Oklahoma weather tests a garage door more than most places. Spring brings severe thunderstorms with hail and tornadoes, summers are long and hot, winter can deliver ice storms that knock out power for days, and wind is a near-constant across much of the state.
Between storms, the slower damage comes from heat and from clay soil that shrinks and swells with the weather. Both show up as cracked seals, tired openers and doors that start rubbing for no obvious reason.
Why the garage door matters in a windstorm
In most houses the garage door is the largest opening, and it is often the weakest point in high wind. If it caves in, the storm pressurizes the garage and lifts the roof from below, which is how many homes end up with far more damage than the wind alone would cause.
After the 2013 tornado, the city of Moore adopted stronger building requirements for new homes that include wind-rated garage doors. Even where that is not required, a door with a wind-load rating, heavier horizontal struts and solidly anchored track is a sensible upgrade anywhere in the state.
When a warning is issued, close the garage door. An open door invites wind into the structure, and a door left partly open is even more vulnerable.
Hail, dents and insurance photos
Hail can ruin the look of a garage door in minutes even when it still works perfectly. Thin, single-layer steel dents easily. Heavier-gauge steel and insulated doors with a steel back skin resist dents better, and wood-grain textures hide small dimples that would stand out on a smooth finish.
Cosmetic dents rarely affect how a door runs, but a hard strike can crease a section or bend a strut, and creased panels tend to crack at the hinges over time. Have a creased section inspected; if your door model is still made, a single panel can sometimes be replaced.
Check whether your homeowners policy covers hail damage to the garage door. Photograph the door soon after the storm, before any repairs, and keep the photos with your claim.
Storm shelters, outages and the manual release
In-ground storm shelters set into the garage floor are common in Oklahoma. If yours is in the garage, make sure everyone in the house knows how to open the door by hand, because a tornado or ice storm can cut power exactly when you need to get out or let help in. Many Oklahoma cities also let residents register their shelters so first responders know where to check after a storm.
The manual release is usually a red cord hanging from the opener rail. It disconnects the door so it can be lifted by hand, but pull it only with the door closed; if a spring is broken, a released door can crash down. Keep the shelter hatch clear of parked cars and stored items.
Ice storms coat tracks and freeze bottom seals. Free the door by hand before running the opener, and consider a battery backup opener if outages are a regular problem where you live.
Heat, red clay and everyday wear
Long, hot summers dry out rubber seals and lubricants and shorten the life of remote and keypad batteries. An insulated door and a lighter color keep attached garages cooler and take some load off the opener's motor.
Much of central Oklahoma sits on clay soil that swells when wet and shrinks in drought. That movement can shift a slab or garage wall just enough to throw the track out of line or open a gap under the door. If a door suddenly starts rubbing or gapping after a wet spring or a dry summer, ground movement is a likely suspect.
Stillwater, home to Oklahoma State University, has many rentals where doors get heavy use and uneven upkeep. Tenants should report noisy, jerky doors early, and landlords save money with a yearly tune-up.
Around the state, and a storm-season routine
The Oklahoma City metro, including Edmond, Moore and Norman, and the Tulsa area, including Broken Arrow, Owasso and Collinsville, hold many newer subdivisions with attached two- and three-car garages and HOA design rules. Green Country in the northeast is hillier and more wooded, while the western plains and Panhandle are drier and windier, with blowing dust that grinds at rollers and tracks. Wherever you live in the state, this routine covers the storm-season basics:
- Before spring storms: check that struts and track bolts are tight, and show everyone where the release cord is.
- After any hailstorm: look for creased sections and bent struts, not just dents.
- Mid-summer: lubricate rollers and hinges and replace cracked weatherstrip.
- Late fall: test the battery backup and replace remote batteries before ice season.
- Any time: leave broken springs and frayed cables to a technician; they are under heavy tension.
Last updated by the American Garage Door Team.