Shed Door Repair Guide

Doing your own shed door repair work can save large amounts of money. It is easy to repair most shed door problems without having to replace them or hire the services of a professional.

Shed doors come in a variety of designs, styles and mechanisms, each with a different set of potential problems. Roll-up, hanging and wood doors repairs are addressed here.

1. Roll-up Door Repair

Check the Tracks. Check the tracks for any dents or raised surfaces. Use a hammer to mend the surfaces by tampering down. Also, check all of the screws. Loose screws will stop the door from moving effectively and will need to be tightened.

Dirt and leaves can get into the track and cause a roll-up door not to function. Use a broom or cleaning cloth to remove any debris from the tracks.

Check the Track Alignment. Make sure that the tracks are correctly aligned. Tracks that are not properly aligned will be difficult to move. Look at the tracks to see if they are in line. If they are not, unfasten them and realign them to the door. The tracks should roll smoothly without strain.

Clean Rolls and Rails. A sticky substance will often form on the rolls and rails of a roll-up door, keeping it from moving correctly. Simply clean the rolls and rail with soap and water moving the door up to allow reach for all surfaces. Move the door down and dry the rails and rolls.

Repair the Spring. Raise the door so that the spring has no tension on it. Place an anchor under the door to keep it from moving. Remove the spring from the pulley and door by detaching hooks. Replace the spring with a new one. Be sure to reattach the safety wire to the new spring.

2. Skewed Door Repair

Check the Spacing. Close the door and check the spacing between the door and the latch. Determine which hinge is out of balance by the space between the door and frame. The skewed hinge will have a larger gap.

Remove the Hinge. Remove the hinge from both the door and the jamb. Using a drill, unscrew the bolts on both sides of the hinge. Be sure to stabilize the door during this procedure so that the other hinge is not overstrained.

Cut Cardboard Shims. Use the hinge as a guide to cut cardboard shims. Use a utility knife and cut cardboard shims out by cutting around the hinge. Cut several shims in case one is not enough.

Shim the Hinge. Place two or three of the cardboard shims in the hinge mortise and replace the hinge. Once the hinge is attached to both the door and the jamb, check the space. Add or deduct shims until the door is balanced.

3. Wood Door Repair

Another common repair is to weather-damaged doors. Wood doors are susceptible to outdoor elements even when they have been weather-treated. Instead of purchasing a new door, remove the old paint and re-treat the surface.

Remove the door. Remove the door from the frame and place it on a surface where it can be easily cleaned and painted. It can be placed upright against a covered surface with newspapers underneath it or it can be placed on the ground with newspapers below.

Sand and Clean. Sand the door manually with fine grain sandpaper. This will remove any old paint, stains or dirt from the door. Clean the surface of the door with mild soap and water getting all of the dirt and dust removed.

Paint. Paint the door with an exterior primer and follow with exterior paint. It is also possible to use a water seal stain on the door for a more natural look. Once the door is dry, simply attach it back to the door frame