How To Protect Wooden Garage Door From Rotting
Wooden garage doors give your homes an aesthetic outer look. However, their daily usage causes them to deteriorate over time and thus, require proper care. Therefore, give time to your garage doors so that they can last and function longer and make your house look more luxurious. If you’re wondering how to maintain them for daily convenience, here are some tips you can follow.
Causes Of Rotting
To prevent your wooden garage door from rotting in the future, it’s essential to understand the cause behind it. Water and fungi are the main culprits. If there is water leakage in your house due to plumbing issues, the wooden door will absorb the water and start to rot. Furthermore, once your door has been exposed to moisture, fungi will grow on it and spread.
Signs Of Rotting
How to identify whether there’s any rotting on your wooden garage door? These are some signs:
- Visible cracks on the door panel and frame
- Discoloration or the peeling off of the paint applied on your wooden door due to water absorption
- When you touch the door, it feels tender and spongy
- Strange smell coming from your wooden garage door
- Wood consuming pests roaming or any holes created on the wood by them
Protection Tips
Door Cleaning
Make sure to clean your garage door once a year to prevent any build-up of moisture or dirt. Just wiping the surface with a rag soaked in a regular soap solution can be enough to maintain the cleanliness of your door.
Door Inspection
If rotting occurs, your door’s wood will start to soften. Therefore, use a screwdriver to test the wood’s strength by gently poking it on the sides and the bottom. If the screwdriver easily penetrates through, this calls for immediate attention from a professional. In addition to that, keep an eye out for any damages to the surface or door components.
Protecting The Door From Water
Rain or plumbing issues can create a problem for your wooden door. Ensure that you clean and repair your gutter frequently to avoid water from collecting around the garage. Another option is to use door seals at the bottom of your garage door to prevent water from reaching the wood. Keeping the area around your garage door free from water sources can prevent rot.
Fixing Cracks Immediately
If you prolong any rot found on your garage door, it will most likely spread further into your door. In this case, immediately seal the door after finding any cracks in your door to prevent water from penetrating again. After sealing, you can go for a DIY solution for filling in the cracks. All you need to do is buy wood filler from the local market and fill it in using a putty knife. Let it dry out and sand to smoothen the surface. Such a solution may need regular reapplication for a more permanent solution call in professionals like Cypress Garage Door and Gates. Call us at (832) 349-2189 to learn more about how we can help.