Fix Loose Screws in Wood Garage Doors

If you have a wood garage, there may come a time when you need to fix screws that have become loose. Over time and with normal use, screws have a tendency to work their way loose and come out of their screw holes. If this occurs, it is actually quite easy to fix the screws. However, there is a process that should be followed when you are fixing the screws that have become loose.

Assess the Condition of the Door and Screws
Before you begin doing any repairs on your wood garage door, you need to carefully assess both the door and the screws. Check the hinges in the door. There are times when screws will become loose and warp the hinges. If this occurs, you are going to want to get replacement hinges. Otherwise, you are going to end up fixing the loose screws and encountering more problems than what you had to begin with. You will save a lot of time and money by looking at your garage door and the screws before you begin any repairs.

Inspect Mounting Brackets
The most common place for loose screws in a wood garage door is in the mounting brackets. The continuous movement of the door along its track creates a lot of strain on the mounting hardware. After you have inspected the overall condition of the door, you should look at all of the mounting brackets and the track that the door operates on. It is often very easy to see where any screws have come loose from their screw holes. These are the areas that you need to focus on.

Obtain all Necessary Materials
Go to your local hardware store, and pick up any hinges or mounting brackets that you need. With the thorough inspection that you have done, you will know what you need to get. Do not replace any hinges or brackets that are not damaged. This is simply a waste of time and money. You will also want to make sure that you have a screwdriver or an electric drill. If there are screws that appear to no longer fit their holes, you will also want to get some longer screws, but keep the same diameter. If this is the case, hollow fiber plugs and carpenter’s glue will be needed to effectively repair the door. In cases where there are cracks in the wood, you are going to want to have some wood filler available.

Tighten Loosened and Misfit Screws
For screws that have simply loosened up, you can use the screwdriver or drill to tighten them back up. Avoid over-tightening the screws, as this could strip them or split the wood.

For screws that no longer fit properly in the holes, there is a little bit more work involved with tightening them. You need to change these screws out. Replace them with a screw that is longer, but the same diameter. Once you have replaced the screw, a hollow fiber plug will need to be inserted. Dip the plug in carpenter’s glue before you install it over the screw. This will ensure that the plug stays in place and that you do not have to worry about it anymore.

These steps will help you to fix all of the screws that are loose in your wood garage door. Since there is really no preventative maintenance to avoid loose screws, the best way to solve this problem is to regularly tighten and inspect them.