It doesn’t matter how often you clean out your garage. The junk
still piles up. Not only can this make that antique vase or the
once-a-year camping gear hard to find, but it can also ruin your
garage door.
It doesn’t matter how often you clean out your garage. The junk still piles up. Not only can this make that antique vase or the once-a-year camping gear hard to find, but it can also ruin your garage door.
Often items will bump up against it and knock it off its track or bend the track altogether. The door may become dented or ruined if stuff is allowed to lean up against it.
Here are some simple tips for maintaining your garage door. Most simple maintenance can be done by the homeowner, but you’ll want to use a professional garage-door service person for more advanced upkeep.
The first thing to do is the most obvious, but often the most overlooked – keep the area around the track and door clean. That is easier said than done, especially in a smaller garage. But it is possible with a little planning and re-organization.
You’ll want to visually inspect the garage door periodically for any signs of wear and tear, and then fix any problems before they arise.
Also, you’ll want to keep the track lubricated so the door slides up and down easily. Check all the springs and hinges for any loose screws that may get in the way or cause extra stress on the rest of the door.
Hometips.com recommends painting or staining both the inside and the outside of the door to prevent it from warping under the weather.
On the House with the Carey Bros. (www.onthehouse.com) suggests balancing the door periodically by turning off the power and then lifting it manually. It should balance 3 to 4 feet above the floor. If it doesn’t lift at all or is hard to lift, you’ll want to get it serviced.
Additional maintenance tips can be found at Handyman.painterclick.com.
Next week, we’ll look at some options you have if you need to replace your door altogether.
Have you had a positive or negative experience maintaining or installing a garage door that you would like to share? If so, we’d love to hear it. The home improvement tip runs on Wednesdays. Send your questions and comments to nm*****@**********rs.com or call (408) 847-7216.
