Did you ding your garage door with your bike? Did your teenager back up a little too far with your car? Garage door dents can be a visual nuisance and one that affects your home’s overall value.
It’s understandable to want a quick and efficient solution you can throw together at a moment’s notice. Let’s look at what you need to know to get rid of those pesky dents.
Assess the Damage First
Small dents are easily addressed with products around the home. However, if the damage is significant, your best bet is to seek professional repairs to replace the affected panels.
If the impact that caused the dent was substantial, you might want a professional to inspect the rest of your door to ensure nothing else was damaged.
The Mallet Method
For small dents on aluminum garage doors, you can employ the mallet method. This method is straightforward. It only requires some soap, water, a block of wood, and a mallet.
Start by washing the dent with soap and water to remove any dirt and grit. Then, move to the other side of the dent and place your wooden block on the affected area. Then proceed to tap away with your mallet. The idea here is to use the long flat surface of your wooden block to force the dent back out through force.
With a little luck, your dent will pop out. If your results aren’t 100% smooth, you can contact a professional for a complete repair.
The Hot-Cold Method
The hot-cold method is a little more scientific. First, grab some soap and water to wash the affected area. Once the area is clean and dry, apply a section of tinfoil over the dent. With a heat lamp, heat the tinfoil for about a minute. The heat will transfer through the tinfoil into the garage door without your heat source making direct contact.
Once the dent is heated, remove the foil, take a can of compressed air, turn it upside down, and spray the dent for about 30 seconds. Make sure to wear gloves, so the air doesn’t make contact with your bare skin.
The air from an upside-down compressed air can is incredibly cold. The rapid change in temperature from hot to cold will cause the dent to shrink, forcing it to pop out on its own. This method can work on aluminum and steel garage doors, but it’s fairly complicated, so you’re probably better off leaving it to a professional.
Hire a Professional to Repair Your Garage Door Today
Professional garage door repair is your best option when the damage is major or you’re not comfortable with DIY solutions. Call or contact DBar Garage Doors today to schedule a free estimate, and we’ll restore your garage door to its original condition.
