Strong storm winds can push a garage door in, pull it out or twist it off its track. After a storm, look at the door from outside and inside before you press the button. If a section is bent, a panel is loose, the door hangs crooked or it scrapes, stop using it, pull the release handle and call a technician.
A garage door is one of the largest openings in a house. FEMA says garage doors can be vulnerable to the wind blowing them in, pulling them out or twisting them off their tracks. The weak points are usually the track, the brackets that hold it, the hinges and the panel edges.
The National Weather Service issues a Severe Thunderstorm Warning when a storm is expected to produce winds of at least 58 mph or hail of at least 1 inch. Storms in that range are the kind that flex a door panel, loosen track anchors and throw debris at the door.
| What you see | What it likely means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Door hangs crooked or one side sits lower | A bent track, a loose bracket or a cable off its drum | Do not run the opener; call for service |
| A gap between the door and the frame | A track pulled away from the wall or a bent section | Keep clear and have the track checked |
| A panel bowed in or out | The section took wind pressure and may be creased | Stop using the door and photograph it |
| Rollers out of the track | A bent track or a roller pushed out of its slot | Leave it; do not force it back in |
| Opener hums but the door does not move | A jammed door, a broken spring or a disconnected trolley | Pull the release handle and call |
Storm damage varies. We confirm the cause on site.
Walk the whole door. Note dents, bowed panels, cracked windows and any gap along the edges.
Check the track on both sides, the hinges and the brackets for bends, gaps or loose bolts. Do not touch the springs, the cables or the bottom brackets.
Pull the red release handle so the opener cannot push a damaged door.
A sound door moves freely and stays about 3 to 4 feet off the floor when you let go, according to DASMA. If it binds, scrapes or feels heavy, stop.
Take wide and close photos with the date on your phone before anything is moved.
DASMA says springs and cables are dangerous and should be repaired only by trained professionals. Do not adjust a spring, loosen a bracket or work on a cable yourself. Read about spring repair and cable repair to see what a technician checks.
A door with only cosmetic dents that moves smoothly by hand can usually stay in use while you sort out the claim.
The Texas Department of Insurance says to take pictures and video of the damage and to keep damaged items until your insurer says you can discard them. Your policy may pay for temporary repairs, so keep every receipt, and be available when the adjuster visits.
The department also says it is illegal to waive a homeowners deductible under state law, advises getting several bids and says never to sign a contract with blank spaces. Hail has its own checks; see hail damage to a garage door.
Price depends on the door, the hardware and the labor, and the final price is confirmed after we see the door. A quote should list each part. See new garage doors if the damage is widespread.
Yes. FEMA says wind can blow a garage door in, pull it out or twist it off its tracks. After a storm, check the track, the hinges and the panels before using the opener.
It may be, depending on your policy. The Texas Department of Insurance advises photographing the damage, keeping receipts for temporary repairs and filing as soon as you can. Read your own policy.
Only if it moves smoothly by hand and has no bent track, loose panel or crooked hang. Otherwise pull the release handle and call a technician.
No. Forcing a door can bend the track further or release a spring or cable under tension. Leave it and call a technician.
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Call (214) 382-3772 or send your details for the soonest visit.