How to Repair a Dented Garage Door Panel

A Dented Garage Door Panel is a serious issue that can not only affect your day-to-day life but can lead to significant damage to your home. However, it is possible for a homeowner with a dented garage door panel to repair their garage door themselves if they understand the process and have the necessary tools and materials. Garage doors can be used for various purposes, including providing a place to store items like bikes and yard equipment and easy access to the garage or workspace. Because of this, garage doors are typically built sturdy enough to withstand the normal amount of wear and tear that comes with usage. However, this does not mean that garage doors are free from damage. Garage door panels are vulnerable to damage similar to the rest of the door because they often bear weight, which is why dents occur regularly.

1. Hammering Out the Dent

The first step in creating DIY Garage Door Repair to a dented garage door panel is to remove the dent. This can be done by hitting the dent with a hammer. However, the hammer must be used carefully not to damage the panel’s surrounding area. Therefore, using a rubber mallet or rubber hammer is recommended instead of a steel hammer. In addition, fewer blows must be made when hitting out dents with a hammer to avoid making the dent any worse than it already is.

2. Heating the Panel

Once the dent is sufficiently pounded out, it is time to heat the door panel. To heat a damaged area of the door panel, it is necessary to use heat guns or blow torches. Heat guns are more common and offer faster heat-up times. However, they also tend to be more expensive than blow torches and can also be dangerous if not handled properly. Blow torches generally have a shorter reach, so you do not need a large distance from the heat source to get adequate heating power. Once the damage has been adequately heated, it is time to allow it to cool. At this point, some repair experts recommend that the panel be allowed to cool overnight. If a panel is cooled too quickly, the metal can be brittle and break instead of bending and pulling back into place.

3. Bending Out and Fusing the Panel

After both heating and cooling the area, it is now necessary for the owner of a dented garage door panel to evaluate where the damage was done. To repair a dented garage door panel, it is necessary to bend the panel back into place to look as close as possible to its original condition. In addition, another option is to cut out the damaged part. Depending on how skeptical you are about the potential repair of your dented garage door panel, you may consider replacing the whole panel. If the panel is too badly damaged to repair, the best option may be to replace the door.

4. Smooth Out the Surface and Paint

After repairing or replacing the damaged portion of a dented garage door panel, it is time to smooth out the door’s surface so that it looks like new again. If you are concerned about possible rusting after repair, you can paint over any exposed metal with a clear coat. As with the other steps involved in creating DIY repairs to a dented garage door panel, this step can be completed using a paintbrush or spray paint. After painting, let the paint dry, so your garage door looks its best again.

If you’re not careful, a dented garage door can cause considerable damage to your home, not to mention the hassle of repairing the panel. Even though it is possible to repair and to do Garage Door Service a dented garage door panel by yourself using basic DIY techniques and a few tools, it is recommended that professional help be sought if possible. Designs Dents can help if you need an expert who understands what you need and how best to complete that task.