How To Repair Dents In A Metal Garage Door

If you have a metal garage door, there may come a time when you have some dents in it that you want to fix. In most cases, the dents are small enough to repair on your own with basic home supplies. Here are instructions for repairing these small dents.

Gather Your Supplies

To repair a dent in your garage door, you need a few different supplies. Make a list before you begin so you can have what you need before you start the project. To repair a dent in a metal garage door, you will need:

• Bucket
• Hose
• Dish soap
• Sponge
• Aluminum foil
• Compressed air
• Lighter
• Gloves

As you can see, very basic supplies are needed for this method of removing dents. You might already have the items at home.

Wash the Garage Door

Once you have your supplies ready, you need to get the garage door clean. If you are only repairing one or two small dents, don't worry about cleaning the entire door. Just get the dented area clean. Fill your bucket with warm water and add some of your dish soap to it—just enough to create soapy water. Use a heavy-duty sponge and dip it in the soapy water. Wash the dented area thoroughly with the sponge to get rid of dirt and grime. Rinse the area with your hose and let it dry before you continue removing the dent.

Remove the Dent

Get your aluminum foil and unroll enough that would cover the dented area on the garage door, plus some extra on either end of the dent. Cut it off and keep it nearby. Make sure your lighter and compressed air can are also right next to you and within reach. Put on a pair of protective gloves. Place the piece of foil over the dent, keeping it flat. You want to hold it against the door, but by the corner so you don't risk burning your hand. It helps to have someone else help you hold it up. The helper should also have gloves on.

Place the flame of the lighter over the dent, moving it around the dent for about a minute. You want the flame to hit the dent over the aluminium foil, but not start a fire. This is why you should use a constant motion around the dented area. When it has been about a minute of heating up the dent underneath the foil, remove the foil. Put the compressed air can upside down and spray it over the dent for several seconds. By putting it upside down, the carbon dioxide is released and helps to remove the dent.

If you can't fix the dent by using this method, check out companies like Aurora Overhead Door Inc.