The ultimate garage door maintenance guide for New Zealand homes

In this comprehensive guide to looking after your garage door, we look at the 3 most common maintenance concerns for New Zealand homeowners: rust and corrosion, misalignment or damage and noisy or faulty operation. We explain exactly what you need to do and how often and when to call in the professionals.

Why garage door maintenance matters

Small, regular maintenance tasks keep your garage door working smoothly and extend its lifespan. For New Zealand homeowners, maintenance is particularly important because of the added exposure to salt, rain and UV conditions that can affect your garage door over time. By following a maintenance schedule, you avoid the need for costly emergency repairs and ensure the quiet and smooth operation of your garage door.

Following a maintenance regime and having regular services is also important for ensuring your manufacturer's warranty remains valid.

How often should you service your garage door?

As well as performing a few DIY tasks to keep your garage door in good working order, you should have it serviced by a professional at regular intervals. Whether your door is manually operated or you have an automatic garage door opener, a professional service guarantees that the more complex parts of the garage door, such as the springs and opening mechanism, remain efficient.

You should have your garage door serviced by a Windsor Doors professional at least once a year and after any major weather event such as storms or flooding that may have affected its operation.

What happens during a professional garage door service?

The service process will vary slightly depending on the type of garage door, specifically whether it's a Roller, Sectional or Tilt garage door, but it generally follows these 6 steps.

1. A visual inspection of the garage door and opener is performed to check for damage and rust on the garage door panels or curtain, the condition of weather stripping, signs of misalignment and the condition of brackets, hinges and cables.
2. Hardware such as brackets, bolts and screws are tightened to keep the garage door running on its tracks smoothly.
3. All moving parts are lubricated with a silicone or lithium-based grease.
4. The spring tension is checked, and the technician will look for early signs of damage to cables, such as rust or fraying.
5. The door will be tested in manual mode, and the motor and opener will be checked.
6. Finally, a reverse test ensures this critical feature is working correctly.

Signs your garage door needs servicing

There are a few tell-tale signs that your garage door needs professional servicing. These include:

• Noisy operation, such as grinding or squeaking, or jerky movements when the door is opening or closing
• Visible damage to panels or sagging sections
• Slow response times when the opener is pressed
• Tracks that are bent or rusty
• Frayed or broken cables
• Broken springs
• A completely inoperative door or one that doesn't open or close fully
• Higher-than-normal energy bills if your garage door insulation or seals are not performing properly

Roller Door vs Sectional Garage Door maintenance

As well as the above checks and maintenance tasks, specific types of garage doors require additional checks. The drum on a Roller Door should be inspected and the curtain (the actual door part) will also need to be closely looked at to check that it doesn't have any dents or creases that will cause the door to become stuck.

Sectional Doors consist of a series of panels rather than a single metal curtain. Each of these panels needs to be in alignment and torsion springs, which ensure a smooth and quiet lift, also need to be balanced.

Monthly garage door maintenance checklist

In between professional services, there are a few things homeowners should be doing each month to ensure the optimum operation of their garage door.

Watch and listen

A garage door in good condition should open and close smoothly and quietly. If you have an automatic opener fitted, use it to open and close the door and observe what happens. If you hear grinding or scraping noises or the door jerks or shudders, it may be out of alignment, and you should have it seen to by a professional before any further damage occurs.

Also, be sure to never stand directly beneath the garage door when you are testing its functionality, as this can pose a hazard should the door drop unexpectedly.

Check, clean and lubricate

Cleaning and lubricating the moving parts of your garage door is a great time to check for damage. Tighten any loose parts, polish the internal guide tracks with a soft cloth dampened with turps or methylated spirits, lubricate the hinges with silicone spray lubricant and wipe over the spring unit with the same oily rag.

You should also check that the garage door handle and lock mechanism are working correctly and replace the batteries in your garage door remote.

Wash regularly

You'll need to wash your garage door regularly in extreme environments. For example, if you live by the sea or on an unsealed road. Exposed surfaces require more frequent washing in these environments to prevent dirt, dust and sea salt build-up from causing corrosion. If the garage door has a pre-painted surface, follow the manufacturer's instructions for washing your garage door. Timber finishes also have special maintenance requirements, so be sure to contact your manufacturer to ask how best to care for your specific garage door finish.

Should you DIY or call a professional?

Some maintenance tasks are suitable for you to perform yourself and others should be left to a professional who has the tools and know-how to fix any problems properly. Attempting to tackle these jobs yourself could also cause more damage and lead to costly repairs.

You should always have garage doors and garage door openers professionally installed and leave any issues with springs, cables and track alignment up to the professionals to fix.

Garage door maintenance tips for coastal areas

Living near the sea or geothermal areas poses some unique challenges for New Zealand homeowners when it comes to keeping their garage doors in top condition. Here's what to consider when buying and maintaining a garage door in New Zealand.

Prepare for an increased risk of flooding

Rising sea levels are already affecting coastal communities in New Zealand, leading to more homes being impacted by storms and tidal surges. Major cities like Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch are all susceptible to coastal inundation. This is why it's so important that homeowners in these areas ensure their garage doors are maintained with proper weather stripping and a solid bottom seal to prevent floodwaters from entering the garage.

Choose materials wisely

It's critical to choose a garage door material that can resist corrosion from geothermal gases like sulphur compounds, particularly if you live in an area such as Rotorua. For example, a stainless steel door or one with specialised coatings instead of an exposed metal garage door may prove a better investment over time. Homeowners should also consider how susceptible their garage door is to the effects of UV radiation, which can cause some surface coatings to fade over time.

Regular washing improves longevity

Salt spray from ocean breezes is extremely effective at causing corrosion and rot, even if a home is located many kilometres from the beach. Regularly washing your garage door can help, as can choosing the right materials to begin with. But don't just think about the material of the door itself. All metal components, including guide tracks, steel hinges, nuts and bolts and even door handles, are susceptible to rust, which is why it's so important to maintain all parts of a garage door.

Is your garage door at risk?

Just as you have your car serviced regularly, your garage door also needs regular attention to keep it running (and looking) its best. By setting aside a few minutes each month for some simple garage door upkeep, you can extend its lifespan and avoid expensive emergency repair bills.

At Windsor Doors, our garage doors are made in New Zealand, for New Zealand, so you can rest assured your investment will stand the test of time. Visit our website to view our garage doors and accessories or to book a free measure and quote today.