Has your wood garage door developed a few minor cracks over the years? If so, you may think that repairing this damage will inevitably cost you an arm and a leg thanks to the need to hire a professional garage door contractor. However, the truth is, this minor damage can often be repaired on a do-it-yourself basis for less than you would spend on a fancy meal and a movie. In order to complete this task yourself, simply collect the materials listed below and complete the following three steps.

Materials You Will Need

• fine grit sandpaper
• sanding block
• rotary tool
• wood putty
• putty knife
• paint or wood stain that matches your current finish
• paintbrush

Step 1: Get It Ready

Before you begin filling the cracks in your garage door, it is important for you to remove all dirt and debris from in and around the cracks. In order to complete this task, begin by using a rotary tool to reach deep into the crack and remove all debris and dead wood. Next, use a handheld sanding block covered in fine grit sandpaper to remove all debris from the surface of the garage door surrounding the cracks. If any sawdust is left behind as a result of the sanding process, be sure to brush this dust off the door before moving on to the next step.

Step 2: Fill The Cracks

Using a generous amount of wood putty and an appropriately sized putty knife, you will need to be filling each crack. Be sure to reach deep into the crack in order to ensure the putty bonds well with the surrounding materials and you end up with a strong repair patch that can stand up to the test of time.

Once the crack is completely filled, use the flat edge of your putty knife to smooth out the surface of your repair and remove any excess putty. Now, simply walk away for approximately 24 hours while you wait for the putty to dry completely.

Step 3: Make It Beautiful

After the putty has been allowed to dry, you will be able to sand the repaired area in order to achieve a smooth finished surface. Finally, you will need to paint or stain the repaired area so that it will match the rest of your garage door.

While you can simply paint or stain the repaired area, you may experience color variations if the paint or stain on your garage door is more than a few months old. Consequently, for the very best results, you may wish to consider adding a fresh coat of stain or paint to the entire door once the repairs are complete.

In Conclusion

While repairing minor damage to your wood garage door will be incredibly simple using the repair method described above, it is important for you to know that this repair process is not intended for use with severe damage. This is because severely damaged doors may require one or more panels to be replaced in order to ensure safe operation. Therefore, you should always contact a professional garage door contractor, such as Virginia Door Inc, to examine the door and determine the best course of action when dealing with cracks that are more than a few inches long.

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