Helpful Tips for Keeping Your Garage Doors Well-Maintained and Lasting Longer

1. August 1, 2017 Helpful Tips for Keeping Your Garage Doors Well- Maintained and Lasting Longer Garage doors are often overlooked weak points in home security that intruders can take advantage of. That’s why you should properly maintain your garage doors, especially if they provide direct access to the main structure. When there are issues beyond what regular maintenance can address, call on garage door professionals so your home’s security is not compromised. Here are some maintenance measures you need to take. Page | 1

2. Lubricate Garage Doors Garage doors function on intricate mechanisms such as tension springs, rollers, and rigs. Over time, wear and tear and corrosion can prevent the garage door from opening and closing smoothly. Rust and corrosion can also spread to other parts of the garage door, possibly weakening the rest of the garage door body too. Left unaddressed, it could eventually lead to the degradation of the entire garage door eventually. Make sure to wipe the components clean before spraying them with lubricant. Otherwise, small particles of dust and debris may prevent the lubricant from working efficiently. Use WD-40 or a citrus- based mixture. If there are parts covered in rust, rubbing oil on them before applying the lubricant should help. Kerosene is also helpful as an alternative material. Pay close attention to the torsion springs, hinges, and latches as these are among the most commonly affected parts of the garage door. Check Weather-Stripping This is an important protective element in the garage door system as it helps seal the interior from outdoor elements like rain or snow. Sometimes, however, it can get out of position, preventing the door from sealing completely. If you catch it early enough, you can simply make the adjustments to the weather-stripping along the sides to keep it in place. Sometimes, especially for wooden garage doors, there is no weather-stripping at all. In this case, at least make sure the area is sealed or painted. Spring and fall make for good seasons to carry out these check-ups. Page | 2

3. Keep the Garage Doors Clear Your garage doors are actually at their most vulnerable during the rainy and winter season. Wet surfaces can easily degrade the quality of the garage door material. If it’s made of metal, then it becomes exposed to rust and corrosion. If it’s made of wood, then it can rot. Keep a close eye out for any water or snow buildup along your garage door. Make sure no water from the downspouts or gutter are forming pools in front of this door. Also be quick to shovel off any snow buildup; you wouldn’t want them to simply melt off only to refreeze later on, consequently freezing the garage door shut as well. Just be observant and quick to act on these minor maintenance issues so your garage doors last longer. Meanwhile, any other serious issue can be better addressed by pros such as Coastal Contract Hardware. About Coastal Contract Hardware: Coastal Contract Hardware offers locksmith services to the Myrtle Beach, SC area. We want you to have a secure property so you can better keep your family safe, and the best way we know how is by giving you quality doors and locks. You can count on us to be at the frontline of your defense. Sources: Simple Garage Door Maintenance Tips. TheSpruce.com. 9 Garage Door Maintenance Tips. YellowPages.ca. Page | 3