The Ultimate Guide to Garage and Garage Door Maintenance
Although it may be common practice to perform regular maintenance checks on your home, a garage can sometimes fall through the cracks. After all, it’s often used in a throwaway fashion to store the things we don’t often think about. These items can easily escape our attention, whether it’s tools or old family heirlooms. However, if left unchecked, issues with your garage can grow to become incredibly costly.
Everything in your garage serves a function, from the foundation to your garage doors. And it pays to ensure that all these components are in good working order. By taking the time to create a regular maintenance routine, you can save untold amounts of money.
So, if you’re a garage owner or you’re interested in purchasing one in the near future, we’ve got some great tips for you! Stick along, and we’ll show you everything you need to know about keeping your garage in pristine condition year-round!
As one can imagine, you can do many things to keep your metal garage in good shape. But to ensure you’ve covered all the necessary bases, we’ve put together a few valuable tips for maintaining your garage space.
From your entryway door to your roll-up garage door, your building will likely have several areas that use weather stripping or sealant to prevent air from escaping or unwanted pests or insects from entering the building. Over time, these strips or seals can break down and wear out, significantly reducing their effectiveness.
If you use your garage to maintain vehicles, you may likely have developed oil stains on the concrete foundation. This oil is not only unsightly, but it can also be a falling hazard if left unattended. As such, you’ll need to carefully clean your garage floor with oil-dissolving cleaning chemicals.
Whether they’re steel garages or masonry block structures, one of the most important aspects of any building will be its frame, roof, and walls. To keep your garage operating at peak efficiency, you’ll need to inspect the frame, walls, and roofing system for signs of wear or damage every few months. Minor issues, if left alone, can grow into massive ones.
The average roll-up garage door consists of several intricate pieces of machinery that allow it to move and close. And these mechanisms can become jammed or simply fail from overuse. So, you’ll want to handle any issues that arise to prevent them from worsening.
Unfortunately, stick-built structures are highly susceptible to pest infestation. Termites can silently destroy wood frames and doors, and rodents can set up shop using common building materials such as food and bedding. If not handled quickly, these pesky critters can destroy wooden garages.
Another great way to minimize this risk is to invest in steel buildings and metal garage kits. Since they’re built from galvanized steel, you’ll never have to worry about critters overstaying their welcome.
Another common issue with masonry and wooden buildings is moisture infiltration. This can cause immense damage to your structure over time. These structures are exceptionally vulnerable to moisture and can result in rotting wood to rust and mold. And that’s just the wooden components! Oxidation is also a real danger for metal items such as hinges and knobs.
Not only is a messy building potentially dangerous, but it can also promote the presence of other issues like pests and mold. That’s precisely why it’s advantageous to perform regular maintenance to keep the inside of your garage clean and organized.
During storms and weather events, tree limbs, leaves, and all sorts of natural objects can end up on your property. These same objects can cause damage to your structure if not correctly removed each season.
One of the most crucial aspects of any enclosed structure, your roof is designed to handle a lot. However, even the strongest roofs can become damaged due to violent storms and debris. Leaf fall from trees can retain moisture and promote oxidation on steel roofing panels. Regularly checking your roof can extend its life, reduce the possibility of damage, and save you money!
As we’ve mentioned, the garage door is an intricate part of any structure and is responsible for a big part of its functionality. But if you’re not a specialist in garage door systems, it makes sense that you might not immediately know what to look for when performing maintenance. But that’s okay because we’ll lead the way!
One of the most effective ways of ensuring your door is in good working order is to see it in action. Open and close your garage door while taking special care to make certain the joints, mechanisms, and components work well.
Every few months, you’ll want to check in on the hardware that comprises your door. This will require you to examine the bolts, joints, rollers, and hinges to make sure they’re still in good condition. If you notice any issues, it may be time to replace your garage door’s components.
Since garage doors use so many working parts, keeping them all well-lubricated is a great idea. This can be achieved by applying WD-40 to any moving mechanisms or joints. You’ll want to apply the formula and move the parts to ensure they’re adequately coated.
Automatic garage doors often need balancing. To test this, you’ll want to open your door to the halfway position and check to see whether it moves up or down on its own. If it doesn’t remain in place on its own, your door may be unbalanced.
When it comes to keeping the exterior of your structure looking its best, there are many ways to achieve the desired results. One such method is using a pressure washer to remove dirt and debris from the surface. It’s a tried and true process that is used by many folks. However, not all structures are up to the unbridled strength of water being blasted at a high PSI. For example, if you own a building with vinyl or composite siding, this pressure level can cause it to crack.
However, some building types, like metal garage buildings, are more than capable of withstanding the intensity of a pressure washer.
In summation, before you break out the pressure washer, ensure that the surface of your building can handle it!
Whether you’re looking for a small metal shed or an enormous steel industrial building, Steel Carports has you covered with a wide range of garages for sale! We’re proud to deliver premium steel structures and incredible customer service that continues long after your building is complete.
If you’re tired of dealing with regular maintenance issues caused by inferior building materials like wood or concrete, why not choose a structure that’s designed to last? Metal garages are some of the strongest options on the market and are developed to take on just about any application or environment you can imagine.
So, if you’re buying your first metal garage or simply replacing your old wooden structure, give Steel Carports a call today at (833) 647-8335! We’re waiting to help you design and customize a steel building that fits all your residential or commercial needs!
Let our experts help you get the steel building you need.
