Did you know the average garage door opens and closes 3-5 times a day?
On the higher of the usage scale, that can mean your garage door could be used over 1,800 times per year!
At Kay Garage Doors, we’re here to ensure that your garage door remains fully operational, safe and secure.
However, for that to be the case, your garage door should receive regular servicing by a qualified professional.
Keep reading to discover our top garage door maintenance tips. Plus, to learn the signs it’s time to call in the experts to perform a full safety check or carry out any necessary repairs.
What Maintenance Does A Garage Door Require? – The Essential Checklist
When performing maintenance on a garage door, there is a broad range of aspects that require careful inspection.
Although not exhaustive, the main maintenance tasks to complete include:
- Checking the weatherstripping
- Cleaning and inspecting tracks
- Cleaning the door surface
- Door balance check
- Garage door opener check
- Inspecting and tightening hardware
- Inspecting the rollers and replacing them if worn
- Lubricating any moving parts
- Testing the door balance
- Testing any safety features
If you’re not sure how to do any of the above, it’s possible to watch tutorials to learn what to do.
However, if you want to ensure a professional job and prevent warranty issues with the door, calling in a garage door technician is preferred.
Performing Maintenance According To The Garage Door Type
Garage door maintenance can look slightly different depending on the garage door type.
For example, whether you have an up and over garage door or sectional garage doors can impact the approach to maintenance.
Therefore, the service you may need to ask for when calling in professional help can include one of the following:
- Automatic garage door maintenance
- Commercial garage door maintenance
- Hormann garage door maintenance
- Overhead garage door maintenance
- Roller shutter garage door maintenance
- Sectional garage door maintenance
- Up and over garage door maintenance
- Wooden garage door maintenance
Kay Garage Door can repair all of the above garage door types. In addition, we also specialise in leading garage door brands. For instance, we commonly assist local Hormann garage door owners through our installation, maintenance and repair services.
Why Garage Door Maintenance Is Important
If you have a garage door on your residential or commercial property, then regular
garage door maintenance is essential.
Beyond avoiding safety or security concerns, the main purpose of maintaining your garage door is to identify potential issues early on to prevent the need for more expensive repairs. An added benefit is that maintenance ensures your garage door is running as smoothly as it should be.
Avoiding Weather-Related Door Issues
As garage doors are exposed to the elements on a daily basis, it’s likely that rust and erosion could take place over time. Inspect your garage door regularly to see if you notice any unusual changes. Catch any issues early on and nip them in the bud before they cause any more damage.
Garage Door Maintenance Can Save You Money
Although garage doors are built to last, there are some parts which are less durable. For instance, springs and hinges may need more frequent replacement. Check on the condition of these during your garage door checks and replace them as needed. Inspecting your garage door saves you the expense of mistakenly installing a new door when it may just be a small component within it that needs replacing or upgrading. By making minor repairs and replacements where needed, you can maximise how long your garage lasts.
Ensuring Safety & Security
As our Google reviews will attest to, there are many reasons why our customers trust us to perform garage door maintenance. This commonly includes to gain peace of mind that their home is safe and secure. After all, why take the risk of an accident or injury when garage door maintenance is quick and cost-effective to perform? Likewise, since most garages contain valuable items or provide access to the rest of your property, they must remain secure at all times. Regular maintenance can ensure all of these points are taken care of.
How Often Is Garage Door Maintenance Required?
While garage doors shouldn’t require constant maintenance if they are in general working order, they will need occasional fine-tuning.
As the seasons change, this can create different challenges for the components of your garage door. In particular, expansion and contraction can occur due to the cold of the winter followed by the summer heat.
The most common job which will need to be performed at least once a season is the lubrication of moving parts such as the rollers, hinges and springs. Doing so will ensure the door continues to move properly, while also preventing rust from forming.
Finally, it’s important to schedule annual garage door maintenance with a qualified professional.
This will provide the opportunity to inspect all of the high-tension aspects of the door such as the springs and cables.
Garage Door Maintenance Tips
New to maintaining garage doors? These are some of the top things to look out for to ensure your door is operationally safe and secure.
Listen To The Noise
If there is a weird sound while opening or closing the garage door, it is a clear sign of damage to the structure. Observe the door thoroughly and try to find out if there is anything suspicious or unusual. In many cases, you may find it difficult to open or close the door smoothly.
Look Out For Tight Or Stubborn Hardware
When the hardware of your garage door seems tough to handle or becomes stubborn to move, you should consider checking it out thoroughly. Regular movement and vibration may make the hardware a bit weak and unstable. Regular garage door servicing will help you to ensure the best performance of your garage door’s hardware.
Use Lubrication
It is essential to keep the garage door’s parts lubricated and well greased so that they can be moved up and down or sideways smoothly. A lack of lubrication will make the job tougher for these parts. You will also need to put far more effort into operating moving parts of your garage door when they are not sufficiently greased up. Buy spray lubricant for the screw, opener’s chain and other parts to ensure smooth and uninterrupted operation.
Inspect The Rollers
When it comes to garage door maintenance and servicing, you should not neglect the rollers. Inspect them and if you find anything that doesn’t look right, call for a replacement. Garage door rollers should be inspected twice a year. A cracked and worn roller can cause risks to you and any of your family members. Removing or reinstalling a damaged roller is essential to ensure the safety of your loved ones and your assets as well.
Garage Door Maintenance FAQs
We’ve answered some common questions that garage door owners just like you want to know.
If you’re local to us in Scotland and need any further help or advice, please give the Kay Garage Doors team a call.
Do Garage Doors Need Maintenance?
Yes! All door types require maintenance at some stage to keep them in good working order, and garage doors are no exception.
Every so often, the internal components of a garage door need to be checked and adjusted to ensure everything works as it should. Neglecting to maintain your garage door at regular intervals or when you notice any issues can lead to expensive repairs being needed. Likewise, ensuring the door is fully functional also promotes better personal safety as well as the security of your property.
How Much Does Garage Door Maintenance Cost?
It’s difficult to give a specific price without understanding exactly what maintenance or repairs your garage door needs. Generally, most standard garage door maintenance jobs are priced under £100. Once we’ve inspected your garage door, we will be able to provide you with a free tailored quotation.
Do Modern Garage Doors Require A Lot Of Maintenance?
All garage doors require maintenance regardless of their age. That said, if you upgrade your garage door to a modern door type, this may prove more cost-effective if your current garage door needs frequent repairs. For example, switching from a wooden garage door that is showing its age to an automatic garage door can save you time, effort and money in the long run.
Kay Garage Doors – Get A Free Quote For Our Garage Door Maintenance Services
Are you based in Central Scotland and in search of garage door maintenance?
Our technicians are ready and waiting to help you. We cover 16 key locations in Scotland including Edinburgh, Glasgow, Motherwell and Perth.
Wherever you’re based, we’ll dispatch a member of the Kay Garage Door team to perform the required maintenance or repair on your garage door. We specialise in all garage door types, including commercial and residential garage doors.
Get a free quote on our website or call us on 0178 6568 160.
