Hailstones come in all shapes and sizes. Whether it's the size of a pea, a quarter or a golf ball, hail can wreak havoc on whatever gets in the way as they fall to Earth. Garage doors are no exception, and an unexpected hailstorm could cost you a fortune if you're not prepared.
As the saying goes, prevention is better than cure, so it is important to protect your garage door from hail to avoid any unnecessary expenses. But first, let's take a closer look at what kind of damage hail can do to garage doors.
How does hail damage a garage door?
The most common types of hail damage to garage doors include minor dents, scuffs and scratches. In extreme cases, hail from high winds can even punch a hole directly in the garage door.
It is very important to check your garage door for holes after being hit by hail. In addition to compromising the strength of the garage door, the hole in the garage door can end up getting bigger if left unchecked. This, in turn, creates a larger opening for water and insects to get into your garage or even your home, causing other damage.
However, minor damage is usually cosmetic and does not affect the function of the garage door. If your door has windows and many of those windows are broken, it may affect the structural integrity of that door section. In this case, do not continue to operate your door until the window has been replaced. Don't try to fix it yourself. Attempting any kind of DIY garage door repair is not only dangerous, but can cause further damage. Leave it to the professionals.
Protect your garage door from hail
As with many things, the most important thing to do to protect your garage door from hail damage is to hang a thick blanket over your door the first time you realize hail is coming. It is best to attach it to the wood frame around the door rather than the door itself to avoid damage. Other than that, there's very little that can be done, but this simple step often affects whether or not to replace the door. Alternatively, you can add a protective screen to the front of your garage door to absorb most of the damage during a storm. These types of screens are often installed by people who have children playing sports (especially hockey) in front of the door. If you live in an area prone to hail,
Repairing hail damaged garage doors
Unfortunately, hail damaged garage doors are nearly impossible to repair and often require replacement. Repairing a hail damaged garage door can range from simple repainting to replacing a single door section. In most cases, if the damage is severe, the full door will need to be replaced. If you need to replace your garage door after a hailstorm, consider installing a garage door designed to withstand severe weather.
