How to Prevent Rust in Your Garage Door

A rusty garage door is not only an eyesore, but it can also be a safety hazard. If your garage door is starting to show signs of rust, you may be wondering why and what you can do to prevent it. Rust occurs when metal is exposed to moisture and oxygen for extended periods of time—which is exactly what happens with a garage door. In this blog post, we’ll discuss the causes of rust in garage doors and how to prevent it from happening in the future. 

How Can You Prevent Rust in Your Garage Door? 

Not all garage doors are at risk of rusting. This is due to the fact that rust only occurs in metal or iron. As a result, neither vinyl nor wooden doors can rust. However, if the knobs, hinges, or locks are made of metal, they can rust. As a result, any metal component of a door can rust.

Fortunately, there are steps you can take to prevent rust from forming on your garage door: 

1. Clean It Regularly 

The best way to keep rust away from your garage door is by cleaning it regularly using either soap and water or a mild detergent solution. This will help remove dirt, debris, salt particles, and other contaminants that could potentially lead to corrosion over time. Make sure you rinse off any detergent residue with clean water afterwards so that nothing gets trapped between the panels of your garage door. 

2. Apply Protective Coating

If you find that cleaning isn’t enough to keep rust at bay then consider applying a protective coating such as automotive wax or paint sealer specifically designed for metal surfaces like those found on your garage door. This will provide an extra layer of protection against moisture and other elements that could cause corrosion over time. Make sure you choose a product that’s designed specifically for metal surfaces so that it won’t damage or discolor the finish. 

3. Install Drip Caps

Drip caps are plastic L-shaped tools that can be installed on your roof or siding. They assist in directing or diverting water away from sensitive areas such as doorways or windows.

You can prevent water and excess moisture from contacting your garage door by installing drip caps. Furthermore, this will prevent oxidation, which means no more rust.

4. Keep Air Circulating

High humidity levels can lead to condensation which will eventually cause rust if left unchecked. To avoid this make sure there’s enough air circulation within your garage by opening windows or using fans if necessary; this will help keep moisture levels down which should help prevent any potential corrosion from occurring. 

5. Regular Maintenance

You should also plan for regular maintenance checks. Again, you can do this yourself or hire a garage door specialist to inspect your door. It entails cleaning, lubrication, replacement, or repair of any damaged or faulty parts on a regular basis. As a result, if your hinges rust, you will be aware and able to repair them on time.

Such inspections will alert you if your door is rusting before too much damage is done. This avoids the inconvenience that could occur if your garage door suddenly stopped working. It will also save you money on unanticipated repairs or purchases.

Bottomline

Keeping rust away from your metal garage doors isn’t difficult but requires some regular maintenance on your part. By following these simple steps you should have no problem keeping rust away from your doors for years. If you have any questions about how to remove rust from your garage door or other maintenance tips, don’t hesitate to contact us.