How to Complete a Hollow-Core Garage Door Repair in South Beach

Hollow core doors are standard in many garages in Los Angeles because they are cheaper to install and maintain. However, they are more delicate and easier to break than solid wood doors. Once such doors get damaged, it is easy to repair them using different materials and techniques. However, the process requires caution because the door lacks a hardboard surface skin that can provide more support to prevent consequent cracking. Technicians who offer garage door repair in South Beach can fix customers’ garage doors fixed within one or two days. The following are the techniques that professionals often use when repairing these hollow-core doors in your garage.

Gather All Materials Required for Garage Door Repair in South Beach

Ensuring that professionals have all the materials required to repair the damaged hollow core door in your garage will avoid confusion. This makes the entire process easier. For example, they will not have to rush to the hardware store to get the knife or brush after applying the paint. Some of the necessary items include paint, primer, insulating foam sealant, and sandpaper.

Cut the Loose Wood Around the Crack or Hole

The door might have loose splinters around the edges of the crack, depending on the severity of the damage. It is more appropriate to use a knife to cut away the fragments instead of trying to repair them since a clean hole is easier to fix than a fragmented one. This technique also increases the efficiency of garage door repair in Los Angeles.

Pack Several Paper Towels in the Hole

The role of the paper towels is to ensure that the insulation foam stays in place as it dries. They are also necessary for garage repair because they are light and can hold their weight comfortably in the hollow door. Professional technicians involved in garage door repair South Beach can also use tissue paper or other equally light materials at this stage. They will gather several towels and stuff them on the side and bottom of the hole.

Spray Expanding Foam Insulation in the Hole or Crack

The insulating foam is used to seal the hollow area in the door panel during the garage repair. This compound is easy and effective to use because it is usually in a spray can. Professionals will use the long nozzle to spray the foam in the hole. The advantage of this foam is that it expands and fills the space fast. The paper towels also hold the foam and ensure that it sticks around the damaged area on the garage door.

Professionals will spray as much insulating foam as possible to fill the void. However, it would be best to prevent the insulating foal from dripping down the other sections of the garage door because it will cause more mess. Most professional fixers in Los Angeles prefer using masking tape to cover the other door sections that are not under repair before spraying the foam.

Allow the Insulation Foam to Dry

The next step involved in Los Angeles garage door repair is to allow the foam sealant to dry. The time required varies because some require about five hours to dry while others require the entire night. Therefore, professionals will check the instructions offered by the manufacturer to be sure about the time needed.

The cured insulation foam prevents the damaged garage door from flexing after the Los Angeles garage repair. If you fail to support the door panel using such a material, the constant flexion or vibration during regular use might eventually cause the repaired patch to crack.

Trim the Excess Foam Away

After the foam is dry and firm, professionals have to eliminate the protruding foam from the garage door to make it even. A saw or utility knife is more appropriate for this process because it is less likely to damage the cured foam. The professionals in Los Angeles garage repair should then rub them down the door’s face and cut away the material until it is approximately 0.1 inches below the door. They can also use a sandpaper to clean the area and ensure that it is flat and even.

Use an Auto-Body Filler to Strengthen the Repair

Auto-body filler ensures that the garage door repair Los Angeles is strong enough to withstand any movement and vibration in future. The fixer should start by mixing the auto-body filler with a hardener catalyst and then spreading the mixture over the door section that is under repair. Finding the two materials is easy because they are usually packaged together at the hardware store. Professionals can also use the edge of a knife to smear the mixture over the hole and fill any gaps.

Cover the Hole or Crack With Spackle

Spackle is an excellent option if professionals do not have the auto-body filler or find it difficult to use. This compound is not only affordable but also easy to work with when repairing a hollow-core garage door.

Experts in Los Angeles garage door repair should start by scooping the compound out of the container using a knife and then spread it over the damaged area on the face of the garage door. Using long and smooth strokes will allow professionals to spread the spackle smoothly and evenly.

Allow the Spackle or Auto-Body Filler to Dry

After the Los Angeles garage repair experts have smeared any of the two compounds over the hole on the garage door, they should leave it for about one hour to dry completely. However, they should double-check with the manufacturer to acquire accurate information about the specific time required for the product to dry. After the recommended duration, the door should feel hard.

Sand Down the Garage Door Surface

At this point in the repair process, the door area feels rough and uneven because professionals have applied several compounds. The most effective technique to smooth it is to use a piece of coarse grit sandpaper. Professionals will use this sheet and scrub off the excess repair compound until it is on the same level as the surface of the hollow core garage door. Sanding down the area also makes the repair less visible.

Prime and Paint the Patched Area or Entire Door

Once the hollow core door is repaired and looks smooth and flat, paint the door to hide the repaired section or make it less noticeable. It is easy for a person who looks closely to identify the textured patch edges. Priming the fixed garage door is essential because it will help the paint remain longer on the door.