How To Hail-Proof Your Garage Door

Hail is not only an inconvenience but can also cause major damage to your garage door. By taking a few extra steps, you can hail-proof your garage door.

Protecting Your Garage Door from a Hail Storm

Colorado’s notorious hailstorms cost homeowners millions of dollars in repairs every year. Insurance claims for hail are common in our state, but there are steps you can take to save yourself the hassle and expense of replacement or repair.

You have seen hail damage to plants, cars, and roofs of buildings, but have you considered the potential damage to your garage door? Hailstorms often arise with little warning and - when coupled with strong winds – they can cause serious damage to your garage door. Sometimes the damage is a relatively minor cosmetic issue, but hail can cause structural issues that could require significant repair or even replacement.

So, what can be done to prevent damage? Preventative strengthening of the door such as installing reinforcement struts on each panel of the door to boost the integrity of the entire structure will certainly help. This technique also helps the door hold up to strong winds that can sometimes bend or break panels.

If hail causes punctures in your garage door, even small holes can cause a lot of problems for a homeowner. For example, moisture and bugs may enter your garage through these holes, and the garage door’s wind resistance and insulation will be compromised.

Steel garage doors are stronger than those made from other materials and will stand up better to hailstorms. If you have a door made of a weaker material, an alternative is to install a heavy-duty protective screen which will reduce the hail damage.

Repairing a Garage Door After a Hail Storm

It's critical to get outside as quickly as possible after a storm to survey the damage. Should you not be available to do the assessment, ask a friendly neighbor to take some photos for you to submit promptly to your insurance provider. Contractors in the area are inundated with queries after a major storm, so the sooner you file your claim, the better your chances are of getting repairs scheduled.

Inspect the construction of the door for any signs of damage. Because hail dents aren’t always obviously visible, they may go undetected by the casual observer. While opening and shutting the door to ascertain whether it still works, listen out for any weird noises. If the gears, springs, cables, or any other moving components of the garage door appear to be damaged, book a garage door repair service right away.

A quick and cost effective option for fixing minor hail damage is a simple panel replacement. On the other hand, where there is significant damage to numerous garage door panels, installing a new garage door may be a more viable solution.

If you do decide to fit a new door, upgrading to an impact-resistant garage door is a smart move. The investment now should save you untold stress and expense in the future by protecting your garage from an inflow of snow or stormwater resulting from a broken garage door. Standing water after a deluge can cause harmful mold and/or long-term damage to your home’s foundations.

Alleviate some of the effort and stress of being a homeowner by investing in appropriate preventative measures. Knowing that your home is protected from potential damage will put your mind at ease. Speak to one of our helpful representatives at Tri-Lakes Garage Doors today to hail-proof your garage doors.