Preventing Rust on Garage Doors: Tips for Homeowners
While garage doors are an important exterior element of your home, they endure nature year-round eventually leading to inevitable rust. If you are a homeowner in Houston, and like most places Texans deal with a rusty problem our climate tends to cause things to rust throughout the year, especially in a hot humid environment. Rust affects appearance but also can hinder your garage door from functioning properly over time.
We know how the stresses of wear and tears in Houston’s climate can accelerate needing garage door repair. Read on to our best advice on how to protect against rust and prolong the life of your garage door.
Why Do Garage Doors Rust?
Steel or metal garage doors in particular are rust-prone if they are exposed to air and moisture. The garage door Installation in Houston is prone to rust due to the hot and humid climate along with frequent rainfall in the state, it does not have to be completely covered just little rusty patches can cause your door surface or frame rust which will then spread quickly throughout its area.
Garage Door Rust Causes
Houston may be moist, especially all through the rainy months, and also this encourages the oxidation process that results in rust.
This is another reason why coastal homes or anywhere where there is salt in the air can cause even more rust than normal, as it accelerates the process.
Avoiding regular maintenance, such as washing and protective coatings can lead to rust beginning and spreading
Check Your Garage Door Everyday
The first defense against a rusty garage door starts with routine inspections. If you can spot such early signs of rust, then take quick action which can help you fix the issue before even growing it more. When under the car, you should check the spots where some paint has chipped off exposing metal which is also like to rust.
What to Look For
If you see red-brown streams on the metal door parts.
Rust can cause the metal surface to flake, or bubble up, especially near joints or hinges. Exposed metal from paint chips is so easily prone to rust.
Exposed metal from paint chips is so easily prone to rust.
Between 3 and 6 months or after rainfall periods.
Keep Your Garage Door Clean
Moisture from rainwater and snow that mixes with dirt, dust, and contaminants can get blocked off with the debris stuck on your garage door, so you should clean it regularly to prevent rust buildup. We also highly recommend cleaning your garage door, as a clean door will look better and help prevent rust. Salt, grime, and other contaminants that promote rust are eliminated during regular cleaning.
Create a solution of warm water and mild soap to delicately clean the exterior of the door. Do not use harsh chemicals as they can destroy the finish of the door.
wipe the inside, outside, and bottom of the door using a dry soft cloth (pay extra attention to drying the underside where water can pool).
Every couple of months–more often if you live near salt air (i.e. at the coast). After cleaning with detergent, rinse the door well with clean water.
Apply a Protective Coating
Moisture from rainwater and snow that mixes with dirt, dust, and contaminants can get blocked off with the debris stuck on your garage door, so you should clean it regularly to prevent rust buildup. We also highly recommend cleaning your garage door, as a clean door will look better and help prevent rust. Salt, grime, and other contaminants that promote rust are eliminated during regular cleaning.
Wax or Sealant
Car wax, applied directly to the door, will add a layer of protection against humidity and rust. These coats operate to keep them separate from the metallic.
Rust-Inhibiting Primer
If your garage door has areas without paint, apply rust-inhibiting primer to the exposed metal before painting the bare spots to reduce the risks of rust.
Oil-Based Paint
Once you apply oil-based paint to your garage door, it will last longer without rusting and is a great way to rejuvenate the appeal of your garage doors.
When to Use
One or twice a year, or when you see the old finish begin to wear.
Lubricate Moving Parts
It not only affects the door panels but also the around-the-door moving parts such as hinges, springs, and rollers. Rust-Sensitive Components: These are the moving parts that experience significantly more wear and tear as well as direct exposure to moisture and therefore, often end up rusting. This prevents rust from forming on these parts, keeps them moving properly, and makes them last longer.
When it comes to your garage doors
Use a silicone-based lubricant- Apply a silicone-based or lithium-based lubricant on the rollers, hinges, springs , and tracks of the door. Do not use any WD-40, as it will cause more problems since dust and dirt stick to it widely.
Remove Excess
Once you have lubricated your lock, remove any excess lubricant with a clean cloth to avoid a build-up.
Interval
Semi-Annual — unless squeaking or operational difficulty occurs.
Fix Nicks and Scratches Now
Even minor scratches or paint chips can rust over time if they are not dealt with. This leaves the areas prone to rust, as you see the metal bare. If you can see these imperfections, you should address them as quickly as possible to prevent the rust from spreading.
Repair small chips and scratches
Sand the area
Use sandpaper to remove rust or any peeling paint from the affected area.
Rust-inhibiting primer
With the metal sanded down, apply a rust-inhibiting primer to help protect it from further rust.
Repaint
The surface should be re-coated using touch-up paint that is the same color as your garage door.
When to Fix
Right after the original paint is chipped or scraped
Ensure Proper Drainage
Puddling water can create even more problems, this is likely to happen during the rainy season in Houston and it causes an increase in the speed of rust over time at the base of your garage door. Keeping water away from the bottom of your garage door is key to avoiding rust in what’s usually the weakest area of any garage door.
Garage Door Threshold Seal
This rubber seal is placed at the bottom of your garage door to keep water out.
Level your driveway
Make sure you level the gradient of the slope and that your water is being diverted away from that door instead of creeping towards it.
Examine gutters and downspouts
Flick through your garbage piles, and clean every piece of gutters and downspouts you have along with the rainwater in your garage.
Check When
Before and after the Rainy season to ensure proper drainage.
Look at a Rust-Prevention Garage Door Material
When selecting a garage door you may want to opt for something that is resistant to rust, especially if your current one has been very badly affected by it or if you are in the market for a new garage door. Some materials work better in the moist climate of Houston, so their maintenance and propensity for rust will be low.
What are the Best Rust-Resistant Garage Door Materials?
Aluminum garage doors are also resistant to rust and corrosion, which is ideal if you live in a humid or coastal location.
Fiberglass doors are rust-resistant, lightweight, and strong, but they may be weaker than metal doors.
A great material for a garage door in the sense that it is incredibly resistant to rust and moisture, however, it varies and can typically be on the pricier side of materials.
Get Professional Maintenance Scheduled
Top-of-the-line Garage Repair: Routine professional maintenance is the best way to help keep your garage door rust-free and in good condition. An experienced technician can determine incipient rust problems that could potentially develop into serious issues shortly and fix or replace what is necessary.
The Importance of Proper Cleaning
A trained professional can detect early stages of rust or corrosion signs and do something about them before they progress.
A technician will inspect every component of the door, from tracks and rollers to springs or anything else that may be causing problems.
Experts can apply appropriate coatings, like rust inhibitors to prevent your garage door from aging.
Annually, or after a very wet season or storm events.
Conclusion
Garage door rust not only makes this important component of your home look bad but it can also combine with moisture and erode the material over time. These preventative measures help protect your garage door from the harmful effects of the constant Houston climate and ultimately extend its life. Affordable Garage Door Repair provides comprehensive maintenance and repair services for your garage door. Whatever you need, whether restorative rust-proofing, lubrication, or full-on replacement we have a team of skilled technicians here to cover your needs. Call us now for a free estimate and we can always keep your garage door rust-free, and working all year long.
