Your garage door is an important part of your home. They not only keep your vehicles inside your garage safe and secure, but they also are typically the first thing guests and neighbors see when visiting or passing by. Unfortunately, garage doors experience a lot of wear and tear over time. And perhaps there is nothing more frustrating than having something as expensive as your garage door system get dinged up.
Dents are one of the most common issues that can happen to your garage door. When your garage door is dinged up, the curb appeal of your home suffers to some extent. Even if the dents are minor, they can cause an issue down the road if you are planning to sell your house in the future. Additionally, more dents can occur or worsen with continued use, which can potentially cause your garage door to malfunction and hinder your daily routine.
A garage door may suffer a dent for many reasons, some causing more serious damage than others. For example, something as simple as a basketball bouncing into your garage door can leave behind a small imprint, while something like running your vehicle into your garage door is likely to cause the entire panel to bend. Because there are a variety of ways that garage door dents can occur, our garage door contractors always recommend high-quality garage doors that offer incredible durability and are able to withstand minor dents and dings.
How To Repair Garage Door Dents
If you find that your garage door has been dented, it is best to address the problem sooner rather than later. Of course, we always suggest contacting a professional for garage door repair jobs so you can ensure the work is done right, but issues like garage door dents are something that many homeowners have fixed on their own. Not all garage door materials are easy to repair, though. Generally, only homeowners that have garage doors made of stainless steel or aluminum can repair small dents with the right tools. Continue reading to learn how to easily repair steel or aluminum garage door dents.
Aluminum Garage Door Dent Repair
Lucky for you, aluminum is the easiest type of garage door material to fix. However, in order to properly get dents out of your garage door, you’re going to need a few things. First, grab a bucket of lukewarm water and add a drop of dish soap, stirring evenly. Apply the soapy water to the dented area(s), scrubbing it with a sponge to remove any grime or debris. Let the area air dry while you go find aluminum foil, a lighter, and a can of compressed air.
Once the dented area is dry, cut a section of tin foil to place it over the dent. To make things easier, tape the foil over the dented area. Next, apply the flame from your lighter over the tin foil until the heat is transmitted to the dented area. The aluminum foil protects your garage door from any scorch marks during the heating process, which should only take about a minute. Once the heat is transmitted to the dented area, immediately remove the foil and spray the condensed air across the area evenly. Due to the molecular structure of aluminum, the abrupt change in temperature causes the dent to reverse as the surface moves back into its original position.
Steel garage doors are a little trickier to fix and require a different approach to repairing dents. Steel garage doors will likely require a steel door or auto body filling compound. You’ll need to start the same way you would with an aluminum garage door — a thorough cleaning to remove any dirt. Once the dented area is clean and dry, you’ll need to sand the dent with the suggested grit level of sandpaper and wipe the dust away. Next, you will need to use a putty knife to apply the compound material to the dented area. Once the compound dries, use a finer grit of sandpaper to smooth the area and then apply primer and paint to the area to match the original color of your garage door.
Contact Garage Door Doctor For Garage Door Repair
If you have a steel or aluminum garage door, fixing dents shouldn’t be too much of a challenge. But if you have a different type of garage door or can’t seem to get the dent out yourself, you can rely on the garage door experts at Garage Door Doctor for garage door dent repair! Our team will be able to help you restore your garage door and transform the blemished surface or offer many affordable garage door replacement options.
If you are interested in learning more about our garage door services or receiving a free estimate, contact us today!
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