The Impact of Weather on Your Garage Door and How to Protect It

Here’s something a lot of people don’t realize: weather can beat up your garage door faster than you’d think—up to 12 times faster without proper garage door weather protection.. Wild, right? The International Door Association backs this up, showing how extreme temperatures can wear down your garage door without you even noticing.

Whether it’s a scorching summer or a freezing winter, your door is right there, taking the hit every single day. And if you don’t do something about it? Well, that’s where things start to fall apart.

But here’s the good news: protecting your garage door doesn’t have to be a huge hassle. A few smart moves can keep your door working smoothly and looking great, no matter what the weather throws at it. Let’s dig into what happens during different weather conditions and how you can keep your garage door standing strong.

Summer Heat: The Unseen Strain

Let’s talk about summer. You’re sweating, the air feels heavy, and you can practically see the heat waves coming off the pavement. Your garage door? It’s dealing with all that, too. 

Metal garage doors start expanding when the temperature rises. That means springs and tracks stretch and twist, putting extra strain on everything. And if you’ve got a wooden door? 

It might not be warping in front of your eyes, but give it enough sun, and it’ll start swelling, cracking, and causing all sorts of issues.

How Heat Can Hurt Your Garage Door

• Metal parts expand: Springs stretch, tracks bend, and the door just doesn’t move as smoothly.
• Wood warps: If your door’s wooden, it might swell or crack under the heat.
• Creaky, sticky operation: Suddenly, your garage door sounds like it’s haunted—no thanks to the heat.

Keeping Things Cool in the Summer

You don’t have to watch your garage door struggle through summer. There are a few easy things you can do:

1. Lubricate the moving parts: Just like putting on sunscreen, it’s a small step that makes a big difference.
2.  Insulate the door: Insulation keeps the door cooler and helps prevent those heat-related issues.
3.  Seal up any gaps: Keep hot air from sneaking in and messing with your garage door’s smooth operation.

Winter Woes: The Freezing Fight

Winter isn’t any kinder to your garage door. Icy cold temperatures make metal parts stiff, causing springs and tracks to seize up. And if you’ve ever had your door freeze shut, you know how much of a pain that can be. 

Snow and ice love to settle into those tracks, making it almost impossible to open or close the door without a fight. Oh, and let’s not forget about rust. Winter moisture is just looking for ways to creep in and cause rust all over your door’s metal parts.

Winter’s Wrath on Your Garage Door

• Frozen seals: The rubber at the bottom of the door can freeze to the ground, sticking it shut.
• Rust buildup: Snow brings moisture, and moisture brings rust—it’s a fact.
• Motor strain: Your garage door motor can struggle to move the door when everything’s frozen up.

How to Stop Winter from Winning

Winterproofing your garage door doesn’t take much effort. A little prep goes a long way:

• De-ice the tracks: If snow and ice are freezing up your tracks, use de-icer or a hairdryer to get things moving.
• Use silicone spray: Regular oil might freeze, but silicone spray stays slick in cold temps.
• Install a weather seal: This will keep snow, ice, and cold air from sneaking under the door and freezing it shut.

Stormy Weather: Wind and Rain Are a Tag Team

Let’s face it—heavy rain and strong winds are a terrible combo for garage doors. Winds can dent or even knock a door off its tracks, especially if your garage door’s seen better days. And then there’s the rain. 

It’s more than just an annoyance. Water loves to find its way into metal parts, causing rust, and if your door is wooden, constant exposure to moisture leads to swelling and rot. Not a good look.

The Damage Wind and Rain Can Cause

• Dented panels: Strong winds can leave your door looking banged up.
• Rust and rot: Rainwater causes rust in metal doors and wood rot in wooden ones.
• Electrical issues: Rainwater and electronics? Bad news if water sneaks into your automatic opener system.

Protecting Your Door from Storms

Luckily, there are ways to prep your garage door for bad weather before it hits:

• Install wind-resistant braces: These add strength to your door, helping it stand up to strong winds.
• Add weatherstripping: Keep the rain from sneaking in and causing rust or rot.
• Upgrade to weather-resistant materials: Steel or fiberglass doors do a much better job against heavy rain than wood.

Humidity: The Silent Killer for Wooden Doors

Got a wooden garage door? Then humidity is public enemy number one. Wood soaks up moisture from the air, which leads to swelling, warping, and—if you’re really unlucky—mold. 

This doesn’t just mess up how your door looks. Over time, all that extra moisture can throw off the balance, making it a struggle to open or close.

What Humidity Does to Wooden Garage Doors

• Swelling and warping: Humidity causes wood to expand, making your door heavy and uneven.
• Mold: Damp wood is a breeding ground for mold, which can cause long-term damage.
• Misaligned tracks: When your door swells, it can mess up its alignment, making it harder to use.

How to Handle Humidity

Don’t worry. You can keep your wooden door safe with just a bit of effort:

• Repaint or reseal: A fresh coat of paint or wood sealant stops moisture from soaking in.
• Vent the garage: Proper airflow reduces humidity levels inside your garage, keeping the door safe.
• Regular inspections: Catch swelling or mold early, and you can fix it before it becomes a big issue.

Regular Maintenance: Your Garage Door’s Best Friend

Here’s the thing: it doesn’t matter what season or type of weather you’re dealing with. The key to a long-lasting, reliable garage door is simple maintenance. You don’t need to spend hours on it—just a little bit of attention goes a long way. 

Trust me, your garage door will thank you.

• Clean and inspect the door regularly: Look for signs of rust, dents, or weird sounds.
• Lubricate the parts: Springs, rollers, tracks—they all need a little lubrication to keep them running smoothly.
• Check the balance: Make sure the door opens and closes evenly without struggling.
• Tighten loose parts: Screws and bolts can loosen up over time, so tighten them up before they cause problems.

Conclusion

Weather doesn’t take a break, and neither does your garage door. Heat, cold, rain, wind—each season brings new challenges. But by taking a few simple steps to protect it, you can avoid expensive repairs and keep your door working like a charm. 

It’s all about staying ahead of the game with regular care and the right precautions. And if you need a helping hand, Right Choice Doors has got your back. Whether it’s weatherproofing or repair, we’ll make sure your garage door is ready for anything.