Your garage door, whether metal or timber, is more than just an entrance – it is a key part of the exterior of your property. Over time, wear as a result of weather and dirt can make it appear dull, lead to rust or rot, and impact the curb appeal of your property. If you want to ensure that your garage door continues to look great for as long as possible then it is important to make sure that you look after it. There are a number of things that you should be doing in order to maintain its durability and style and ensure that it has a long lasting finish that will help to protect it from the elements.
In our short guide we will look at what you need to do to ensure that you achieve a long-lasting finish on your garage door.
Prepare the surface
Before you can add any kind of finish to your garage doors you need to ensure that you have fully prepared the surface of the door. It can be a good idea to clean the front of your garage door on a regular basis. This will help it to stay looking great and will also show you any problem areas that need dealing with.
If you do this as part of a regular maintenance routine, you will be able to check that every part of your garage door is still functioning as it should and remove any dirt and debris from the moving parts as well as the surface.
Choose the right treatment
If you have a timber garage door then you should be using some form of treatment on it every couple of years. This will help protect the wood and keep it looking great. If you are using a paint, then look for one which is suitable for outdoor use and will offer good protection against the elements. This will help to protect the timber against the rot that can be caused by moisture. There are some paints which have additional properties such as UV resistance, which could be good if your garage door gets a lot of direct sunlight.
Remember that the paint that you apply to the surface of your garage door will only offer the best protection if you prepare the surface of the door properly. This means cleaning it and then sanding it down. If there are any areas of damage these should also be dealt with before you apply your paint. If the garage door needs a second coat, then make sure that you leave sufficient drying time between coats, as this will help to provide a long-lasting finish to your garage door.
If your garage door is metal, then many of the same principles apply. Clean and prepare the surface of the garage door and choose the correct sort of paint. There are some that offer rust protection. It is likely that you will need to paint a metal garage door less regularly than one that is made of timber as it is a little more durable.
One further way in which you can ensure a long-lasting finish for your garage door is to look for a good quality garage door with a durable coating in the first place. A garage door that has been fully treated and finished will be designed to be durable against the elements. All that you will need to do is keep it clean to prevent potential damage from dirt and dust.
