DIY Garage Door Maintenance Tips

Your garage door gets put through plenty of work each day but is often overlooked when it comes to home maintenance. A little bit of love and attention can go a long way in keeping it up and running.

Here are some easy but essential garage door maintenance tips to keep your door functioning smoothly and help you avoid any costly garage door repairs or replacements.

1. Keep Your Garage Door Clean

Dust, dirt, and salt can quickly accumulate on your garage door, especially along the bottom edge, where dirt and moisture often settle. These grubby particles can cause it to age much faster than expected, leading to surface damage and even rust over time. Regular cleaning of the entire door every few months can prevent this buildup and keep it looking and functioning like new.

How to Clean Your Garage Door:
Use a soft cloth or sponge with mild detergent and warm water to clean the surface.
For steel and aluminium doors, rinse with fresh water to remove salt residues.
Avoid harsh chemicals or abrasive materials, as these can damage the finish.

2. Inspect and Tighten Hardware

Your garage door goes up and down countless times each week, which can loosen bolts, screws, and other hardware over time. Loose parts can lead to noisy operation, poor alignment, and even costly repairs if not caught early. Regularly checking and tightening these parts is an easy way to prevent minor issues from turning into major ones. If you notice any damaged or worn parts, it’s essential to replace them immediately to avoid further damage and ensure the door operates safely and smoothly.

Hardware to Check:

• Bolts and screws on the tracks, rollers, and hinges.
• The brackets holding the tracks to the wall.
• Lift cables for any signs of wear or fraying.

3. Lubricate Moving Parts

Keeping your garage door well-lubricated is important for smooth operation. Without proper lubrication, the door’s moving parts can cease up and wear down over time, leading to squeaks, grinding noises, and even breakdowns. Lubrication also helps prevent rust, extending the life of the door’s components.

It’s best to use a silicone-based lubricant rather than oil-based options, which can attract dust and debris, potentially causing buildup and blockages.

Where to Lubricate Your Garage Door:

• Rollers and Tracks: Apply a silicone-based spray or garage door lubricant to keep them running smoothly.
• Hinges: Lubricate the hinges to ensure seamless movement.
• Springs: Lightly coat the springs to keep them in good working order.

4. Check the Weatherstripping

Weatherstripping around the door helps keep your garage airtight, keeping all the good stuff in and bad stuff out. But as your door ages, the weatherstripping can become brittle, leading to cracks and, eventually, gaps, especially in harsher weather conditions. In regions like the Waikato, where moisture is constant, weatherstripping prevents moisture from creeping in.

Replacing worn weatherstripping is a simple but essential task to keep your garage insulated, clean, and secure. For homes near the coast, look for weatherstripping designed to resist moisture and UV damage, providing longer-lasting protection.

How to check weatherstripping

• Look for cracks, tears, or gaps in the weatherstripping along the bottom of the door.
• Check for proper sealing along the sides and top of the door.

How to replace weatherstripping

• Remove the old weatherstripping and clean the surface.
• Measure and cut the new weatherstripping to fit.
• Attach it securely, ensuring a tights seal

5. Protect Against Corrosion

Rust is a constant risk to garage doors, even those not near the coast’s salty air. Corrosion weakens metal and can lead to rust, which can cause structural and operational issues over time. Regularly inspecting and treating your door can help prevent rust from taking hold and compromising its durability.

If you notice signs of rust, address them immediately with a rust remover or sandpaper, then apply a protective coating. For extra durability, consider investing in a stainless steel or aluminium door, as these materials are naturally more resistant to corrosion and can provide better performance in coastal areas.

Rust Prevention Tips:

• Apply a rust-resistant coating or paint to your steel door every few years.
• Keep hardware like springs, hinges, and tracks free of rust by applying a light coat of lubricant.

Need a Hand? Dominator Waikato is Here to Help

These DIY garage door maintenance tips will go a long way toward extending your door’s lifespan. But sometimes, a professional touch can make all the difference. Dominator Waikato offers expert garage door maintenance services to help ensure that little problems don’t turn into big, costly repairs. Contact us today to schedule a service!