As the cold winter days slowly creep away and summer rapidly approaches, chances are, you’ll be doing a lot of spring cleaning. After you repaint the front steps, plant new flowers (Marigolds are great for mosquito control!), and clean the pool, you may think your work is done. Before you put your tools away for the year, however, it’s important to prepare your garage door for the summer.
After a long cold winter with plenty of low temperatures and wet conditions, your garage doors may be a little worn. There may be some rust, perhaps a bit of peeling paint, or – even if there is no visible damage – impaired parts. So, before you invite all your neighbors over for a summer kickoff barbeque, make sure to follow these steps to get your garage door back into good condition.
Take Care of Your Garage Door’s Exterior
This isn’t only mandatory for your garage door’s quality and lifespan but also boosts your curb appeal. Take some time to gently wash both the inside and outside of your garage door. If dust buildup is an issue, you can apply a thin layer of wax – the kind you use of your vehicle. If your garage door is made of wood, you might have some issues with rotting. Add a new paint coat and maybe apply a water sealant on both sides to help prevent this. If you have a steel door, check for rust. You can sand down any rust you do find and paint over it with a zinc primer. If you want to give your garage door a makeover, you can find plenty of tutorials and inspiration on Pinterest.
Check for Wear and Tear
Before preparing your door for summer, it’s important to make sure the icy winds of winter didn’t damage any parts in your garage door. Check the cables, hinges, supports, and bearings. If anything is loose or broken, it’s better to replace now rather than later. While you can do it yourself, you should contact a professional for some of the more dangerous tasks – like replacing frayed or worn cables.
Lubricate Moving Parts
Now since everything is either repaired or brand new, you need to take some precautions to make sure your garage door has the longest lifespan possible. Apply a thin layer of lubricant – one specifically for garage doors – to all moving parts. You should also apply a special lubricant to your garage door’s opener.
Check Regularly
After you’re caught up on all the maintenance work, it’s important to regularly inspect your garage door. On a particularly hot day, while you’re washing your car, give your garage door a gentle rinse down. While you’re putting all the gardening tools away, give your door a quick glance over; you should inspect for signs of rotting or rust, and make sure the tracks are clean of debris. These small steps will help your garage door stay in top quality for the summer, and it may help preparing for winter easier.
Final Thoughts
Maintenance on a garage door can seem a tedious task, which is why right here at Straight Up Garage we offer garage door servicing and routine maintenance. Our professionals will do a full check on your garage door to ensure all parts are in working order and that none need to be repaired or replaced. Our team is here to help!
