When your garage door is opened, it needs time to settle in before you can enter and exit the garage. This is important because if you need to leave the garage after this process has happened, the door will need to close and stay closed.
This happens when you install a secondary door in your home. When this happens, you will need a new door panel. The new panel will need to match your current one so it can seal the room from the outside.
It is important to have a panel that is able to hold up over time since it is always changing with new homes and homes that move.
Contents:
Remove any sharp objects
If your door is made of hard wood, you may find that some objects can be a little too sharp for the surface. Several people have reported that they have discovered broken pieces of the wood when attempting to repair the door.
These reports are likely what happened to this person, who had a pencil or something similar lodged in the wood. He was able to remove it by using something soft and liquid, such as Goo Gone.
If you have very hard objects, such as a refrigerator or washing machine, you may want to consider purchasing a ice chest cover to protect the door. These can be bought online or even at stores that sell cooling devices for homes.
As with any home improvement project, be sure to check back later to see if there is more progress.
Soften the metal with a warm iron
If you notice the garage door panel is very stiff, you may need to soften the metal with a warm iron. This can be done before you add any layers of insulation or liners to help prevent heat from escaping.
To do this, simply place a small layer of insulation or liner on the bottom of the garage door and then place a sheet of metal on top. Let it sit for an hour and then try opening and closing the door. If it seems to hold its shape well, then great!
If not, add some more layers of insulation or liners to help protect the metal from heat loss.
How to fix a bent garage door panel tip: If your panel is already broken in several places, try adding some cushioning materials such as foam or vinyl against which you pull up your garage door to help soften the breakage.
Use a dent pulling kit
When your garage door is installed, it may have a small layer of dressed steel or aluminum around the door to help prevent against being bent when closing and opening the door.
This is normal and expected. If you have a white or light colored garage door, it has a higher thickness of steel or aluminum over the rest of the frame to help prevent this.
If you have a darker colored garage door, it has a lower thickness of steel or aluminum to help keep it looking nice over the years. This is also expected!
Using a dent pulling kit can fix this problem! They are sold online and at home improvement stores. Just make sure they are for your type of garage door so that they work correctly.
Pull out on the damaged area
If the damaged area is only a few inches long, you can pull it out completely by pulling on one end of the panel and lifting up on the other end.
If the damaged area is longer, you can cut off the end that is causing the problem. Once you do that, you can easily pull out on the remaining end of the panel.
Once your door is open, climb inside and enjoy!
This method may not work if your door does not have a handle on it or if it is an automatic door. You will have to repair this problem with another method below.
Apply pressure to the dented area
When the garage door is fully open, release some pressure on the panel to allow for full expansion and contraction of the door. This will allow the door to close and stay closed.
Continue applying pressure until you hear a solid click. That means you have applied enough pressure to lock the door into place.
Now it is time to add your key! When you insert your key, make sure it is inserted all the way in one go or it will not work. Then, pull out slightly and push in again until it clicks. This will release the spring which holds it in place.
Set a floor mat or something flat on top of the dented area to prevent scratching or marring of the new panel.
Use paint to match your panel and cover the dent
If your garage door panel is painted white, you can use a few drops of white paint to match the panel. Add another layer of protection against weather and scratches.
Just be careful to take it away when the garage is cleaned! Many times garage doors are left on for weeks or months after cleaning. This helps prevent rusting and light shining through the panel.
If your panel is painted dark, you can cover the dent with some heavy-duty tape. Or you can use vinyl sheeting or an old sheet set. Neither of those materials are very environmentally friendly, but they are cheaper than new material.
You could also try applying some clear contact cement on top of the dent to seal it in.
Replace the panel if none of these work
If one of these suggestions fix the problem or break it, then you should replace the garage door panel.
1. Use a soldering iron to reattach the wiring
If you removed the wires for any reason, do not throw them away-they may be useful in the future. You can reattach the wires with aSoldering Iron or Solderable Threading Cable.
2. Use a component replacement kit to repair the hardware
If you can’t replace either of these due to cost or size, then you should try a component replacement kit. These contain parts that can be used to repair both garage doors and garage doors. Some companies offer component kits that are priced lower than buying new parts and placing together, which is an affordable way to fix your problem.
3.