Fixing a Dent in Long Beach Garages

If you have a dent in your Long Beach garages, then you might be looking for ways to easily fix that dent. While some dents definitely need a professional repair service, there are some repairs you can do on your own. This will help you figure out how to fix most dents yourself.

When to Get Professional Repairs for Long Beach Garages

While this will focus on helping you fix dents yourself, there will be times when only a professional can do the job. The truth is that it’s often easy to figure out when professional garage door repairs are needed instead of working on the Long Beach garages yourself, but this section will help you figure out if you should call a professional or not.

If you have a very large dent, especially one that affects more than a single panel, then you will want professional help. They might be able to fix the dent itself, or they can do garage door installation and replace the panel with a newer one. If the dent has a hole in it, then you might also want professional repair help. Small holes can usually be patched fairly easily, but larger holes are a different story.

Another thing to consider is how well the garage is functioning. Most simple dents won’t impact how well the garage functions. If the door no longer opens, regardless of whether you have a garage door opener, then you will want professional help as the problem will be hard to fix on your own.

The last thing to consider is the material. Some materials are easier to work on than others. Metals like steel and aluminum tend to be easier to fix because there are some ways to use heat and suction to remove dents. Doing this with wood or vinyl can be harder and might require more extensive repairs.

Wooden Block and Rubber Mallet

While this method for fixing Long Beach garages tends to require a lot of materials, it’s actually quite easy and you should have no problem fixing minor dents. Like many other methods shared here, this will only work on metal garage doors. Do not try this with wooden or vinyl garage doors.

The materials you’ll need include a rubber mallet, wooden block, fine-grit sandpaper, paint, primer, patching material and a putty knife. You should be able to get all of these from a local hardware store. It’s best to find both a patching material and paint that match the color of your garage. This will make the patch disappear so that it isn’t as noticeable.

Start by washing the area to remove any loose material or dirt. Do this with warm water and soap. Allow it to dry completely before continuing. Put the wooden block on top of the dent. Use the rubber mallet and tap the block a few times. Check the door. Continue doing this until the dent is as even as possible.

Sanding is optional but highly recommended. This removes more loose material while also completely evening the area. Do this until the area is completely flush and the dent is no longer visible. Use the patching material and cover the affected spot. You’ll need to use the putty knife to spread it.

Sand the area again once the patching material is dry. This will make it even and flush with the garage. Paint it with the primer and then use the paint. A second coat might be needed, so do this again if the first coat isn’t enough.

Hot and Cold

This is another method that only works on metal garage doors, so don’t bother trying it on vinyl or wood. Unlike the other method that utilizes metal’s ability to be pounded and formed with force, this one uses hot and cold to make the metal pop back into shape.

You’ll only need three items for this. You’ll need a heat source like a heat gun, aluminum foil, and compressed air. Also unlike the other method, you might already have all of these on hand.

Start by washing the area and letting it dry. Any dirt or loose material can get in the way and reduce the effectiveness of this repair method. Once dry, take a strip of aluminum foil and place it over the entire dent.

Use the heat gun or other heat source to begin heating the foil. Be sure to spread the heat evenly. If you don’t, then only part of the dent might pop out. Doing this for about a minute or two.

Remove the foil. It will be hot, so gloves are recommended. Immediately take the compressed air, turn it upside down, and spray the dent for about 30 seconds. It’s important that they can be upside down as this makes it colder.

Many people find that this makes the dent pop out from the metal.

Epoxy Wood Putty

Fixing a dent in a wooden garage door can be tough. Unlike metal which can be bent, wood lacks this ability to freely move around. While major or even moderate damage should be looked at by a professional, you can often fix minor dents with relative ease.

You’ll need epoxy wood putty along with either paint or stain. Like with all the other methods, you’ll want to start by cleaning the dented area. If there are splinters or other imperfections, then you’ll want to sand them down to make the area smooth.

Use a putty knife and put on a layer of wood epoxy. It’s better to use a little more than less. Make a small dome of material and then let it dry. Use the sandpaper again and sand down the area.

You can now use the paint or stain to make this look like the rest of the wooden garage. You want it to blend in as much as possible.

Pop Out Dents

The final method here will use a suction cup. Much like with dents on cars, this method can remove minor dents with relative ease. These suction cups are most often made for cars, so check out an automotive store if your local hardware store doesn’t have any.

Clean the area and wait for it to dry. This makes it easier for the suction cup to adhere to your garage. Place the suction cup on the area and remove all the air you can for a tight fit.

Pull outward until the metal returns to normal. This can require a lot of force, so be prepared to pull hard before the dent is gone.