One of the biggest enemies of your garage door is rust. If you encounter a lot of humidity in your area, then that extra moisture allows rust to form on metal items, including your garage door. Rust is difficult to stop once it starts, so the best cure is prevention. Here’s why it’s so important to prevent rust on your garage door and how to prevent it from happening in the first place.
Garage Doors And Rust Damage
Is rust really a problem for your garage door? It’ll cause more damage than you’d think, so it’s important to prevent rust as much as possible. If you get rust on your garage door parts, such as the springs, that can lead to a variety of problems. In the case of the springs, rust will weaken them over time. That leads to them breaking well before the end of their life span and potentially becoming a danger to you and your family.
What about the garage door itself? In the first instance, rust is unsightly, especially if you’re concerned about curb appeal. It’ll also cause structural damage to the garage door, weakening it and making it a security risk. A weakened door is also likely to start allowing rainwater in, leading to more structural problems. Of course, that rust will eventually break the door if left long enough. That’s why it’s so important that you prevent rust wherever you can and address it as soon as you see it on your garage door.
Prevent Rust On Your Garage Door
How do you prevent rust on the garage door, then? Like lots of other maintenance issues, the key is in regular inspections. When you check on the door regularly, you’ll be able to spot rust or the conditions that cause rust quickly. That makes it a lot easier to handle overall. It’s best to inspect your garage door twice a year to keep an eye out for any signs of rust. When doing this, ensure you know what material your garage door is made from. Steel garage doors are capable of rusting, while aluminum ones corrode rather than rust. The conditions that create these problems are the same, so you’ll need to look out for them.
You’re looking for any chips or cracks in the paint on the door. These will allow moisture in under the paint, and that’s what will lead to rust over time. You’ll also want to ensure that you inspect your garage door immediately after a storm. If anything impacts your door, such as a fallen tree branch, you may see paint scraped away by that impact. If you see scratches in the paint, the best thing to do is repaint that garage door. A full repaint ensures that the door has complete protection from the elements, so the metal isn’t left exposed to rain over time. Regular inspections will help you catch issues quickly, preventing rust before it develops.
Prevent Rust On Garage Door Springs
Now that you’ve handled the garage door, how do you prevent rust on your garage door springs? Of course, you can’t paint these like your garage door, so you’ll need to find another way.
Again, the answer lies in inspecting the garage door twice a year. If you can spot damage quickly, that should stop water from getting in and allowing rust to form on the springs. That is important, as your springs will typically be rated for 10,000 cycles, which is around 3 to 5 years. If rust is allowed to form on them, that will drastically shorten their lifespan.
Another excellent way to prevent rust on the springs is to properly lubricate them. You should lubricate all moving parts on your garage door when you do inspections, as this allows them to keep moving freely. Ensure you use proper garage door lubrication when you do this, and this will prevent rust from forming on the springs.
Protecting Your Garage Door Parts
It’s not just the springs that need to be protected from rust. You’ll also want to ensure that you’re taking good care of the rest of the door. There are several metal moving parts that keep your garage door moving, so you need to prevent rust on them too. That includes the hinges, rollers, tracks, and so on.
Again, the answer is to keep them properly lubricated. In many cases, homeowners may choose WD-40 to do the job. However, that’s not going to lubricate those parts. WD-40 is designed to remove rust and corrosion, so it will not help prevent rust in the first place. Instead, pick a lubricant that’s designed for garage doors, as you can be sure it will do what you need.
Removing Rust From Your Garage Door
You’ve done everything you can to prevent rust from building up on your garage door, but during your latest inspection, you’ve found some starting to form. Don’t worry, though. If you’ve caught it quickly, you can remove it and stop it from spreading.
Clean your door with dish soap, water, and a soft rag. Rinse it and allow it to dry. Then, scrape away any paint flakes around the rust path and sand this area down. You can now use a rag soaked in white vinegar and wipe down the door. With a steel wool pad, scrub the rusted areas that you wiped down, and this should help remove the rust. Once it’s gone, repaint the garage door to ensure it’s properly sealed from the elements again.
Conclusion
Be aware that in some cases, if the rust is too widespread, it may be better to get a new garage door. A garage door expert will be able to advise you on this. Now you know how to prevent rust on your garage door and garage door springs. Use these tips to help you keep your door in top condition.