Why Your Garage Door Is Rusting and How to Stop It

• Rust Causes: Rust on metal garage doors can be accelerated by seaside conditions and the UK’s damp climate. Pollen can sometimes mimic the appearance of rust.
• Removing Rust: Use white vinegar for minor rust, applying with a cloth and scrubbing with steel wool. Replace the door if rust is extensive.
• Post-Cleaning Steps: After rust removal, clean the door, rinse, and repaint with rust-resistant paint.

Even some of the highest quality garage doors can become susceptible to rust, so don’t worry too much if you have started to notice signs of it.

In this article, the Associated Garage Doors team is going to explain why your garage door is rusting and how you can stop it.

Why your garage door is rusting

As we just mentioned, all metal garage doors will rust eventually, but there are some factors that can speed up the process considerably.

For example, if you live by the seaside, the additional wind and salt water will cause your garage door to rust much quicker than elsewhere in the UK.

However, it’s worth bearing in mind that the UK climate can be damp a lot of the time anyway, which can contribute towards rust.

A note about pollen

In the summer, you might notice a yellow substance stuck to your car, this is just pollen.

Yellow and white birch trees tend to produce a darker sort of pollen that appears more orangey.

If this gets stuck to your garage door, it can look very similar to rust, so if you’re at all unsure, give the door a good clean before you make your decision.

How to get rid of rust from your garage door

Before we go through the derusting process, we thought we’d mention here that if your door is looking extremely rusty and damaged, then the best course of action would be to look for a replacement rather than trying to repair it.

However, if the door is relatively new and you’ve only noticed a bit of rust, then proceed to the next section!

There are many anti-rust products out there that you can buy on Amazon or in shops and some of them may well work, but they certainly aren’t cheap.

If you’re looking for a DIY solution that you don’t need to leave the house for, then try white vinegar. White vinegar reacts with rust, causing it to dissolve, making it the perfect cleaning agent for your derusting project!

Here are the steps:

• The easiest way to apply the white vinegar to the door is to soak a cloth in it. Apply the cloth to all the areas with rust. You don’t need to scrub too hard.
• Once you’ve done this, use a steel-wool pad to scrub away the rust. Make sure you’re thorough here, as if you leave any behind, the oxidation will continue and cause the rust to spread again. This is the main reason why simply sanding down and painting over the affected areas isn’t a good idea.
• Once you have got rid of all the rust and you’re happy with the job you’ve done, it’s time to clean the door. A solution of warm water and detergent will work fine here. When you’ve finished the clean, simply rinse away any of the remaining soap with water.
• After the door is dried, it’s time to repaint the door. Opt for a primer and paint that’s rust resistant and works best for metal garage doors, this will ensure that you won’t have to go through the same process again next year!

Associated Garage Doors are a leading garage door provider throughout Sevenoaks, Ashford, Battle, Tunbridge Wells and the wider area of Kent. We also offer a stunning range of front doors and composite doors. 

For more information about services and products, please get in touch.