No one wants to find rust on their garage door, and it can be especially upsetting if you thought you would be protected by the layer of paint.
There are quite a few reasons why you may be finding rust on your garage door. In this article, we are going to cover the things that cause the rust in the first place and a solution for dealing with those pesky rust spots.
Environmental factors
Your location is one of the biggest contributors to the rust on your garage door. If you live in a coastal area, the salt in the air can be corrosive. Those homes that are near industrial areas can be attacked by the chemicals in the air. In northern areas, the de-icing materials that are put on the road can splash the garage door and lead to rust.
These weather examples may seem extreme, but the issues described are actual accounts of reasons why garage doors have started rusting. Our garage door specialists have helped customers with all of these situations and many more!
Some garage door owners may find another issue that makes a garage door look rusty, and that is pollen. If you have a lot of trees and flowering plants in your yard, you may notice the orange and red stains that pollen can leave behind. These can look very similar to rust.
The paint on your garage door
You can’t simply paint your garage door with any type of exterior paint and hope for the best. The process is very specific, and it involves a primer coat as well as a baked-on coat of paint. The steel that the doors are made of is galvanized with a zinc alloy which makes it resistant to rust, and that alloy combined with the painting technique gives you a very durable garage door. The North American Garage Door Association specifies the necessary thickness of the zinc coatings.
A door that has been painted in a DIY job will likely start to show wear and rust, and any time the garage door is damaged with punctures or deep scratches all the way to the metal, there is a risk of rusting. It is better to have your door repainted by a company that specializes in painting garage doors to ensure that you will get the long-lasting finish that you desire.
You should always treat your garage door in the same manner as you treat your car. Anytime you see exposed or raw metal, you want to immediately repair it to prevent rust from setting in.
Keep things clean
If you want to keep your garage door in good repair, one of the key things you should do is keep it clean. Every time you wash your car, you should take a few seconds to wash your garage door as well. Those extra few seconds will remove a lot of the dirt and grime from your door, and it will prevent things like street salt and industrial chemicals from damaging the door’s surface.
You should also watch out for grease spots and/or oil stains. These occur due to over lubrication of the drive chain and they can compromise the integrity of your special coating of paint.
Your garage door can benefit from a washing with the same type of soap that you use to wash your car. If you are not washing your car at home, then you can simply use dish detergent to keep your garage door clean. The degreasing agents in your dish soap actually cut through a lot of the oils and grime on the door for a sparkling finish. It is important that you NEVER pressure wash your garage door because the high-powered stream of water can remove or damage the layer of protective paint on your door. The milder flow of water that comes from your regular garden hose is plenty of water pressure.
Removing rust spots
If you have already begun to see little specks of red rust spots on your door, then you will want to clean them off as soon as possible. Reacting sooner rather than later keeps them from becoming a major issue. Those that live in climates where the roads are treated to prevent icing may see the rust spots begin to form closer to the road, on the bottom half of the garage door.
Treat rust spots with the following method:
- Spray the area with a 50⁄50 mix of water and vinegar.
- Wipe the area down with a clean, nonabrasive cloth.
If you need something a bit more aggressive, create a creamy paste out of baking soda and water. Spread the paste upon the surface of the door and allow it to sit for about 30 minutes. Once it has set, you can use a soft cloth and water to scrub away the baking soda paste. Some homeowners have also had luck using a mildew remover like they use on the bathroom tiles.
Make washing the door a regular chore
It is recommended by the garage door experts that the doors get a good scrubbing at least twice per year. If you live in an area with the harsh climates like what was discussed above, you may want to increase your washing schedule to ensure that nothing erodes your protective layer of paint. You may even find it necessary to wax your door for even more protection.
Follow the recommendations in Garaga’s maintenance guide to get the absolute best results and longevity from your garage door.
Replacing your garage door
Do you live near Kingston and Belleville? You can replace your garage door when the rust sets in by visiting our showroom, or you can contact us now.
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