Garage Door Access Is Important

Your garage door is the main entrance to your home.  Recent studies have shown that the garage door on most homes is now used more than the front door of the home.  Because of this fact, it is more important than ever to inspect and maintain your garage doors regularly.

One of the most common garage door problems is wind damage!  A large percentage of the garage doors in Southern Nevada already have wind damage.

Southern Nevada’s prevailing winds often come from the west, but can also be from the south or southwest due to the layout of the valleys and mountains here. In the valleys, winds are usually light in the morning and stronger in the afternoon.  From time to time, strong winds are prevalent.  Some of the strongest wind speeds ever recorded were over 90 mph on August 8, 1989, at Harry Reid International Airport. Millions of dollars in damage were caused in less than an hour throughout the Las Vegas Valley.  All of us living here are familiar with the strong winds that wreak havoc in our area. (Boulder City Review, July 20, 2022 https://bouldercityreview.com/news/wind-common-in-southern-nevada-70533/#:~:text=They%20can%20still%20cause%20severe,Public%20health%20concerns).

This problem occurs in both residential and commercial garage doors.

The building code in our area and across the nation requires garage doors to meet wind ratings.  Unfortunately, local building inspectors rarely check to see if garage doors meet wind requirements.  So we have seen that the great majority of garage doors here are not strong enough to hold up to the wind.

When inspecting your garage door, pay special attention to cracks or damage to the metal.    Here are some of the evidence of wind damage on your garage door.

• If you see cracks in your garage door, these may have been caused by high winds, especially if the cracks are vertical.
• If your garage door is bent (like in the photo), DO NOT operate the door.  Move your vehicles outside and stay away from the door!
• Some types of storms may blow garage doors in or even pull them outwards!
• Debris flying through the air can cause dents in your door.
• Windows can be broken or cracked.

Higher-quality garage doors with wind ratings are less prone to this damage and will last many more years before requiring replacement.

7 Most Common Types of Damage to Garage Doors

1. Broken Springs: Garage door springs can break due to wear and tear over time. When springs break, it can cause the door to become imbalanced and difficult to open or close.
2. Dented Panels: Garage door panels are often made of metal or other materials that can dent if hit by a vehicle, lawnmower, or other heavy objects.
3. Misaligned Tracks: If the tracks that guide the garage door rollers become bent or misaligned, it can cause the door to operate improperly or get stuck.
4. Faulty Garage Door Opener: Issues with the garage door opener can lead to problems such as the door not opening or closing fully, making strange noises, or operating intermittently.
5. Worn Rollers and Hinges: The rollers and hinges that allow the garage door to move along the tracks can wear out over time, causing the door to operate noisily or unevenly.
6. Weather Damage: Exposure to extreme weather conditions such as high winds, hail, or extreme temperatures can cause damage to garage doors, including dents, warping, or corrosion.
7. Accidental Damage: Accidents, such as backing into the garage door with a vehicle or hitting it with a heavy object, can cause significant damage to the door panels or other components.

Regular maintenance and prompt repairs can help prevent many of these common types of garage door damage. An extra bit of care will lengthen the life of your garage door and will save money in the long run.

Article by

Ken Martin – Manager

702-795-1000 – Call Now 24/7

6667 S Schuster StreetLas Vegas, NV 89118