How to Secure Your Garage Door for Hurricane Season

Why Is Your Garage Door a Top Priority During Hurricane Season?

When high winds hit an unreinforced garage door, it can buckle or pull right out of its tracks. Once that door fails, a massive amount of air rushes into your home, creating an internal “balloon effect.” 

Protecting the door is the key to keeping your entire home’s structure intact. One way to achieve this is to invest in a hurricane-resistant garage door. Another is to install temporary bracing on your existing garage door if it’s not rated to withstand hurricane winds and impact. 

Assessing Your Garage Door’s Vulnerability

Not sure if your door is up to the task? You can start with a quick check, but remember that looks can be deceiving. Follow these steps:

• Check the rating: Look for a wind-load sticker on the edge of the door that indicates it can withstand high winds.
• Inspect the structure: Check for rust, warped panels, loose nuts or bolts or worn-out rollers.
• Examine the tracks: Ensure your track system is securely fastened to the wall and is at least 14-gauge steel. 

A visual check is a great start, but a professional inspection is the only way to be completely sure your door is compliant with local codes and ready for a direct hit.

Garage Door Upgrades for Hurricane Protection

If your door is not up to standard, you might not need a brand-new one. We may be able to upgrade your existing door with heavy-duty hardware, including:

• Galvanized reinforcement struts: These horizontal steel bars prevent the door from bowing inward, providing greater resistance to strong winds.
• Additional jamb brackets: These lock the tracks more tightly to your home’s framing. Heavy-duty ones prevent track failure or detachment under extreme wind pressure.
• Concrete anchors: Concrete anchors ensure your tracks stay pinned to the foundation, creating a stronger, more stable system.
• Heavy-duty torsion springs: Stronger doors are heavier, so you need the right springs to safely lift that extra weight.
• Neoprene rollers: Premium 7″ Stem Neoprene rollers offer better grip and stay in the track even during high-vibration winds.
• Commercial-grade hinges: Thick steel hinges keep panels from separating when wind pulls on them and minimize joint flexing.

Storm-Proof Your Garage Door Today

Turn to Precision Garage Door Service of Wilmington for the protection your home deserves against the impact of a hurricane on your garage door. We offer comprehensive professional garage door tuneups, which include a 25-point safety inspection, a garage door balance test and lubrication of moving parts. You can also count on us for hurricane-rated door installations and targeted structural upgrades to make sure your garage door is ready for the next storm. 

As a locally owned business, we prioritize providing high-quality garage door services to our community. Contact us today to book an appointment and learn more about the cost of hurricane garage doors.