5 Ways Weather Affects Wooden Overhead Garage Doors

Every product can have adverse effects when exposed to the environment. Metal can rust due to oxidation. Plastic can melt under extreme heat levels. Wood can rot when exposed to excessive moisture.

You’ve decided to invest in a wooden garage door. Rather than follow the crowd and stick to steel and aluminum doors, you know that wooden garage doors have potential. After all, wood is a vital natural resource used to build houses, furniture, interior doors, and exterior doors. There’s no other material on the market quite like it!

The constant exposure to the elements will try to wear your new wooden garage door down, but you can take steps to defend your investment. Wood garage doors are stable and strong when you take care of them. Learn about the ways weather affects wooden overhead garage doors and how you can prevent these issues.

Wood Garage Doors May Fade Due to the Sun

It’s no secret that the sun is powerful. It creates warmth and light and contributes to plant growth, but its UV rays can wear down materials.

Have you ever noticed wood that sits outside for months or years turns up faded and dull? Without any form of protection, wood will lose its color because of prolonged exposure to the sun.

Prevent Damage With the Right Clear Coat

One issue many homeowners encounter is that their desired wood stains are only suitable for interior applications. Interior stains won’t safeguard the wood from the sun or moisture.

How can you make your wooden door resistant to harsh UV rays while still achieving your desired home appearance? Simply invest in a wooden garage door for sale from Nick’s Building Supply!

We make custom wood garage doors unlike any others. Nick’s Building Supply offers a special clear coating for exterior wooden doors. The ability to absorb and deflect UV rays results in protection from fading.

Wood Expands and Contracts As the Weather Changes

Wood naturally expands and contracts. This change occurs in exterior and interior wood doors, furniture, and even wooden garage doors. Hot, humid air will cause wood to expand, while dry, cold air results in contracting wood.

Garage door machinery relies on particular measurements to ensure the garage seals and functions correctly. Excessive expansion and contraction can damage the door’s functionality and durability.

When wood contracts, it shrinks, which could cause the smaller door to separate from the frame. It could then allow air, bugs, or rain through the cracks. Meanwhile, expanding wood can distress the garage door and frame. The additional pressure on the frame can lead to cracking or a broken door.

Take Advantage of Amazing Clear Coat Technology

Not every door on the market offers features that halt the natural expansion and contraction of wood. Finding a durable option that can withstand regional weather is a challenge many face when choosing a wood garage door.

Nick’s Building Supply offers a nanotechnology clear coat that moves with the wood to avoid harming the frame or door itself. The softer coating is more effective because it slightly stretches with the door, serving as a breathable option.

The overall issue of expansion and contraction is impossible to stop altogether; it’s an ordinary characteristic of wood. Nevertheless, the water-based urethane clear coat at Nick’s Building Supply can substantially safeguard the quality of the door, ensuring it lasts much longer.

Garages Become Incredibly Hot or Cold

Insulation is a key component to ensuring every area of the house feels comfortable, no matter the weather outside. The garage door plays a vital role in controlling the temperature inside. It’s the first layer of defense to block out unwanted air and maintain a temperate interior. Without the proper door, garages may become overly hot or cold.

Improve Garage Insulation

You won’t resolve the troublesome temperature fiasco without investing in the right garage door. Wood is a thick material and a great insulator.

Wood garage doors work even better in tandem with an insulated core. The strong middle layer enhances the wood’s strength. When these materials all work together, the garage door will redistribute any excessively hot or cool air back to the outdoors.

Dangerous Storms Can Damage Wood

Moisture isn’t only harmful because it can cause wood to expand and contract. When strong rainstorms occur, the wood garage door is more at risk of absorbing moisture and experiencing wood rot.

In addition, substantial rain, severe winds, and strong impacts from flying debris can result in significant damage. Dangerous storms can ruin wooden overhead doors if you don’t choose the right wood species.

Choose a Wood Species That Withstands Dangerous Storms

Cedar is the most popular wood species for overhead garage doors. However, there is a less popular yet incredible alternative wood species that will better serve your home if storms are a concern.

Alaskan Cedar is an evergreen tree that’s preferred because of the straight grain and great resistance to decay. The species is less likely to shrink and expand when facing moisture content and temperature changes.

Another essential quality that Alaskan Cedar possesses is its impact resistance. Even in the face of a hurricane or tornado spewing debris, you’re unlikely to see any damage from small debris collisions. The wood is wonderfully stable and can withstand astounding pressure.

Snow and Ice Can Harm the Wood

In the wintertime, snow and ice stick to the ground. While this issue can inconvenience a homeowner in many ways, it can also impact the functionality of your wooden garage door.

Many homeowners will experience a frozen garage door at one point. The accumulation of moisture at the base of the wooden door can also potentially penetrate the clear coat and harm the structural integrity of the wood.

Protect Your Garage Door Base

It’s crucial to eliminate as much ice, water, and snow from the base as possible to prevent the risk of moisture damage. Regularly scrape snow and ice from the floor and ground around the garage throughout the day.

If the door is already stuck, start by taking an ice scraper to the base and chipping away. Another option is to add extremely hot water to the base to melt the ice. Once the garage door raises, sweep away the remaining ice, water, and snow.

Nick’s Building Supply Is the Answer!

Nick’s Building Supply is ready to provide spectacular wooden overhead garage doors that can withstand weather disturbances. Enjoy the durability of Alaskan Cedar, pick your desired stain, and add a top-of-the-line clear coat to finish the look. Whenever the humidity is high or an unexpected storm rolls your way, the weather won’t affect the appearance or quality of your wood garage door.

5 Ways Weather Affects Wooden Overhead Garage Doors