How To Fix A Dented Garage Door (Quickly & Easily!)
Garage doors are tough and durable parts of your home. They need to be because they are routinely subjected to the elements while keeping a part of your home safe. Still, they aren’t completely immune to getting damaged.
If your kids like to play near your garage, a wayward ball may hit the door and dent it. You may also accidentally hit the door as you’re pulling into your garage and dent it that way. The good news is that you can get rid of that dent on your own.
Garage door dents can be removed in a variety of ways. Aluminum doors can usually be repaired with either a rubber mallet or a combination of heat and compressed air. Steel door dents typically have to be fixed with the help of a special compound.
A dented garage door can be unsightly and annoying to look at. Take action against that eyesore quickly by trying out the tips featured in this article.
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The Different Methods of Repairing an Aluminum Garage Door
Aluminum is a material known for its luster and malleability. Those are some of the qualities that have turned into one of the most commonly used household materials. And yes, garage doors are also sometimes made out of that aforementioned material.
Repairing a dent that has appeared on your aluminum garage door is a more than manageable task. Let’s discuss some of the ways to repair dented aluminum garage doors below.
Repairing Your Aluminum Garage Door with a Rubber Mallet
Step 1: Gather the Tools
You’ll actually need more than just a rubber mallet to repair your aluminum garage door. Along with the mallet, you’ll also need a wooden block that’s about the size of a brick. Make sure to also prepare some detergent, water, a putty knife, some rags, and some sandpaper.
One more item you should have on hand is auto body filler. Auto repair shops should have it because it’s commonly used to repair damage to cars.
Step 2: Clean the Dented Surface
The next step involves cleaning the dented area. Mix the detergent into the water and dip one of your rags into that. Now, use that detergent-soaked rag to clean the dented area and be as thorough as you can be.
You only need to clean the part that will be exposed to the outside. Once you’re done cleaning, you can let the surface air dry or wipe it clean with another rag.
Step 3: Hammer Out the Dent
Pick up your rubber mallet and wooden block next then go to the spot where the dent is protruding. Position your wooden block over the protruding dent and start hitting it with the mallet.
Try to even out the dent as much as you can using the wooden block and rubber mallet. Don’t waste time trying to get it completely even though because that’s next to impossible.
Step 4: Sand the Dented Area
It’s now time to work on the dent using the fine-grit sandpaper. Sand the dented area carefully because you need to make it smooth.
Step 5: Fill the Dent
In all likelihood, there are still small indentations even after you used the block and mallet. The auto body filler should help even those spots out. Use your putty knife to apply the filler liberally to the affected area. Smooth the filler out carefully and try to hit as many of the pockets as you can.
Go ahead and let the filler dry completely now. After it dries, you can sand it down to get the problem spot even with the rest of the garage door.
Repairing Your Aluminum Garage Door Using Heat and Compressed Air
Step 1: Prepare Your Tools
For this job, you’ll need detergent, water, some rags, scissors, heavy-duty aluminum foil, a compressed air canister, and a lighter. Preferably, your lighter should be the type that’s often used to ignite grills. The long reach of that lighter will prove helpful here.
Step 2: Get the Dented Area Clean
Cleaning is again necessary. Similar to what you did earlier, you just have to clean the dent using the detergent and water mixture. After you finish cleaning, just let the spot air dry or wipe it dry.
Step 3: Determine How Much Aluminum Foil Is Required for Repair
Get your roll of heavy-duty aluminum foil and scissors next. Now, pull out the foil and extend it over the dented surface. Make sure you cover the dent completely and you also want the foil to go beyond it on all sides.
Pick up your scissors and start cutting the foil. Don’t worry if the sheet of aluminum foil turns out larger than you needed. That is perfectly fine for this job.
Step 4: Heat the Dented Spot
You can now position the sheet of aluminum foil you cut out over the dent. Hold it there with your hand and use your free hand to grab the lighter. Switch the lighter on and start heating the foil. You need to heat all the parts of the foil. Keep moving the lighter and heating the foil for at least one minute.
Step 5: Spray the Dent with the Compressed Air
Take your canister of compressed air now and flip it upside down. Remove the foil and start spraying the area that was previously covered. Remember to keep the canister upside down while you’re spraying so you get the carbon dioxide from it.
Continue spraying for at least 30 seconds. Once the 30 seconds are up, check on the spot to see if it worked.
Repairing Your Steel Garage Door
Repairing a steel garage door is not the same as repairing an aluminum garage door. That’s because the steel is not as malleable as the aluminum. The aforementioned solutions may not do much to return the steel back to its original position.
Because of that, you’ll have to take a slightly different approach. Don’t worry though because this is still easier than replacing the rollers on your garage door. Basically, you’re going to do the same thing that was described in the rubber mallet repair process. This time around though, you no longer need the rubber mallet or wooden block.
Start by cleaning the dent, then sand it down, and finish by using the auto body filler. The dent will still be there, but it will only be visible from the inside of your garage.
When Do You Need Professional Repair?
The methods of repair we detailed in this article are good for smaller to medium-sized dents. You can use them for dents created by balls or maybe by bikes that went out of control.
It’s a bit different if the dent was caused by a car hitting the garage door. Typically, the car is going to leave a bigger mark. Auto body filler can still patch that up, but it may not look great when you’re done.
Bigger dents usually have to be addressed by the professionals. They have the tools necessary to restore those bigger dents and make your garage door look like new.
Do You Need a Garage Door Repair Service?
Get free, zero-commitment quotes from pro contractors near you.
Related Questions
How Much Will It Cost to Get the Dents on My Garage Door Professionally Repaired?
Fixing a large dent on your garage door is going to cost about $75. That’s assuming that the only damage done to the garage door is a dent. If a glass panel broke and you want that replaced too, you’ll have to add $75 more to your expenses.It’s also possible that the dent was big enough to destroy an entire panel of your garage door. In that case, the panel may have to be completely replaced. Replacing the panel could cost you over $200. Hopefully, replacing one panel will be enough to restore the garage door because replacing it completely is expensive. The cost of replacing the entire garage door could cost you as much as $1200.
How Can You Save on Garage Door Repairs?
You may not have to take on additional expenses if you have homeowner’s insurance. Most home insurance policies include garages so it’s likely that you can file a claim to get your garage door repaired. Make sure you take the time to read your policy before you pay for your own repairs.
Gary Evans is passionate about home improvement. He loves finding out how to make improvements in the easiest, most practical, and most affordable ways. Upgrading his home kitchen is one of his ongoing hobbies. Gary is also a long-time content creator and enjoys spending his free time tending to his hydroponic vegetable garden.
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