Maintenance Tips for Wooden Garage Doors
A wooden garage door gives a home a unique curb appeal. But the beauty of a wooden garage door requires some extra maintenance than garage doors made from aluminum, steel, and vinyl. To help prevent your wooden garage door from warping, cracking, degrading, and fading, implement these maintenance to-dos into your home care checklist.
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Wipe away the elements
Every three months, use a tack cloth to remove dirt and grime from the face of the door. If your garage door’s seal doesn’t show any signs of wearing, you can use a damp cloth.
Look for signs of trouble
Big problems always start out small. That’s why it’s important you thoroughly inspect your garage door for cracks, damage, or areas where the seal has disappeared each year. You’ll need to inspect the door for rot, too.
“When this happens, the wood will become soft and easy to penetrate with a sharp tool,” explain the experts at Overhead Door Company of Oklahoma City. “Poke the door along the bottom and sides. If the tool penetrates the wood, the door must be repaired before it can be refinished.”
If you notice mud tunnels on the door or small holes in the door’s surface, your garage door might be infested with pests. You’ll need an exterminator or pest professional to assess the damage.
Seal and protect
To help keep your door looking its best and functioning properly, every three to five years, you’ll need to refinish the surface to help keep the door water-proof. Here is a refinishing rundown:
- Degrease your door with a solution that won’t harm the wood.
- Cover hardware with painter’s tape to protect its finish.
- Sand the door.
- Remove shavings with a thorough cleaning.
- Fill in cracks with putty.
- Once the putty is dry, sand it down for a smooth finish.
- Review manufacturer’s guidelines of chosen exterior-grade stain and sealer.
- Apply to the door.
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Refinishing a wooden garage door is a multi-step project that requires time and dedication. If you think the steps are too much, outsource the project to a professional.
DeAnn Owens is a Dayton transplant by way of the Windy City, yet considers herself to be a California girl at heart even though she’s only visited there once. To get through the dreaded allergy season unique to the Miami Valley, she reads, writes, complains about the weather, and enjoys spending time with her husband, two sons, and their newest addition, a Boston terrier puppy that is now in charge of all their lives. In the future, she hopes to write a novel and travel through time. See more articles by DeAnn.