Garage doors are a big investment. You may spend up to $10,000 on your garage door, so naturally, you want to do everything you can to protect and care for it. Sadly, a lot of people spend exorbitant amounts of money on their garage doors, but they are not careful when it comes to maintenance. Garage doors are often one of the most overlooked appliances in the home. Because they are outside, they are easy to forget about. But we must emphasize the importance of garage door care. When you do not care for this appliance, you may find yourself dealing with issues such as garage door rust.
It is always better to be preemptive. However, you may have garage door rust already. If that is the case, then you’ll need to know how to get rid of it. Learn how to do that, plus more in our guide to garage door rust!
What Causes Garage Door Rust?
Rust can be caused by a number of things. The environment in which you live is the biggest contributing factor. If you live in a coastal climate, salt wind from the ocean can cause corrosion and rust on your metal garage door. Additionally, you may run into a similar problem if you live in a cold, snowy climate. That is because there will be large areas of the road covered in salt, not to mention your driveway. This salt then transfers onto your garage door.
Moisture can also cause rust. If you live somewhere that has a lot of precipitation, beware. You may need to pay extra attention to your garage door.
How to Prevent Garage Door Rust
As we mentioned before, being preemptive is the best course of action if you don’t want garage door rust. Thankfully, it is not hard to prevent this issue with a little time and effort. Here are two things you can do to prevent garage door rust:
1. Clean Your Garage Door
Washing your garage door regularly is an excellent way to prevent garage door rust. It is also easy. All you need to clean your garage door is a bucket of warm, soapy water, a soft cleaning cloth (or sponge), and a towel. Just give your garage door a thorough scrubbing with the cloth and soapy water, then towel it dry. It’s that simple!
2. Get Your Garage Door Painted
Adding a layer of garage door paint can help protect your garage door from the elements. While you can paint your garage door yourself, it is better to get this job done by a professional. This ensures that the proper type of paint is used and that the door gets prepped correctly prior to being painted.
How to Remove Garage Door Rust
Maybe preventing garage door rust is not your issue. If you haven’t invested in proper care, you’ll need to know how to remove garage door rust. Here are the steps to removing garage door rust:
1. Get White Vinegar
You’ll need something slightly acidic to remove the rust from your garage door. However, you cannot use an agent that is too powerful, or else you risk making the problem worse. That is why it is best to use white vinegar, a powerful and natural cleaner. Using a soft cloth and vinegar, wipe away as much rust as you can. You likely will not be able to get all of it, but you should be able to remove a majority of it.
2. Use Steel Wool
Vinegar can only do so much if your rust situation is out of hand. For those stubborn patches of rust that you can’t get rid of, you should use abrasion to remove them. Steel wool is the perfect abrasive.
3. Get Rid of Any Holes
Serious rust can eat holes through the metal of your garage door. Thankfully, it is possible to fill them in instead of purchasing a new garage door if the damage is not too far gone. Purchase some auto filler from the store, then use it to close up any holes. When the auto filler dries, go over it with sandpaper until you have a smooth, even surface.
4. Clean and Paint Your Garage Door
Now that the rust is gone, you can start implementing the preventative measures we discussed above. It is important to clean your garage door and get it painted right away before any more rust and corrosion occur. Once again, these are jobs best done by a professional.
We Can Help With Garage Door Repair!
Are you having a hard time caring for your garage door and preventing rust? If so, you’re in need of high-quality repairs. Our team at Overhead Garage Door Conroe is here when you need repairs related to rust. We can also assist you with regular maintenance, as well as replace your garage door if it has become damaged beyond repair. Reach out today to learn more about our services!
