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Proper maintenance is essential for the longevity of your garage door, not just because they are significant investments, but also because in Raleigh, N,C the variable climate poses unique challenges for garage door systems. Typically, Raleigh sees hot, humid summers and mild but occasionally freezing winters. These temperature swings and humidity changes can take a toll on garage door systems which are often overlooked until something goes wrong.

However, garage doors are more than just entry points into your home; they’re also critical components of home security, energy efficiency, and curb appeal, and quite expensive to replace. So, it pays to invest in preventative care, especially in Raleigh’s unique climate.

Schedule Regular Maintenance

Just like your HVAC system or roof, have your garage door system inspected at least twice per year. The ideal maintenance schedule in Raleigh is biannual, once in the spring and once in the fall. This is because Raleigh often sees wet winters and warming springs which can swell wooden doors or cause rust on metal parts. A fall inspection can help prepare your door for cold temperatures and potential freezes.

With regular inspections and maintenance, you can also address small issues before they escalate, including uneven or jerky movement, sagging panels, increased operating noise, delay in response time, and frayed cables or worn springs. In fact, homeowners who performed or scheduled biannual garage door maintenance reduced their repair costs by up to 30% annually.

Key Maintenance Tasks:

Lubricate rollers, hinges, and tracks with silicone-based lubricant.
Tighten loose bolts and brackets.
Check the balance and alignment of the door and its tracks.
Test the automatic reverse function and mechanism.
Clean and inspect the weather-stripping.

Combat Humidity with Anti-Rust Measures

Since Raleigh’s humidity averages between 70-80% in the summer and often follows wet winters and springs, it creates the perfect environment for rust to form on metal components like springs, tracks, and cables. Over time and untreated, rust compromises the structural integrity of your door and shortens its lifespan.

Prevention Tips:

Apply a rust-inhibitor or corrosion-resistant lubricant on metal parts.
Install a dehumidifier or ensure proper ventilation in the garage. You could even consider a smart humidity monitor which can alert you to consistently high moisture levels that need to be addressed.
Wipe down exposed metal after heavy storms or condensation.

Choose the Right Material for the Climate

Your choice of material for your garage door directly affects its durability and maintenance needs. For Raleigh, the best materials include:

Steel, which is durable, low maintenance, and resistant to warping.
Aluminum, which is lightweight and rust-resistant but can dent easily.
Vinyl, which is moisture- and dent-resistant and ideal for high humidity.
Composite Wood, which offers the look of wood with better resistance to humidity and pests.

But avoid unsealed wood as it is prone to warping, swelling, and rotting in humid or rainy conditions. If you already have a wooden door, you’ll need to seal it every 1-2 years to help extend its lifespan.

Protect Your Garage (Door) from Heat and UV Exposure

Raleigh’s heat and UV index, which average around 90℉ and 7 respectively, can cause paint to fade, door panels to warp, and insulation to degrade.

Protective Steps:

Paint or stain wood doors with UV-resistant coatings.
Install a light-colored door or sun-reflective finish to reduce heat absorption.
Add insulation or upgrade to insulated doors which can reduce the interior garage temperature by 10-20℉. An R-value of 12-16 is ideal for Raleigh homes.

Energy loss and moisture infiltration can also shorten your door’s life and increase utility costs, so ensure that the weather-stripping along the bottom seal, side and top, and threshold seal are intact.

Reinforce Against Storm Damage

Even though Raleigh doesn’t typically see extremely high-wind events, Raleigh is no stranger to strong thunderstorms and the occasional tornado. In events like these, the garage door is often the largest and weakest part of a home.

Invest in wind-rated doors.
Install vertical bracing kits or horizontal reinforcement bars.
Use hurricane impact-resistant hardware.

Upgrade Your Opener and Tech Features

Newer garage doors openers are more energy-efficient, quieter, and often include smart features that alert you to maintenance needs or forced entry attempts. Upgrading your opener can also reduce the strain on the door by improving its balance and motion control. Consider modern features: