How Extreme Weather Affects Your Garage Door
The weather in Geelong changes from hot and dry in the summer to cold and wet in the winter. These big temperature changes don't just test your comfort, they can also have a big effect on the outside of your house, especially your garage door.
The weather in Geelong can impact the functioning, appearance, and durability of your garage door system, regardless of whether it's a B&D, roller, or sectional door. Material problems like warping, metal contraction, wood swelling, motor malfunctions, and seal wear and tear often happen when they are exposed to sudden changes in temperature, UV light, wetness, and coastal air.
It's important to know how extreme heat and cold affect your garage door to protect your investment, keep it running smoothly, and make sure it works all year. This article will explain how Geelong's weather affects different parts of your garage door and what you can do to stop or fix damage caused by the weather.
How Does Extreme Hot Weather Impact Garage Doors?
Most summers in Geelong, the temperature rises above 35°C. When the heat stays, it affects more than just people, it also changes the way your garage door works and how it's built. Long-term exposure to high temperatures and direct sunlight can damage and stop working properly any type of garage door, whether it's a metal roller door, a sectional garage door, or a B&D automatic garage door.
Here’s how extreme heat can impact your garage door system:
1. Expansion Of Metal Components
When metal is heated, it grows. A lot of garage doors in Geelong have steel tracks, hinges, and other moving parts. When the temperature rises, the door tracks may bend or move slightly, which can make them not line up properly. When temperatures rise, rollers and springs can get noisy or tight. Because of this, the door might jerk, stick, or become unstable. This can put extra stress on automatic garage door opener motors, shortening their lifespan and increasing wear.
2. Warping Of Materials
When doors are made of timber or composite materials, they can dry out and crack if they are not properly protected. High temperatures and UV light can cause them to distort or fade. Those made of vinyl or plastic may soften or break. In the extreme cases, warping can make it impossible for the door to close all the way, which can compromise safety and protection.
3. Paint And Finish Degradation
The hot Geelong sun may quickly deteriorate the finish on the outside of your garage door. Paint may bubble, peel, or fade over time, especially on darker doors and soak up more heat. Paints that are powder-coated may start to chalk or lose their shine. This changes not only how it looks but can also cause the material to break down faster than it should. This problem can be fixed by buying garage doors made of Colorbond steel or coatings that are resistant to UV light.
4. Seal And Weatherstripping Damage
When your garage door is exposed to heat over and over again, the rubber seals and weatherstripping that line it can dry out and crack:
When seals get cracked, they can let dust, bugs, and even water in.
Your garage will use more energy if it has gaps, especially if it's connected to your house.
As part of regular garage door maintenance in Geelong, exhausted seals should be checked and replaced before summer.
5. Overheating Of Garage Door Motors
The garage door motor is usually installed inside the garage in automatic systems, where temperatures can rise well above outdoor levels, especially in garages that don't have enough air flow. It is a safety feature that prevents motors can momentarily turning off or overheating. Motors can lose their life if they are exposed to heat for a long time. Putting in a ventilation fan or insulating the garage door can help keep the temperature range of your tools safe.
How Does Extreme Cold Weather Impact Garage Doors?
Although Geelong does not experience snow or sub-zero temperatures comparable to alpine regions, it does experience cold mornings, frosty conditions, and wet, windy winters, particularly in coastal regions. It's possible for these colder weather conditions to damage your garage door just as much as the heat, especially if it hasn't been properly kept or weatherproofed.
Here’s how extreme cold weather can impact your garage door system:
1. Contraction Of Metal Parts
Metal shrinks when it gets cold, just like it grows when it gets hot. A tightening or shifting of metal rails, hinges, and springs may be caused. Your garage door motor's tuning could be affected, especially if sensors get out of alignment because parts are moving.
When garage doors are old or not well-oiled, cold contraction is a big problem that makes mechanical failure more likely.
2. Stiffening Or Cracking Of Rubber Seals
Weatherstripping made of rubber or vinyl is important for keeping out wind, water, and bugs, but it can become stiff, brittle, or split in cold weather:
This allows moisture and drafts to enter the garage, reducing thermal efficiency.
Damaged seals may let rainwater into the garage, which can cause rust or mold to grow in soggy areas.
Before winter comes, weather seals should be checked and replaced as part of regular garage door service in Geelong.
3. Garage Door Motor Issues In The Cold
The parts inside your garage door opener can break down in cold weather, especially if:
The motor is older and doesn't have adequate oil for cold weather.
The wiring or electronics slow down, which causes reaction times to be slower or functions to stop working sometimes.
You might need to have your garage door motor serviced if your door is hard to open in the morning when it's cold or if it makes strange noises.
4. Increased Moisture And Rust
Heavy rain and high temperatures along the coast happen more often in Geelong in the winter. Steel doors, springs, and frames will rust and corrode. The swelling and absorption of moisture by timber garage doors can lead to panel warping and fit issues. This could damage the lower seals or the concrete floor if you let water pool around the base of the door.
5. Sticking Or Frozen Doors
Doors can sometimes stay shut all night because of water between the seals and the concrete slab:
This usually happens when it rains or fogs up under the door, and the temperature drops quickly.
If you try to push a door that is stuck open, you could damage the panels or motor.
Preventative measures like applying silicone-based lubricant to seals or installing a raised weatherproof threshold can reduce this risk.
How to Protect Your Garage Doors In Extreme Cold And Hot Weather?
Geelong has very hot summers and damp, cold winters. To make sure your garage door works well, lasts a long time, and is safe, you need to protect it from these extremes. A garage door that is well taken care of not only works better all year, but it also doesn't warp, rust, break down mechanically, or lose its insulation. These steps will help you protect your home from damage caused by the weather. Whether you live in Armstrong Creek, Belmont, Ocean Grove, or a more rural place like Grovedale.
First, buy a right garage door that can stand up to bad weather. For example, a Colorbond or B&D insulated type is made to last in Australia's harsh weather. The design of these doors protects against UV damage in the summer and moisture rusting in the winter. This makes them perfect for homes both near the coast and in the middle of the country. When you pair your door with the right insulation, you can better control the temperature inside, save energy, and be more comfortable. This is especially true in garages that are connected to the house or used as living areas.
Regular maintenance is also very important. If you want to save a ton of money on minor repairs, call Ascent Garage Doors in Geelong to service your garage door before each main season. The weather seals, spring tension, motor health, and lubrication can all be checked by technicians during service. All of these things are affected by changes in temperature. A lot of damage can be avoided from rain, wind, and sun by weatherproofing, like replacing old rubber seals or putting up boundary barriers.
Ventilation is very important in the summer to keep garage door motors and other parts inside from getting too hot. You can keep temperatures down by doing simple things like putting in louvre vents or mirrored door insulation. Also, keep parts dry and use anti-rust oils on all metal parts during the winter to keep them from rusting and freezing.
The weather in Geelong isn't always stable. The hot summers and cold, damp winters can damage your garage door over time. Whether your garage door is manual or automatic, knowing how bad weather affects it and taking steps to protect it can keep you from having to pay a lot of money for repairs or replacements before they're needed. Without regular maintenance, the right parts, and some yearly care, your garage door will not only stay strong, but also be ready for any weather all year. Those in the Armstrong Creek, Surf Coast, and nearby areas may rely on Ascent Garage Doors for professional garage door services in Geelong. Our experts have a lot of experience with the unique needs of these areas.
