A garage door affords you privacy while also keeping your car shielded from the wind, rain, and sun. These doors are built to last, but sometimes they can get damaged through unforeseen circumstances. Here are three common causes of garage door damage and their solutions:

1. Impact damage

It's important to be careful while driving, but accidents can happen. You may become momentarily distracted, or maybe your teenage child will misjudge the distance between the car and the garage door. In these cases, a collision can cause impact damage to your garage door. Depending on the style of door you have, you may be able to replace part of the garage door; this is especially true for roll-up doors. In other cases, you will need to replace the entire garage door. Make sure that your garage door installation technician checks the door's tracks, to ensure they didn't get bent in the collision.

2. Mold and rot

Wooden garage doors are beautiful, with a classic look that you can't beat. Unfortunately, they're more prone to water damage, especially if they're not properly sealed. Over time, you may find that your wooden doors start to warp or rot. They may even become covered in mold. If your problem is mold, you may be able to fix it by cleaning your garage door with bleach, then sanding and repainting the affected area. In the case of wood rot, you will have to have your garage door replaced. If you want a door that is more durable for the future, you may want to switch to an aluminum or steel garage door.

3. Scratches and dents

Your garage door may also become damaged in more minor ways, thanks to the hustle and bustle of life. Bicycles can scrape the garage door, and kids might scuff or dent it while playing. This type of damage is easy to fix, and it won't cost you much money. Most scratches can be buffed out using sandpaper and a little elbow grease. You can repaint your existing garage door to cover scuffs and stains. If your garage door is made of metal, you can remove dents yourself too. According to Hunker, applying heat for two minutes should make most dents pop out on their own.

If you need a new garage door due to structural damage, don't hesitate to call a garage door installation service. A professional installation technician will be able to remove your old garage door and install its replacement quickly and easily. For more information, reach out to companies like Above All Overhead Door.