If you accidentally bumped your garage door with your vehicle when you came to a stop, causing the wood to splinter or push in, it needs to be repaired to work properly. If the damage is minimal, you may be able to do the repairs on your own. Here is some guidance to help you fix a wooden garage door yourself.
Materials You Will Need
- Bucket of soapy water
- Non-abrasive sponge or clean cloth
- Needle nose pliers or tweezers
- Epoxy wood filler
- Screwdriver or butter knife
- Sander
- Medium and fine-grit sandpaper
- Level
- Paint
- Paintbrush
Check The Damage
Before starting repair, take a good look at the area where the damage is present. Go into your garage and take a look at the door from the opposite side to make sure there is no cracking straight through the wood. If there is, it will need to be repaired by a professional garage installation service. If the damage consists of smaller cracks or pushed in wood holes, it can be repaired with a few household items and tools.
Prepare The Area
Before starting your repair, clean down the area where you will be working. Having a clean surface will allow the material you use to fill in the compromised areas to adhere properly. Wash down the wood with a mild detergent mixed with water. Use a non-abrasive sponge or clean piece of cloth to saturate the area. Make sure to get inside the holes or cracks as best you can to remove all dirt. Pick out any wood slivers using a pair of needle nose pliers or tweezers. Allow the area to dry completely.
Fill The Breaks
Fill in any cracks or small holes with epoxy wood filler. Buy this in a hardware store. It is easy to apply. Open the packaging and rip off a piece of filler in the approximate size of the area you are going to repair. Roll it around between your fingers to warm it and to make it soft and pliable. Push the filler into the affected area using a small utensil such as a screwdriver or a butter knife. Smooth the filler using your fingers so it adheres to the door. Allow it to harden according to the packaging instructions.
Finish The Project
After the filler has hardened, use a sander with medium-grit sandpaper to smooth down the filler so it becomes uniform with the rest of the wood door. Use a level to check on the progress as you sand. Sand it down to the same level and then switch to a fine-grit sandpaper to smooth the surface. Afterward, paint to match the rest of your garage door. Allow the paint to dry completely before opening your garage door.
If you have more questions about garage door repair, contact a company like A & J Garage Door Inc.
Share
