a critical part of any garage door, as they do all the heavy lifting for us. No matter how strong our springs are, they will eventually begin to wear and tear. On a microscopic level, each time a spring stretches; tears are formed, and eventually that will end in catastrophe. A tell-tale sign of a weakened spring is if the garage door has been taking more effort than usual to open. On a manual door, this will be obvious, as it will be quite the workout to get the door open. On an electric door, the opener could begin to make more noise as it struggles to open the door. If you or your poor electric opener is struggling to open your door, a closer inspection of the springs will be needed.
Check for:
- Discoloration or rust
- Separation of the springs
- Stretching
Consider a New Garage Door
Though, if after all these checks you find the entire garage door is in disrepair, it might be worth considering a brand-new garage door. There are plenty of options to choose from that will make your house stand out and boost your home’s value, and if you don’t like any of our premade doors, you can always consider a custom garage door!
Contact the Professionals
If you experience any of the worrying signs presented in this blog, it is time to call the experts at Precision! While any number of DIYers on YouTube will espouse how “easy” replacing these springs can be, just as many horror stories can be found. These springs are designed to hold hundreds of pounds of weight and can lead to serious injury if improperly tampered with.
