beautify your old garage door

A garage door doesn't have to be hooked into an automatic door opener to suffer issues. There are damages that can affect manually operating doors and prevent them from working properly. 

1. Track Problems

The most common type of problem is likely with the track. Tracks can become dirty and warped over time. Cleaning them out so that no cobwebs, leaves, or other debris prevents door operation can help. More severe issues may require that the track is re-aligned or that bent and damaged sections are replaced. Avoid leaning items against the tracks or hitting them with mowers and other items in order to prevent damage in the future.

2. Worn Weatherstripping

Every garage door should have weatherstripping around it. There is typically rubber seals on the side edges designed to keep out wind and moisture. The bottom and top edges may have rubber strips or brush-style weatherstripping. Over time, these weatherstripping can become damaged and worn. Damaged weatherstripping can make manual operation harder, as well as let in moisture. Repairing and replacing the weatherstripping solves the problem.

3. Closure Issues

A door that won't close properly isn't as common with manual doors, simply because they aren't supported by carefully balanced chains and cables like their automatic cousins. Closure issues can happen though, usually as a result of damaged door rollers. Over time, the rubber wheels on the rollers wear down or the bearings become jammed, making movement difficult. A repair surface can replace the rollers with much more durable nylon wheels. Lack of lubrication of rollers and door hinges can also cause closure problems.

4. Failed Thresholds

The threshold is a strip that runs along the concrete garage foundation and lines up with the bottom edge of the door when the garage door is closed. Older thresholds were often made of wood, which can eventually crack or rot. If the threshold has failed, your garage can flood if water flows under the door when it rains. Replacing the threshold with a sturdy rubber model solves the issue. It also protects the bottom of wood garage doors from rot. 

5. Door Damages

Any garage door material can suffer damages. Wood doors can crack or rot. Painting the door regularly minimizes damage, and a repair service may be able to fix minor cracks. Metal doors can become dented, which a service can pop out and repaint. Vinyl and fiberglass doors are pretty durable, but an impact can put a hole in them. This necessitates a replacement of the damaged door panel.

Contact a garage door repair service if you have issues with your manual garage door.