It happens to the best of us, but can be very frustrating and quite costly. Of course I am referring to accidents concerning garage doors. When you are ready to leave the driveway and mistakenly place your vehicle in drive instead of reverse, problems happen. I vaguely remember a time when I was involved in a similar experience. I could not have been older than five years old. My dad left me in his truck only for a second to go grab something he had forgot inside our house. In that short period of time, I managed to shift the gears and press the pedal. The truck went crashing through the garage, and while I was completely fine, there was not much left of the door. As it funny as it was, I now feel my father’s pain.

 Don’t neglect it, take care of your garage door

Garage doors are not cheap, especially if you decide to buy a high-grade material and/or finish. They come in various styles, each of which has their own pros and cons. Just because they are exposed to the elements does not mean they are damage-proof though. Although incidences like mine do not tend to happen on a regular basis, there are many others issues that can go wrong if you fail to maintain the door properly and avoid regular upkeep. In contrast to the doors on your home, these ones are equipped with a fair amount of moving, mechanical parts, parts that can refuse to keep working in the wake of rust buildup.

Automatic doors (most of us have them) present even more potential issues, and as such should be inspected on a routine basis to ensure their proper functioning. The worst time to find out your garage door is not working is when you need it to open, such as in a downpour of rain or during the dead of winter. By performing a thorough inspection every couple of weeks or so, you can save yourself a ton of hassle, not to mention money in the event you have to call up a garage repair company!

• Lubricate the wheels, rollers and hinges; to keep these parts from seizing up and to prevent corrosion, adequately spray them with an aerosol lubricant once every month, and more frequently during the winter months. Salt and de-icing agents can cause rust to form fairly quickly, so keep a watchful eye on the garage door parts when using applying them.
• Repair broken parts as soon as you notice them; it is worth keeping in mind that garage door components operate as a system. Thus, a malfunctioning hinge or wheel will inevitably place excess tension on the pieces it is connected to. Avoiding the issue will only make it worse, so don’t put repairs off.
• Clean the door and  repaint or stain (if needed) on an annual basis; mix a solution of 1 part cleaning detergent to 5 parts water, then apply it with a soft washcloth. Rinse the soap with a garden hose and let it dry before using the door. Don’t put water on a wooden garage door, as this can damage it. Instead, use a dry cloth to clear away dust before applying a fresh coat of paint or stain.

Dora M. Martinez is an ardent writer. She loves to write about the home improvement tips in an easy way. Follow her on twitter @ https://twitter.com/DoraMMartinez1