April showers bring May flowers. This also means that warmer weather is right around the corner! After months of harsh weather and snow, it is time to take advantage of the warmer months to keep your garage door maintain its lifespan and reliability. Performing some easy maintenance tasks will keep your garage door working its best throughout the seasons. Here are some simple garage door maintenance tips you should add to your to-do list.
Inspect Your Garage Door Hardware
The first step you should take in your garage door maintenance is inspecting its hardware. Not only is this an easy task, it will ensure that your garage door will be able to open and close smoothly. Start off by looking over visible parts and checking to see if any hinges are loose, if the track is misaligned or if there are any bolts missing. Tighten all of your bolts and replace any that are missing. This will help keep your door working all summer long!
RELATED: How to Maximize the Life of Your Garage Door
Wash Your Garage Door
Washing your garage door does more than just improving its appearance. Washing it will remove dirt, grime and grease that has built up over time. All you need is water and mild household detergent to transform your steel and aluminum doors from old to new again. If you live in harsh or coastal environments, apply a quality car wax to the surface of your steel door immediately after cleaning. Do this twice a year and it will help maintain your garage door’s finish.
Remove Rust
Removing any visible rust from your garage door will improve its lifespan. Rust is caused by moisture that found its way onto your garage door. Simply fix this problem on your steel garage door by sanding the rust, applying a primer (preferably one that is a zinc-rich) and painting it over with a quality exterior latex paint.
SEE ALSO: Preventative Maintenance Tips for Your Commercial Garage Door
Apply New Paint
After washing your garage door and removing rust, you can improve it some more by applying a fresh coat of paint. You should paint your steel garage door with 100 percent acrylic latex exterior grade paint. Sand the plastic on your garage surface to remove existing surface gloss. Make sure your garage surface is free of dirt, oil, waxes and mildew before painting.
Motor City Door – Your Garage Maintenance Experts!
Regular maintenance is required to keep your garage door system operating properly. At Motor City Door, we provide preventative maintenance for a variety of garage door systems. You did your garage maintenance part, its time for us to do ours. Contact us at (586) 501-5874 to get a free quote today!
