With garage door wind damage or a door bent in a storm, leave it where it is and keep the opener off. A bent or pushed-in door is still hanging on loaded springs and cables, and running it can twist it out of the track. Take photos before anything is moved, then call for an inspection and a free estimate.
The east wind that pours out of the Columbia Gorge hits Troutdale and Corbett hardest and reaches into north Gresham, Fairview and Wood Village. Ice storms across the east county bring down limbs and power lines, and a garage door is a big, flat target for both.
My garage door blew in. What do I do now?
Leave it alone, unplug the opener and keep everyone out of the garage doorway. A door that has been pushed in or bowed is out of shape, and the springs above it are still trying to lift it.
- Unplug the opener so nobody runs it by accident, if you can reach the outlet without stepping under the door.
- Keep kids, pets and cars away from the door, inside and out.
- Do not push the door back into place, pull on it or try to close it by hand.
- Stay clear of the springs, cables and the bottom brackets at each lower corner.
- Take photos from a safe spot, then call.
If the door is stuck open and the garage is exposed, tell us when you call. Making the door safe, and closing up the garage wherever the door allows it, is the first thing we sort out.
A tree limb fell on my garage door. Is it safe to move it?
Small branches lying on the driveway are fine to clear. A limb that is resting on the door, the track or the roof edge above it is a different story, because the door may be holding it up.
Pulling it away can let the door spring back or drop, so leave it for a tree crew and for us. If a power line is down anywhere near the garage, stay well back and call the utility before anyone touches the limb or the door.
Why does my garage door move in the wind?
A little flex in a strong gust is normal. A garage door is a big, light panel held at its edges, and wide double doors flex the most.
What is not normal is a door that stays bowed after the wind drops, rattles hard against the stops, rubs the track, or reverses the next time you close it. Those are signs that hinges have cracked, rollers have shifted or the track has pulled loose from its brackets. Our garage door track repair covers bent and loose track, and a door that has already jumped its rollers needs off track garage door repair before it is used again.
Why won’t my garage door open after a storm?
Often it is the power, not the door. If the lights are out or the opener is dead after a surge, start with our guide to an opener that won’t work after a power outage.
If the power is fine and the door still will not move, the storm did mechanical damage. Leave the door where it is and call.
Can a wind-damaged garage door be repaired?
Often, yes. Cracked hinges, bent track, shifted rollers, a torn weather seal or one or two creased sections can all be fixed without buying a whole new door.
When a section is folded or split, we can usually swap it through our garage door panel replacement service, provided the maker still produces a section that matches your door. When several sections are bent, or the door has torn away from its track and brackets, replacing the garage door is the better repair. The new door goes in and the old one leaves with us, haul-away included. Either way, we look at the whole door, explain what failed and what can be saved, and the estimate is free.
Will insurance cover storm damage to my garage door?
That depends on your policy and on what caused the damage, so the answer has to come from your insurer. What you can do right now is make sure you have good photos before anything changes.
- A wide shot of the whole door from the driveway.
- Close shots of every dent, crease, crack or torn seal.
- The inside of the door, the tracks and the springs, taken from a safe distance.
Note the date, keep any broken parts and call your agent. When we inspect the door, we tell you in plain words what broke and why, which makes it easier to describe the damage on a claim.
How much wind can a garage door take?
It depends on how the door is built and mounted. Steel thickness, reinforcing struts across the sections, and how firmly the track is fastened to the framing all matter.
Some doors carry a label on the edge or the inside of a section that lists the wind load they are built for, and the installer’s paperwork may show it too. If you live where the east wind hits hard and you are replacing a door, ask about a door built for higher wind loads and extra struts on the wide doors.
When to call us
Once the door is left alone and everyone is safe, give us a call. We are based in Damascus and work across Troutdale, Corbett, Gresham, Fairview, Wood Village and the rest of the east county every day from 7 AM until 8 PM, and most calls get same day service. A door that is stuck open after a storm is exactly what our emergency garage door repair is for. We are licensed and insured, and we work on homes and businesses alike.
Frequently asked questions
Can I still use my garage door if it is dented by the wind?
A small dent that does not change how the door runs is usually cosmetic. If the door bows, catches, runs crooked or makes new noises, stop using it and have it checked.
Should I tape or brace the door myself before a windstorm?
Close the door all the way before the wind picks up, and park the car inside if there is room. Leave bracing and strut work to a technician, since anything fixed to the door changes its weight and the springs are set for the weight it has now.
My weather seal tore loose in the storm. Is that urgent?
It can wait a day or two, but fix it before the next rain. A torn seal lets water, leaves and cold air in, and in freezing weather it can let ice form under the door.
Do you fix storm damage on business doors too?
Yes. We repair commercial sectional and roll-up doors as well as house doors, including bent track, damaged sections and the heavier springs and cables they run on.
Door bent, blown in or pinned under a branch? Call (503) 487-8942. Our phones are on from 7 AM until 8 PM every day, and we start by making the door safe.