How to Fix a Dent in Your Garage Door

A dent in your garage door may be unsightly, but the good news is that it can be fixed. Once you notice the dent, you’ll want to make sure that it gets fixed. A dent is an eyesore, but it can also lead to other issues if you go too long without having the dent repaired. There are several ways to fix a dent in the garage door, and the pros at Precision Garage Door can give you more information on how to fix your garage door when there is damage involved.

Determine the Volume of Damage
Although garage doors are generally pretty sturdy, they can also become damaged from you pulling the car into or out of the garage. The garage doors may also sustain damage from natural sources such as strong storms. Before you go about fixing the door, you’ll want to figure out how much damage is involved. The first step is to see if you can still open and close the garage door. If you can open the door, that is the best scenario, as it means the repairs will be relatively minor and shouldn’t take too long to complete. You may even be able to complete the repairs on your own. However, if the damage is more extensive and the door isn’t fully functional, you’ll want to contact a professional from Precision Garage Door to take care of the repairs.

Consider the Materials You’re Working With
The materials you are working with can largely influence how you go about making repairs, and even if you decide to try fixing the garage door yourself or decide right off the bat to hire the pros to do the job for you. Most likely, you’ll be dealing with either steel or aluminum garage doors. Either way, you’ll want to start with the same essential repair items for either door, including a sponge, water, soap, tin foil, a source of heat, and a can filled with compressed air.

Methods to Repair a Garage Door
There are a few good ways to repair your garage door, including:

• Mallet
• Suction Cups
• Aluminum Dent Repairs
• Steel Dent Repairs

Sometimes you can use simple tools to repair the dent in your garage door. A mallet is one option for taking care of more minor issues. A mallet is a good choice for repairing aluminum garage doors, as doors made of aluminum are generally more malleable. Along with the mallet itself, you’ll want to have a few additional items on hand to carry out the repairs. When you repair the garage door, you should have cleaning supplies with you, using a mallet and a block of wood to hold the garage door open and prevent it from moving. If the garage door has deeper dents, you’ll want a few additional items, including sandpaper with a fine grit. Auto body filler is also recommended for repairing deeper dents on a garage door. If the door needs to be repainted, you should also have fresh paint that matches the door. To get started with the repairs:

1. Begin by cleaning the area that will be fixed using the cleaning supplies you have on hand.
2. Once you’ve cleaned the surface, put the wood block on the other side of the door across from the dent.
3. Tap the door gently with the mallet until you remove the dent and make the dented area even with the rest of the door’s surface.

Suction cups are another option for repairing the dent on your garage door. Suction cups can be used to repair dents on a number of surfaces, including garage doors and cars. While mallets are optimal for aluminum doors, suction cups are suitable for repairing dents on steel garage doors. Suction cups are best used on a flat surface, which allows them to form a tight seal on the garage door. If the dent is large or deep or at an angle relative to the door, it may be more challenging to fix the garage door with a suction cup. If you want to make the job as easy as possible, you can do research on your own by looking for a “suction cup dent puller” online. After acquiring the component, you can try to repair the garage door on your own, depending on your comfort level. Just put the suction cup on the garage door and pull it a little, similar to a plunger. If you do not feel that you’re up to the task of attempting DIY garage door repairs, you can always contact a Santa Maria garage door repair expert to make sure the dent is properly fixed and you don’t cause any additional damage to the garage door.

Just like repairing aluminum garage doors, steel garage doors require some special considerations. Steel garage doors in southern California are less prone to damage than aluminum garage doors, as they are heavier and thicker materials. Steel garage doors are generally low maintenance, durable, and weather-resistant, which is less of an issue in California, but it can be a major factor in determining what kind of garage door to get if you live in a colder climate. As durable as steel garage doors are, they are typically more challenging to fix when they do become dented or damaged. Steel garage doors can still be repaired when something goes wrong. You can start fixing the garage door by cleaning and sanding the area to ensure it is ready for repairs. Next, take a putty knife or a similar item with a flat surface to spread a layer of compound over the garage door’s surface. Be sure to spread the compound evenly in a few thin layers instead of applying one thick layer. After you have finished applying the compound, be sure to sand down the surface to ensure that the surface layer is smooth and consistent with the surface area across the garage door. To finish the project and make it aesthetically pleasing, the last step required is painting the garage door to make sure that it matches the rest of the door. Whether you’re applying paint or a compound, make sure to wear the proper protective equipment to make sure that you avoid accidental exposure to harmful chemicals.

When to Contact the Pros
While you may be tempted to take care of all garage door repairs by yourself, there are times when it makes sense to contact a professional to take care of the repairs for you. If you are ever unsure of how to repair the garage door or feel that making repairs is a major undertaking beyond your comfort level, don’t hesitate to contact a professional group to safely and effectively manage your garage door repairs. Additionally, a pro can help you decide when you should go ahead with repairing the garage door or when you may want to have the garage door replaced instead.

If your garage doors are dented, and you are unsure where to begin with repairs, don’t hesitate to contact the experts in garage door repair in San Luis Obispo, for more information and assistance.