The Impact of Coastal Air on Metal Garage Doors: Preventing Corrosion
While living close to the sea may mean stunning scenery and fresh ocean breeze, it can also create issues for homeowners with metal garage doors. The salt in the sea air can cause increased rust and corrosion on metal surfaces, including your garage door. Again, this can ruin the look of the door itself and eventually impair its operation as well as longevity.
We at Affordable Garage Door Repair know how the elements on the coast can abuse a metal garage door and we also have some suggestions to help you maintain that curb appeal while replacing destroy mechanisms. In this article, we will discuss the effect of coastal air on metal garage doors plus some tips to help limit corrosion for your door to be kept in good condition.
How Coastal Air Contributes to Corrosion
Coastal air has certain components like salt, water, and humidity which support high rusting rates. The salt particles in the air, when they land on your metal garage door, can cause some small abrasions to form. This moisture gets into the rust due to various cuts. This rust can make the metal weaker with time and cause damage to the door as well as stains that are not a good look.
The following are the key factors that give rise to corrosion:
Salt
Salt carried by the sea breeze deposits on metal surfaces and erodes protective coatings.
Humidity
The high humidity by the coast does cause a faster rusting process, to make things worse, you can be sure that salt will get in your way.
Temperature Fluctuations
Coastal environments have drastic changes in temperature, causing the metal to cool down and warm up. This increases the formation of moisture and rust.
Early Signs of Corrosion on Metal Garage Doors
Noticing Rust and Corrosion Early to Prevent Garage Door Damage The sooner you catch it, the more preventative actions to cure it before becoming a bigger problem.
Signs to Look For:
Rust is the red-brown
Rust is the red-brown discoloration that builds up on steel components and can cause damage along with discoloration, or stains. When the corrosion first appears, it will often look like what you have in the discoloration.
Pitting/ Surface Roughness
This is co-related to corrosion; pitting refers to the surface of the metal that Gets pitted or may have an extremely rough feeling to the touch.
Bubbling, Flaking Paint
When paint or protective coating on your garage door begins bubbling, peeling off, or flaking away, it could be because rust is developing underneath.
When you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it is necessary to take fast action to prevent a decline in overall well-being.
How to Stop Metal Garage Doors from Rusting
Coastal air can be hard on metal garage doors, but there are some tips and practices you can do to prevent (or reduce) the effects of rust and corrosion. To protect your door from the elements consider these tips:
Regular Cleaning
- The simplest way to reduce corrosion is by keeping your metal garage door clean. Particles in the coastal air, such as salt, sand, or other minerals that stick to the front door can speed up the rusting process through these particles. Over several months, tiny particles will collect on your door, and these can corrode over time unless you clean them off.
Cleaning your Garage Door from start to finish
- Scrub the surface of the door with a mixture of water mild detergent and a soft sponge or cloth.
- Make sure you get the bottom part of the door as this is where salt/ moisture will gather.
- Thoroughly wash the door down with water and allow it to dry completely.
- Importance: Keeping clean to remove salt and grime protects the metal from corrosion and increases the longevity of a door.
Apply Protective Coating
- While a great deal of metal garage doors also have a protective coating that was applied at the factory, it will wear away with time and the door can then oxidize. An additional line of defense against the elements would be to reapply a protective sealant or rust-inhibiting paint.
Types of Protective Coatings
- Rust-Inhibiting Primer and Paint — If you begin to notice rust, layer a rust-inhibiting primer with a new coat of exterior paint specially formulated for metal surfaces.
- Wax or Sealant – Consider adding a car wax, like Titanium Glaze for the door's surface, to use this as a protection layer that will seal all those particles from getting into your doors easily. This forms a barrier, preventing the moisture of the metal.
Why it Matters
Protective coatings help maintain the metal from moisture and salt, protecting against rust, as well as extend the life of your garage door.
Regular Inspections
- Regular inspections of your garage door can alert you to early signs of corrosion before it becomes worse. Check for rust spots, paint chipping, or wear protective coatings.
What to Inspect
- Hinges and Hardware: Besides checking the door panels, look at all of the hinges, springs, and other metal parts for any signs of rust. These areas are highly prone to rust and can adversely affect the work of a gate machine.
- The door bottom panel and the tracks: are where your garage door is in contact with water and debris causing friction or rust.
What Is Its Purpose
Regular inspections help identify minor issues before they snowball into major repairs or replacements.
Deal with the Minor Rust Spots Immediately
If you see little rust spots here and there while checking, be active immediately. As it spreads, rust can magnify in size and destruction.
How to Remove Minor Rust:
Rust-Resistant Materials
Using Sandpaper or a Wire Brush a fine grit sandpaper or wire brush over the rust and scrape away any loose particles.
Rust converter to deal with any lingering rust This chemical process converts rust into a paintable surface.
Once the rust converter has dried, Prime first with a rust-inhibiting primer and follow with matching paint to the other doors.
If rust on the door is addressed in its early stages, it can be stopped and not allowed to eat through the door leading to severe body damage.
Opt For Rust Proof Fabrics
If you need to replace your garage door, then think about selecting a material that is inherently rust and corrosion-resistant. Steel garage doors are quite common and will work for most homes, however, the best fit for coastal climes are aluminum and fiberglass.
Rust-Resistant Materials
Naturally rust and corrosion-resistant, aluminum is a great option for coastal homes. Are lightweight with minimum maintenance needs as compared to steel doors.
Fiberg lamps are a bit of a safe option as they too don't rust. They also achieve the appearance of wood without maintenance issues and are a favorite among homeowners who live in humid climates.
Choosing rust-resistant materials can drastically cut down on maintenance and save your door from the salty air that is typical of living by the coast.
The Time You Need to Bring in a Professional for Corrosion Repair
Your garage door if rust has spread or you think it may have significant damage to its structure, in which case no one should handle the job other than a professional garage door repair service. Rust can weaken the door to the point that repairs are more of a patch than a repair requiring panel replacement.
- Get a Quote at Affordable Garage Door Repair, we are experts in identifying and correcting garage door alignment issues. Our crew can quickly determine the level of damage and advise you on what needs to be done to get your door back to normal again.
Conclusion
If you live near a coast, you need to take care of your metal garage door to avoid rust due to the salt and moisture present in the air. However, you can put a stop to this issue through proactive regular cleanings, the application of protective coatings, and addressing any rust at its outset.
If you live near the coast and want to avoid this build-up, our experts at Affordable Garage Door Repair are happy to advise on how to keep your garage door in good shape. If you have rust or corrosion issues, contact us for an inspection and service.
