Spring Cleaning and Maintenance for Wooden Garage Doors

Nothing beats the beauty of a custom wooden garage door. Just like anything of beauty, it should be maintained. Now that spring is here, which will bring better weather for most parts of the country, it’s the perfect time to prepare your wooden garage door for the new season. These routine cleaning and maintenance tips will help make your garage door look like new. 

Note: for information on the care and maintenance of custom CAMBEK garage doors, see our Care and Maintenance guide.

How to Clean a Wooden Garage Door

Winter can leave your door dirty and caked in mud, salt, etc. Thankfully, cleaning a wooden garage door doesn’t require any special cleaners or tools. All you’ll need is a bucket, non-abrasive sponge or cloth, a mild detergent, and some warm water. To clean your wooden garage door, mix the mild detergent with about 5 gallons of warm water, then gently scrub away any dirt, grime, or other debris from the door. Avoid using harsh chemicals, bleach, or any abrasive cleaners, as these can damage the door. 

Reapply Paint or Stain

After your door has completely dried, you repaint or stain your garage door. We recommend an additional coat of finish every one to two years for south and west exposed doors and two to three years for north and east facing doors. One tip: do not try to touch up faded or chipped spots; it’s always best to completely reapply paint or stain. Trying to only paint a portion of your door or touch-up certain spots will result in an uneven application of paint or stain, which will be very noticeable, especially in direct sunlight. It’s also recommended that you lightly sand the surface of the garage door. 

If any of this sounds too complicated, it’s always best to hire a professional. 

Inspect the Door’s Hardware and Opener 

Open and close your garage door while watching it move along the track. Does it move smoothly? Does it stutter as it moves up or down? Are there any unfamiliar noises like creaks, groans, grinding, etc. If anything seems off, you should have your garage door opener, springs, and other hardware inspected by a professional (note: garage door springs are very dangerous; do not try to fix or work on them unless you know what you are doing.) 

Make Sure the Seals Are Intact

From inside the garage, close your door and keep the lights off. If you can see light coming in from around or under your garage door, it is not sealed properly. These seals can become damaged during the winter and can erode over the years. If you see a lot of light, then it’s time to have the seals replaced. 

Get a New Door 

If your door is significantly old, or you’re just looking for something new, trust the garage door experts at CAMBEK to help you design and build a new door. We specialize in custom wooden garage doors that last. When you work with us, you’re guaranteed to get the best-looking garage door you’ve ever had. Get in touch with our team today for a free design consultation. 

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