Is Tech Making Bow Door Panels Better Or Worse?
Garage Door Panels - Why They Are Unsightly and Dangerous
A garage door that is bowed is not just ugly, it could cause danger to shut or open. If the bowing is extreme it may be necessary to replace it by a professional.
Bow visor doors have given an opportunity to clam doors which are more secure and practical. On all seagoing vessels a list of inspections and repairs of bow doors, as well as locking and securing devices must be maintained.
How to Find Bowing or Warping
It's not just unsightly, but also a danger when the door panel bows or warps. It can affect the way your garage door opens and closes, and cause it to wear out more quickly. If the bowing is significant it may be necessary to replace the entire garage door to ensure it operates safely and properly.
If the bowing is not too severe it is often repaired using struts which lift additional pressure and then return the door back to its original shape. Certain doors are more prone to bowing than others, like those with dark hues or ones that face the sun. The problem is more likely to happen with heavy and large doors than smaller, lighter doors.
The best way to check for bowing is to place the door down on a flat surface, like a counter top made of stone. If the door is bowing you will notice the difference when you look at it from the distance. You can also make use of a string line to determine if the door is bent or just out-of-alignment.
Bowing can result from extreme temperature variations in the exterior and interior of a structure. When a solid door or an insulated one experiences significant temperature fluctuations, it can start to bow as the differing temperatures cause the moisture within the wood to move towards the direction of the warmer areas. This could happen across an entire solid door or in a single piece.
A poor installation can result in the door to be bent or warped. If a door is set up incorrectly, it can move as it opens and closes, which can cause damage to the hinges, or tear off a part of the door's frame.
Repairing or replacing the bent garage door panel is worth the effort and time. A professional can help you in the process. They can assess the damage and suggest the best solution for your specific situation. They can help you fix the issue in the event that your garage door opener is having issues due to your door panels that are bowing.
What to do if you find bowing or warping
Bowing and warping in wood is a normal occurrence that should not cause any problems in function. It is important to fix this issue as quickly as possible. The longer a bow lasts, the more stress it can put on the garage door and doors, which could cause costly repairs as well as premature wear and tear.
Warps and bows are typically caused by unbalanced variations in moisture on the different sides of wood. This can happen when a piece of wood is exposed to sudden temperature changes. It could also occur when wood pieces have been placed on a flat surface for a long period of time. The wood's side that is directly in contact with a moist environment can absorb moisture and lose it more quickly than the opposite side. This can lead to distortions of the shape of the wood and, in extreme instances, to cracking or splitting.
In the majority of instances, minor warping can be fixed by applying more heat and moisture to the wood. If the bowing is extreme an additional weight may need to be applied to the wood to aid in helping it get back to a more level position.
Sanding the affected part of the door is another way to resolve or prevent this issue. This will help to remove the warp and can be done as a do-it-yourself project. However, if the bowing is too severe, it's best to hire a professional to fix it for you.
Bowing can also occur due to the type of wood that is used to make the door panel. If the door is constructed of pine, for instance it could be more prone to bowing than those made of cherry or oak. This is because pine has a greater tendency to expand and shrink based on the humidity levels than other types of wood.
To avoid warping of your wood, keep track of humidity levels with simple hydrometers. Keep the humidity in your home to less than 50% and utilize fans to increase the amount of airflow during hot weather. You can also use dehumidifiers to lower humidity levels in your home.
How can you repair warping or bowing?
If you notice that your garage door is bending or bowing, it is important to take action right away. Doorways that are bowing or warping are not only less appealing to look at, they also lower the value of your home. A garage door that is bowed could also cause damage to the system as it puts greater strain on the springs and rollers.
One of the main reasons why wood or garage doors that are insulated bow is due to extreme temperature fluctuations between the interior and exterior spaces. When one side of a door is hot and the other is cold, the different temperatures can cause the solid wood or insulated door to begin curling towards the warmer side. This can happen to the entire solid wood door, or even just one panel.
The weather and humidity can cause a garage door to bow. While humidity can affect all types of wood, it's particularly problematic for solid doors with insulation. High humidity and varying temperatures can trigger the expansion of wood fibers which could cause the door to warp or bow. The best way to avoid this from happening is to monitor the humidity levels and adjust your ventilation accordingly, especially in areas with moisture like the basement or garage.
If the warping or bowing of the door is minor it is possible to repair it by putting in struts to lift the pressure on the doors to return them to their normal state. However, this type repair should be done by a trained technician in order to avoid any further damage to the door.
In commercial windows bow is possible to get the wood straightened by placing it flat on a work table or another surface for a few days. Then, by covering the wood with a damp towel (paper towels are ideal but regular paper or a thin steaming towel can be employed) and wrapping it in plastic, you can focus the moisture on the door's side that is bowed and help it to move back to its original flat position.