Hailstorms are common in Illinois from spring to early summer. This period records the most garage door damage in the form of dents, damaged coatings/paint, and warped panels. Learn how hail is made and its impact on your garage door, as well as how to assess hailstorm damage and determine the best course of action.
What Causes Hail Damage?
Besides raindrops, ice may also fall during a thunderstorm. This ice is referred to as hail, and it can occur during any season. Hail forms when updrafts in thunderstorms carry raindrops away from the ground into extremely cold areas of the atmosphere where they immediately freeze. Becoming heavy, this ice falls and collides with water droplets, freezing upon contact. This precipitation can be carried up by the storm’s winds in a repeating cycle until the hail becomes heavy enough to fall to the ground.
Types of Hail Damage You May See on Your Garage Door
Just as your windows and roof experience the impact of severe weather firsthand, your garage door does the same. Garage doors are made up of various components that must maintain their balance to work efficiently. Hailstones can significantly damage these components, forcing the entire system to malfunction. The force of an impacting hailstone varies depending on its speed and size, which can range from .25 inches to 4.5 inches or more in diameter. After a hailstorm strikes Illinois, you should check your garage door for the following damage:
- Dings and dents: Significantly large hailstones can leave noticeable dents or dings on the surface of your garage door.
- Cracked or broken panels: Large hailstones can crack or break your garage door panels, requiring repairs or replacements to restore their appearance and functionality.
- Misalignment: Hailstones accompanied by strong winds can misalign the tracks of your garage door, making it noisy or sticky.
- Water damage: Hail can sometimes create openings and damage your garage door seal. In such cases, water can leak into the garage, damaging the door, the opener, and anything else you may have stored in there.
Additionally, hailstones can worsen preexisting damage, resulting in more costly repairs in the future. For instance, if hail strikes a cracked garage door window, you may be forced to replace the window, a more expensive cost than repairing the original crack.
Assessing Hail Damage on Your Garage Door
The actions you take following the discovery and assessment of hail damage to your garage door can determine the safety of your home and the success of your insurance claim. Carefully inspect your garage door for dents, punctures, dings, and any other operational issues. Pay special attention to chips in the paint that expose metal surfaces because this can allow rust to form. You’ll also want to check each panel around the door’s joints and seams for signs of warping or creasing.
You should also ensure that the door opens and closes quietly and smoothly. If it squeaks when moving or is crooked when closed, the tracks may be misaligned. It’s also important to confirm that the sensors are safe and working as expected and that the rollers move freely in their tracks.
If your garage door has only minor dents, you can repair them with DIY techniques, such as patching or tapping them out. Severe damage, on the other hand, requires the services of a professional, and in cases of extreme damage, replacing your garage door may be cheaper than repairing it.
Should you file a claim with your homeowner’s insurance, you’ll need to carefully document the hail damage. Many insurance companies require proof of damage, so you’ll want to take photos that are clear, well-lit, and taken from different angles. It’s also essential to retain all the records and invoices of the work done.
After identifying and documenting the damage, your next step is to seek help by calling companies that specialize in garage door repair in greater Chicago, such as Overhead Garage Door, to inspect the damage and provide repair estimates.
Why Hire a Professional Garage Door Repair Company?
There are several reasons why you should hire a professional to perform garage door repair in Illinois after a hailstorm. A few important reasons are:
- Personal safety: Garage doors have many moving parts, which could cause serious injury if improperly handled. Professional repair technicians have the necessary training and equipment to safely fix any issues with your garage door.
- Quality work: Professional technicians have access to high-quality materials and tools that aren’t always available to homeowners. This means that the repairs or installations they perform will be of a higher quality, increasing your garage door’s durability and functionality.
- Economic value: Hiring a professional contractor for your garage door services may save you money in the long run. Attempting DIY repairs without the proper knowledge and tools can result in further damage that could require more extensive, expensive repairs down the line.
Preventing Future Hail Damage to Your Garage Door
While it’s impossible to prevent hail damage to your garage door entirely, you can employ a few strategies to mitigate the damage hailstones can cause. Here are some preventive measures you can take:
- Upgrade to an impact-resistant garage door.
- Install protective gear, such as thick blankets or garage door covers, ahead of a hailstorm. Alternatively, you can install plywood over the windows with window clips to protect them from hail.
- Reinforce your garage door to enhance its structural integrity and ability to withstand hail impacts.
- Perform regular inspections and maintenance of your garage door’s hinges, tracks, seals, weather stripping, and minor issues, such as small dents or cracks. By staying on top of these issues, you can avoid significant damage when hail hits.
- Install a trench drain to divert water away from your garage door during storms.
- Select a suitable material for your garage door. While metal may be tempting, it’s highly susceptible to hail damage and other weather conditions.
When To Call a Professional for Garage Door Repair in Illinois
DIY might work for minor garage door repairs, but not always. If you’re noticing your garage door is struggling to open or close, is sagging or off-balance, is making strange noises, or has visible dents, don’t hesitate to call our team at Overhead Garage Door. In addition to answering all your questions, we provide free estimates for your project. Remember, the longer you wait, the worse (and more expensive) the problem can get.
Image by Sergiy Galyonkin is licensed with CC BY-SA 2.0