An aluminum or steel garage door is the perfect addition to an attractive home. They look great, are extremely durable, and require minimal maintenance. However, these kinds of garage doors posses one fairly noticeable flaw: they dent easily.
We all know that garage door dents can happen without too much effort (cue the bad memory). Whether it’s a Frisbee or basketball that slams into it, or a car that accidentally backs up without looking, it’s pretty common for a garage door to sustain some damage during its lifetime.
Thankfully, you don’t have to give up the idea of having an aluminum or steel garage door just because it might get dented. And you might not have to pay anyone to come fix it. In most cases, you can fix a dent in your garage door yourself in just a few simple steps.
Part 1: Gathering Your Supplies
The first piece of good news is that the supplies you’ll need are all inexpensive – and many of them may already be in your home somewhere. Here’s a handy checklist of what you’ll want to have on-hand before beginning to fix the dent in your garage door:
- 1 medium-sized bucket
- 1 large sponge, similar to one you might use to wash your car
- 1 old rag (microfiber cloths are always a great choice, but whatever you have on hand is fine)
- 1 lighter, such a BIC lighter for candles or a grill
- 1 can of compressed air used for cleaning keyboards
- Dish soap (whatever brand you prefer to use)
- A Hose
- Heavy-duty aluminum foil
Part 2: Fixing the Dent in Your Garage Door
If you don’t consider yourself much of a handyman – or woman – there’s no need to worry. This method for fixing minor dents in a garage door is fairly simple, and it’s practically foolproof.
Here’s what you’ll need to do:
Step 1: Fill your bucket with warm water and dish soap, and mix until the water gets sudsy. Using the sponge, wash the dented area thoroughly.
NOTE: It’s important for all the dirt, grease, and any other grime to be completely removed during this step.
Step 2: Use the rag to dry the dented area thoroughly.
Step 3: Measure and cut enough foil to cover the dent itself and several inches past it.
NOTE: Those several extra inches are important, because that’s what you’re going to be holding.
Step 4: Lay the foil flush against the dent, making sure it’s completely covered. Use one hand to hold it in place, and the other to grab your lighter.
Step 5: Using a consistent motion, move the lighter flame across the surface area of the dent for one minute, without stopping.
NOTE: It’s essential that the entire dent is thoroughly heated.
Step 6: Remove the foil and grab the air can, holding it upside down and spraying the dent for 30 seconds.
NOTE: That was not a typo. The can must be upside down – this position allows carbon dioxide to be released, which is the catalyst for removing the dent.
Step 7: Wait 2-3 minutes and examine the garage door. The dent should completely disappear.
NOTE: A larger, more significant dent may require you to repeat these steps more than once. If you’ve tried this method several times to no avail, your dent will probably require a professional to remove it.
See – that wasn’t so bad! Fixing a dent in your garage door can be done in as little as 10 minutes, with just a few everyday supplies.