How To Look After Your Wood Garage Door
When you have a wood garage door you can use it to truly enhance the look of your home or you can neglect it and it will detract from the look of your home. While it might not seem like a beautification piece, the quality of the make and the care you give it will have a huge impact on the curb appeal your home carries. Many homeowners appreciate the look, especially when the doors are crafted in carriage house style or stained. It doesn't take much to take good care of this part of your home. All you need is some basic care items and the willingness to do it. Cleaning a wood garage door is actually important. Paint and wood stains will show dirt the way a white shirt does. It can even be seen from the street in some cases. Depending on the color of the door dirt and pollen can make it look dingy or like it is graying. This will detract from the beauty of your home. A water rinse is often enough to keep a wood garage door looking beautiful. Water, of course, will create swelling if the finish isn't holding up. If you have cracks in the finish water will only worsen the problem. Using a damp rag and simply wiping it down is often enough to keep it looking great. If you have developing mold you may need to use soap, water, and even perhaps a little elbow grease. If you do have cracks in the finish it's best not to allow them to cause damage to the underlying wood. A door like this is going to crack and craze because it moves. Motion is going to take a toll on the finish. It might happen early or it might not happen for ten years. Regardless of when it happens, you will need to take care of the problem. Finishes can often be purchased through the dealer if you aren't clear on the color. Usually you simply need to sand it down, rough it up, and then add a few layers of paint to the door. Make sure all loose pieces are removed in order to prevent further cracking or crazing. After you've sanded a wood garage door down you want to make sure that all the little crevices are clean. A toothbrush or other small brush can often help clean out the cracks and crevices where dirt and dust tend to hibernate. Skipping this vital step can lead to an early refinish next time and door damage. Apply the pain or finish according to the directions. Make sure you pick your weather days and that you give it just a little beyond the drying time before testing for takiness . The door should be thoroughly dried before you even consider moving it up and down again. When it's time to refinish a wood garage door it is important that both sides of the door are refinished at the same time. The expanding and shrinking that happens with temperature and moisture will take a significant toll on the door otherwise. To read more guidance about using other materials, please follow these links:
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