On Cape Cod the hard parts for a garage door are wind, salt air and homes that sit closed for months. Wash salt off the door more often, check hardware for rust and test the door before you leave a seasonal house. If the door sticks, scrapes or looks crooked, stop using it and call a technician.
1What makes the Cape different
The Cape sticks out into the Atlantic, so a door there sees wind and salt air more than one inland. It sees less snow: NOAA's 1991 to 2020 normals list 21.5 inches a year for Hyannis, against 72.9 inches for Worcester. Wind, wet air and salt do the damage here, not heavy snow.
The National Weather Service in Boston issues a High Wind Warning for sustained winds of at least 40 mph or any gust of 58 mph or more. A big door panel acts like a sail in a gust like that, so check the track, hinges and screws after a big blow.
2Salt air and rust
Amarr says that if you live in a salt air climate you should clean the door more often than the yearly wash it recommends. It also says surface rust from salt is not covered by the product warranty, so it pays to catch rust early.
- Rinse the door and hardware with fresh water and a soft cloth or sponge, not a pressure washer
- Look at hinges, brackets, the bottom of the panels and the track for orange rust
- Lubricate the moving metal parts but not plastic rollers
- Replace badly rusted hinges and brackets before they snap
3Seasonal homes and long closed months
A great many Cape homes are not lived in all year. The Cape Cod Commission has said that second-home owners occupy nearly 40 percent of Barnstable County's residential units, in a 2017 release. A door that sits closed for months can seize up, and a problem that starts in October may not be found until May.
Before you leave, run the door a few times and listen for new noise. Look at the seal for gaps that let in pests and damp. Check the door when you reopen the house too, and do not force a door that sticks.
4Safety checks before you leave and when you return
Run the door
Open and close it twice. It should move smoothly and stop where you leave it.
Test the auto-reverse
Place a board or a roll of paper towels on the floor. The door should reverse when it touches it. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission urges owners to test the reversing feature monthly.
Look at the photo eyes
Make sure they are clean, pointing at each other and not blocked by a stored item.
Check for rust and cracks
Look at springs, cables, hinges and the track. Do not touch the springs or cables.
Call for service
If anything looks worn, broken or crooked, book a visit before you close up for the season.
5Permits and rules
Towns on the Cape, and homeowners associations, may have their own rules on exterior doors, color and storm-resistant products. Ask your town building department and read your association documents before you order a new door.
6Who to call
Emil Garage Doors repairs garage doors, springs, cables and openers and installs new doors in Massachusetts, including Barnstable, Plymouth and New Bedford. Call or send your details and we book the soonest visit. See garage door repair for what a visit includes, and our Boston area guide for inland towns.
Questions people ask
Does salt air damage a garage door?
Yes. Amarr says to clean more often in salt air climates and notes that surface rust from salt is not covered by the product warranty.
How much snow does Cape Cod get?
NOAA's 1991 to 2020 normals list 21.5 inches a year for Hyannis.
How should I prepare a seasonal home's garage door?
Run the door, test the auto-reverse, check the photo eyes and look for rust before you leave, then check it again when you return.
Can I wash my garage door with a pressure washer?
Amarr does not recommend it. Use a sponge or cloth and rinse thoroughly.
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Sources
- Current Results: Average annual snowfall in Massachusetts (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals for Worcester, Boston, Amherst, Hyannis and Worthington)
- National Weather Service Boston/Norton: Watch, warning and advisory criteria (High Wind Warning and Wind Advisory thresholds)
- Amarr: Garage door care and maintenance (yearly washing, salt air, lubrication, twice-a-year checks, no pressure washing)
- Cape Cod Commission: Survey helps weigh effects of second homes (share of residential units, November 2017)
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: Final rules for automatic garage door openers (1991 and 1993 entrapment protection, monthly reversing test)