Restoring Your Wood Garage Door: How To Fix Minor Cracks And Holes

Fluctuating temperatures and humidity levels cause your wood door to expand and contract. Over time, this can lead to the development of small cracks and holes that can have a huge impact on the way your door looks. While you may assume that eliminating this problem will require costly repairs or the purchase a brand new door, the truth is, this type of minor damage can typically be repaired on a DIY basis in a single weekend. Below, you will learn step-by-step what it takes to complete this task.

Your Supply List

  • Wood putty
  • Putty knife (make sure it is small enough to fit inside the damaged areas)
  • Fine grit sandpaper
  • Sanding block
  • Rotary tool
  • Two clean paintbrushes
  • Finishing product that matches your garage door (usually stain or paint)

Cleaning The Area

The first thing you will need to do is to clear away any wood splinters, dirt, and other debris that may be in or around the damage you wish to repair. While this may sound like a daunting task, it can usually be completed in a matter of minutes.

Simply begin by using your rotary tool to reach as far into the damaged area as you can. Next, move the rotary tool in a circular motion to sand away any dead wood or other debris that may be hiding on the inside of the hole or crack.

In order to remove debris and other contaminates from the outside of the damaged area, gently sand the area using a fine grit sandpaper and a handheld sanding block. While you may be tempted to use your power sander, giving into this temptation may cause more damage to your door as you simply want to take off the very top layer of the door's finish. This is a task that is best accomplished using a sanding block and very light pressure.

Repairing The Area

Now that the area is clean, you will need to perform the necessary repairs to your door. This should be done using a high quality wood putty and a putty knife that is small enough to reach all the way into the cracks and holes you will be repairing.

Begin by slowly adding wood putty to the deepest areas of the crack or hole. Be sure to press the putty in as far as it will go so that the damaged area is completely filled.

Once the damage is filled with putty, use the edge of your putty knife to scrape off any excess materials and then allow the putty to dry fully. After the putty is dry, use your sanding block to smooth out the door's surface.

Restoring The Area

While the damage to your door should be fixed at this point, the beauty of your garage door will still need to be restored. You should begin this restoration process by using a clean paintbrush to wipe away any sawdust or other debris that may have settled on the door during the previous step.

Next, apply a thin coat of paint or wood stain using a clean paintbrush. Do not attempt to use the same brush that was used to clean the door as small sawdust particles may be hiding in the brush and can mix with your finishing product. If this happens, you will end up with a bumpy finish that will not match the rest of your door.

After painting or staining the repaired area, simply allow the door to dry completely before resuming use. For more information on garage doors and their maintenance, contact a company like Raynor Door Company.

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