How to Prepare Your Residential Garage Door For the Spring Thaw

What a brutal last few months! Bitter cold and heavy snowfall has been the bane of our existence, making the journey to work and school a burden. Looking outside alone can trigger a shiver through your body. But things will turn around in a short span of time. Yes, spring is right around the corner. You can soon hide your jacket and toss your boots. With the change in season, there are some other things that warrant your attention.

Although spring puts moods on an upswing, the change in temperature could mean necessary repair work on your home. The spring “thaw” is that change in the landscape that many people love – melting snowbanks and budding trees. However, it can cause problems around the home. The garage is susceptible to damage from the winter – spring transition, but you can prevent excess repairs by preparing your residential garage doors beforehand. By making efforts to service your door in advance, you can avoid the hassles of repair work when the summer rolls around.

How the Change in Season Causes Problems

You may wonder how spring causes so much ruckus when it’s a time of pleasant weather. It’s quite simple- the warmer temperature melts the build-up of snow and ice that’s accumulated over the past few months. That’s why flowing streams and creeks are dangerous during the spring since they are no longer frozen solid and present drowning hazards to those who tread too close. Falling through thin ice isn’t the only problem associated with the spring thaw. Although your grass will love the abundance of water, flooding can cause some serious property damage if your aren’t prepared.

Water damage is one of the most frustrating problems you can deal with as a homeowner. If you’ve seen documentaries of major hurricanes, you can see the effect of what a high tide can do to a house. In fact, you don’t even have to watch a tv series to see what a flood can do. If you’ve ever visited a home where there was a water leak, you most likely saw the aftermath. There’s the unsightly stains, the mold growth, the stale odour, and a pool of water somewhere. All in all, it’s not a pleasant sight.

How the Spring Can Cause Problems for the Garage

Now let’s talk about your home and or your cottage. Spring looms right around the corner and although it may be hard to believe, the temperatures will warm up. So take a look at the snow banks piled around your property. When things start to melt, your residential garage doors will need some form of defense if you want them to look normal and function without any problems.

What Can Happen if You Don’t Waterproof Your Garage

• Rotted Appearance – On an aesthetic level, water can leave its mark on your garage door. It’s not the end of the world when this happens, but you most likely won’t be too fond of its new stained look.

• Structural Damage – The composition of your garage can also exacerbate the damage that water inflicts. As you may know, certain materials don’t fare too well when soaked in large amounts of water, so you’ll want to be on the look out for this as well.

• Interior Leaks – Flooding that enters the home is the most frustrating effect of high water levels. When a flood seeps in, you may have to contend with the mold and rotting of structures within your house or cottage. There’s not a doubt in mind that these are problems you would rather not deal with.

There are some residential garage doors that will require more protection than others. The reasons vary and they include matters concerning the layout of one’s house and the door itself. As a result, you should take a look at a few factors when preparing for the spring meltdown.

Homes that Require Additional Repair Considerations

• Reverse Slope Driveways – These are driveways that offer a great ride for a teenager cruising on their skateboard. However, the steep angles allow water to flow with ease from the road. Unless there’s a massive amount of water, you won’t have too much water to deal with, but you can still experience some troubles.

• Wooden Garage Doors – Is your door the byproduct of some majestic cedar tree? If so, you will need to put some effort into your spring thaw preparation. Wooden garage doors are more susceptible water damage like most products made with timber. Therefore, it’s best for you to act sooner than later if you have one of these doors.

How to Prepare for the Meltdown

Fortunately, the damages that the spring thaw may incur are occurrences that you can avoid. Don’t assume that’s inevitable. By making the effort to prevent excess water from flowing in, you can keep your residential garage doors free from the problems associated with flooding.

Steps to Take to Prevent Water Damage

• Assess Your Risk Factors – The first thing you need to do is assess whether you’re at risk for water damage. Admittedly, the spring thaw can affect anyone but as mentioned throughout this post, some people might experience more problems.

• Ensure Proper Drainage – Without a functional drainage system, water will indeed haunt you when the snow starts to melt. Therefore, do all you can to maintain the drains in and around your driveway. Have them cleaned and inspected to ensure that they are able to do a good job when the flooding starts.

• Apply Waterproof Seals – Coat your garage door with a waterproof seal, especially if you have a wooden door. It’s a good idea to do so since total prevention of water contact may not be possible. A waterproof coating will at least stave off the worst effects that flooding may bring.

• Have the Garage Inspected – Garage units that sustain excess damage are often the ones that had problems to begin with. Therefore, it’s a good idea to hire a certified technician to inspect your unit for potential glitches. A garage door repair job conducted before the seasonal change can eliminate the need for future repair jobs when the warmer months arrive.

“Spring”-Proof Your Garage Doors

So yes, don’t let the frigid days fool you into thinking that winter is here to stay. The warmer weather will sneak up on you faster than you expect, and it can hit your home in ways you may not realize. So don’t wait for that to happen! Get your home ready and take the necessary steps to keep your residential garage doors safe from the effects of water. It may feel like a bit of a burden, but you’ll thank yourself later by taking action now. If you have questions regarding what should be done, contact a garage door company that has experience with repairs and maintenance. As long as you make the effort, you can welcome the spring season without having to worry about the “thaw”.