How To Lubricate Roller Garage Doors

Sometimes we receive a call from customer who believes their roller door is on the cusp of breaking down often the conversation will revolve around the fact that their roller door is sticking, and they are having a difficult job opening and shutting their roller doors.

Typically all the door requires is lubricating as with all metal moving parts roller doors will become dry and the friction caused by the constant rolling up and down can cause the doors to stick.

Use the correct lubricant

When lubricating your doors, it is important not to use your standard off the shelf favourites as more often than not thick lubricants will merely compound your problems as they serve to attract dirt which will ultimately lead to the door becoming worse than before you started.

Standard WD 40 in this situation is 100% out! Specialised lubricants are 100% in they need to be high viscose either white lithium Grease or silicone based.

Lithium based grease works extremely well with metal! in this situation it has the edge over standard oil-based lubricants due to the fact it is moisture resistant, performs well in high or low temperatures, and is also very effective when used in load-bearing situations. These qualities make lithium grease perfect for combating screeching roller doors. Take a look at this Wikipedia entry for more info.

When applying the lubricant, it is important not to use too much don’t be tempted to soak your doors a fine spray is very much the way to go as soaking the area could again lead to additional problems.

It is vitally important that you only apply the lubricant to the garage door guide rails, as with all activities adequate preparation is essential, make sure to clean the guide rails and surrounding area thoroughly before applying the lubricant.

Recap:

• Use a lithium or silicone based lubricant.
• Clean the area prior to application.
• Only apply to the doors guide rails.
• Use Sparingly.