When your garage door is working smoothly, you hardly ever think about it. When it’s dented, you find yourself thinking about it far more often. Dents are unsightly and inconvenient, so today, we’re going to discuss several ways to fix a dented garage door.
Determine the Extent of the Damage
While they’re generally pretty sturdy, garage doors are in a high traffic area—literally. Dents from accidental bumps with a vehicle are common. Storm damage is another reason your garage door might have a dent or two.
Before you can start repairs, you need to know the extent of the damage. Your first step should be determining whether the door still opens and closes. If it does, you’re in luck. Repairs shouldn’t take too long.
If it doesn’t, you may want to contact a professional. Individual panels or the entire door itself may need to be replaced.
4 Ways To Repair a Dent on a Garage Door
You have options when it comes to how you’re going to repair a dent in your garage door. The extent of the damage and the material your door is made from will determine which works best for you.
1. Mallet
One of the easiest ways to fix a dent in a garage door is to use a mallet. This option works on aluminum doors, which are often highly malleable.
You will need:
- Cleaning supplies.
- A mallet.
- A block of wood.
- Sandpaper with a fine grit (for deep dents).
- Auto body filler (for deep dents).
- Paint that matches the door (optional).
Clean the dented area. Soap and water will work. With that done, move to the side of the door opposite the dent. Place the wood block over the bumped-out area and tap it with the mallet until it’s even with the area around it.
Also Read: A Definitive Guide to the Different Types of Hammers
Deep dents and scrapes may require more work to repair entirely.
2. Suction Cups
Like cars, you can repair steel garage doors with suction cups. If you’re looking to acquire the right tool for the job, search online or ask for something called a “suction cup dent puller.”
Suction cups work best on flat surfaces where they can form a tight seal. Dents that are large, deep, or set at an angle will be more difficult to fix with a suction cup.
If you have to tool on hand, suction cups offer a fast and easy potential fix. Simply place the suction cup and then pull, a little like using a plunger.
3. Aluminum Dent Repair
Mallets and suction cups are just two ways to fix garage door dents. The material your garage door is made of will make a big difference when it comes to your other repair options.
Because they’re so flexible, aluminum doors are the easiest to repair. You can even use heat, as demonstrated in the video below. To do so, you’ll need:
- A bucket of water.
- Some dish soap.
- A lighter.
- Aluminum foil.
- A can of compressed air.
Are you feeling like MacGyver yet? Give it a try.
4. Steel Dent Repair
Steel garage doors tend to be sturdier, but that means they’re harder to repair when something damages them. If the suction cup method fails or you don’t have the right tools on hand, using an auto body filling compound to fix the dent is likely your best bet.
Clean and sand the area, then use a putty knife or another similar tool to spread the compound over the dent. Do so in several thin layers rather than one thick one. When your final layer is dry, sand the compound down once again until the filler is even with the surrounding area.
You’ll have to repaint the area of your garage door that you sanded when you use this technique, but it yields good results.
The man in the video below is working on a regular door, not a garage door, but the concept is the same. Always make sure you’re using proper personal protective equipment while working with chemical compounds and particulate matter.
Living with dents or replacing your entire garage door aren’t your only options. You can repair the dents yourself using one of the methods we’ve talked about today, or you can hire a professional to fix them for you.
Remember:
- Determine the extent of the damage to your garage door. If it’s not something you’re comfortable fixing yourself, call a professional.
- Know whether your garage door is steel or aluminum because the options you have for fixing it will depend on that.
- Use the right tools and safety equipment for the job.
Are you interested in more DIY fix-it tips? Check out the rest of our other blogs.
