A Step-by-Step Guide to Maintaining Your Wooden Garage Door
A wooden door is a beautiful and practical enhancement for any garage. Aside from its gorgeous russet colours and natural charm, the natural strength of a wooden door will protect your belongings from potential thieves, prevent cold draughts, and resist accidental knocks or scratches.
With that said, there are a few simple steps you need to take to ensure your door has a long lifespan. Wood is an organic material and is at risk of deteriorating over time, so semi-regular maintenance is important for keeping it in tip-top condition.
Follow our step-by-step guide to maintaining your wooden garage door below, and you’ll be able to keep it looking its best for decades to come!
1. Clean Your Door
Like anything exposed to the elements, your door will slowly pick up dirt and muck over time. Fill a bucket with warm soapy water and wipe down both the front and back of your wooden garage door. Aside from clearing away grime that can make your door look tired and worn, it means you won’t have to re-stain the wood as often
2. Check the Mechanisms
Noticed stiff or squeaky mechanisms on your garage door? It’s a sign they aren’t properly lubricated. Not only does this make it harder to open and close your door, but it may lead to serious damage later on.
To avoid this, apply a thin coating of wood-suitable oil to the mechanisms of your door, including hinges and locks. Make sure not to over-oil, as this can cause grime to build up and compromise the door’s operation.
A good rule of thumb is to lubricate your door’s mechanisms every other month, or whenever you notice your door getting harder to open.
3. Resand and Refinish
Resanding your door will remove any blemishes or dirt on the wood and create a smoother, neater finish. It should be carried out every 3 to 5 years, especially if your door has visible cosmetic damage.
When sanding your door, you don’t need to get down to bare wood; you simply need to remove the old topcoat.
4. Restain or Repaint
Restaining or repainting your garage door will refresh the appearance of the wood, keeping it looking beautiful for longer. It also lengthens the lifespan of your door by protecting it from further weathering.
How often you will need to do this depends on the weather your door is exposed to. A door that is constantly buffeted by wind, rain, or snow will require painting or restaining more often than a door in a gentler climate will. Strong sunlight is also a factor, as UV rays can cause wood to fade over time.
Broadly speaking, you should repaint or restain your garage door every 2 to 3 years, or more often if you want your door to maintain a fresh appearance year round.
To restrain or repaint your door, you should:
- Cover ironmongery, handles, surrounding walls, and anything else that could be affected with masking tape
- Apply a wood filler to any scratches or cracks
- Once dry, sand down your door. This will create an even surface for the primer to stick to, and result in a better finish overall
- Clean the door deeply with a degreaser
- If you notice any signs of mildew, remove it with a specialised cleaning fluid
- Raise the door and let it dry
- Cover both sides of the door with wood primer and leave to dry
- Apply the paint on top of the primer – you may need a few coats for total coverage
Get Help From the Wooden Garage Door Experts
By carrying out these simple steps regularly, you’ll be able to enjoy the beauty of your garage door for many years to come.
If you’ve noticed more serious problems with your door – for example, it won’t close or open properly – you may need to get it looked at by a professional. It might be in need of a professional repair servicing, or even a full replacement.
Need more advice about maintaining your wooden door? We specialise in wooden garage doors of all styles and sizes.
Get in touch online or call us on 01202 670770!
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