How To Hail-Proof Your Garage Door

Hail is not only an inconvenience but can 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

After a storm, it is important to get outside and assess the damage as soon as possible. If you are out of town, get a friend or neighbor to take some pictures that you can send to your insurance agent quickly. Major storms can create significant backlogs with local contractors, so the earlier you can submit the claim, the better off you might be to line up the repairs. 

Assess the damage to the structure of the door. Hail is not always cosmetic, therefore it may not be obvious to the untrained eye. Open and close the door to assess whether it still functions and listen for any strange sounds. If there is damage to the mechanisms, springs, cables, or any other moving part, it is advisable to call a garage door repair company immediately.

Panel replacement is a cost effective solution for hail damage like dents, but if the door suffers extensive storm damage to several panels, it may be more economical to upgrade the door.

It might be a good time to consider investing in an impact-resistant garage door. You could save yourself a lot of stress and cost in the long run. Think about the damage that your home could suffer if your garage door sustained damage and snow or stormwater started filling the garage. Flooding can be catastrophic and standing water left in your garage could lead to hazardous mold or foundation damage. 

Being a homeowner doesn’t have to mean that you are constantly working on or worrying about your house. Preventative measures ease your mind and will protect and save your home from damage in the long run. Speak to Tri-Lakes Garage Doors today to hail-proof your garage doors.