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Maintain and Weatherstrip a Garage Door
Level of difficulty: Beginner
While a garage door may operate for years without maintenance, what preventative care it may require is so easy that it's hardly worth exercising one's skills at procrastination. Take the few steps outlined below every year or two to keep your door in tip-top shape and functioning smoothly. Pay particular attention to the last step!
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| Materials List | | - Pry bar or nail puller
- Tape measure
- Screwdrivers
- Weatherstripping
- Bucket and rags
- Retractable utility knife
- Liquid dish soap
- Hammer
- Silicone spray lubricant
- 1-inch roofing nails
- Acrylic latex exterior caulk
- Clamp or locking pliers
- Caulking gun
- Adjustable wrench or socket or open-end wrench set
- Paint, paintbrush, and related supplies
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| 1. Replace Weatherstripping | |  | | Remove any deteriorated weatherstripping with a pry bar or nail puller. Measure the inside dimension between the doorstops at the ground level (a little less than the door width) and cut rubber door-bottom weatherstripping to that length with a utility knife. Then nail the weatherstripping in place with 1-in. galvanized roofing nails spaced about 4-6 inches apart. |
| | |  Tip: | | | | To hold the door at a convenient height, clamp a small board to the track above and below a wheel.
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| 2. Tighten Fasteners | |  | | Systematically check and tighten all fasteners that secure door hardware to the door. Do the same for the fasteners that hold the track parts together and anchor the tracks to the door opening. |
| 3. Clean the Track | |  | | Wipe the track with a cloth. If the track has oil on it, it shouldn't. Lubricants here only attract and hold dirt. Use a concentrated solution of liquid dish soap and water to remove the oil and dirt buildup. |
| 4. Lubricate | |  | | Blow any dust or dirt out of the roller mechanisms and give each one a quick squirt of silicone lubricant. Keep a clean cloth handy to wipe off any drips or overspray that may get onto the tracks. While you're at it, spray the locking mechanism box, too. (The lock is disabled or removed if you have a garage door opener). |
| 5. Caulk and Paint | | | One of the most vulnerable spots on a wood panel-style garage door is the bottom exterior edge of each panel. Water gets in the channel and causes paint to peel and eventually the panel to rot. Seal this joint with acrylic latex exterior caulk and check it every year. If the seal has failed, carefully scrape out the old caulk and loose paint. Prime any bare wood, apply a 1/8-in. bead of new caulk, and wait a day to touch up with paint, if needed. |
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