Wooden Garage Door Maintenance Tips

As an essential aspect of your exterior facade, your garage door has a lot to say about your home design — and a lot to do with its curb appeal. Whether you’re aiming for a rich, rustic, modern or luxurious feel, a wood garage is a beautiful way to embrace an aesthetic that works with almost any home style or architecture. While wood is one of the most attractive, long-lasting and durable materials for your garage door, it does require some regular maintenance to keep it in shape — especially when you live near salt water.

If you’re wondering how often wood garage doors need maintenance and how to care for them to ensure long-lasting use and beauty, we’re here to educate you. Here’s everything you need to know about maintaining and providing care for your wooden door.

Benefits of Preventative Maintenance for Wood Garage Doors

When you make an investment in a home of your own, you want to protect it and keep it in the best shape possible, so its quality and appearance holds up for years. When you preserve the parts of your home — like your garage door — with regular maintenance, you can increase its longevity, extend its functionality and optimize its appearance with a few easy steps.

Here’s why you should spend time maintaining your wood garage doors:

• To Make It Last Longer: You don’t want to have to replace your garage door every few years. With regular care and maintenance, you can save stress and money by making your wood door last much longer.
• To Make It Work Better: A well-kept door will hold up to the elements, move up and down and do its job better than one you don’t attend to.
• To Keep Its Appearance Beautiful: Your wood garage door is a beautiful, authentic part of your home exterior. Maintaining it will help preserve its original appearance and keep your house attractive.
• To Enhance Your Curb Appeal: Your garage takes up a significant portion of your home’s exterior — and it’s one of the first things that catches the eye. Keeping a well-maintained wood garage door will keep your curb appeal high and increase your home’s value.

How to Maintain Wood Finish Garage Doors

Ready to take the steps necessary to preserve your wooden doors? Here’s how homeowners can act proactively to maintain their doors for years:

• Keep Your Door Clean: A buildup of moisture or dirt on your wood garage door can cause damage like warping and bending over time. Simply cleaning your garage door with a rag, mild soap and water can be an effective way to prevent staining, warping and other issues. Clean at least once a year.
• Look for Rot: Because your garage door is made of wood, it is susceptible to fungus, bacteria and wood rot if exposed to excessive moisture. Perform an occasional check by prodding the trim work and bottom of the door with a screwdriver to test for firmness. If the wood is soft or the screwdriver goes through, your door may need professional attention.
• Keep an Eye Out for Pests: Wood doors can also be susceptible to pests like termites, beetles, snails and slugs that consume wood, so keep your eyes open for little tunnels or holes in your garage door’s surface that could be caused by invading insects.
• Choose a Durable Coat of Finish: Your garage door stands up to all the elements, so you need to make sure it’s well-equipped for all manner of wind and weather. Coating your wood door in a durable, weather-resistant stain or finish protects the surface from sun, wind, moisture and scratches — plus, it improves the door’s appearance. Make sure to reapply your finish every few years.
• Remove Chips and Peeling: Even the best wood finish will occasionally peel, so make sure you keep up with smoothing down the door, removing paint chips and using a paint scraper before applying another coat of finish.
• Inspect Frequently: Examine the seals, hardware, moving components and surface of your wood garage door regularly to check for damage or parts that need replacement.

Contact Kitsap Garage Door for Expert Garage Services

Do wood garage doors need to be properly maintained? Yes, but a little TLC can go a long way when it comes to keeping your door in top shape. If you’re looking for an expert to assist you with maintenance, repairs and parts, Kitsap Garage Door is here for all your garage door needs in the Kitsap Peninsula. Contact us today to learn about our services or to request an estimate on one of our wooden garage doors.