Garage door dents

[beeph]

Aluminum, thin gauge, single panel garage. Has a decent sized dent in from a car backing into it lightly. It's a townhome clone factory in the burbs.

Best way to get the dent out? I would post pics but it is 30 miles from here, helping out a friend.

A new door costs 2000$ and the HOA is demanding the repair be done, 3 years after the fact, because they have some new **** board member who is probably getting kickbacks from contractors.

It's white paint too, so any advice on touching that up would help.

If anyone is in the Chicago area or knows someone who is and will work reasonably. Should be a professional, I don't want to be liable if they get hurt. I know that it is very easy to get injured working on garage doors, unexpected ways - hurting back lifting it while it is safety-locked, getting a finger pinched in the panels.. I've done it all. LOL.

 

[JimVonBaden]

Are there hard creases in it? If not it can be reformed pretty easily.

Also, no need to replace the whole door for a single panel. The manufacturer will have replacement panels if the door isn't too old.

Jim

 

[Chitown_hillbilly]

A new door costs 2000$

What kind of Door is it? Made of titanium? I just put THREE mid grade insulated doors in my new shop for less than $1200 total.

 

[Bill Bowman]

If it's an insulated door (no access to back side), I'd probably consider scuffing the surface of the dent and using a wide drywall knife, make a "smooth" smear of body filler over the damage. Next step, with a short nap roller, coat all the panels with a couple of coats (perfect match). Done. Go watch TV. Bill

 

[Todd.Brock]

I agree with Bill, but call a paintless dent removal guy. When he stops laughing, tell him you are serious. He could probably fix it easy. If the door isn't insulated, get 2 blocks of wood and lightly persuade the dent out with a hammer

 

[CNGsaves]

Welcome to GJ . . . great thing is wealth of experience.

Best chance for good advice is post up some pictures of problem area of garage door. If garage door is sectional (ie several 2 ft horizontal segments), then you should be able to just replace the bad one. However, if you have torsional spring, there is Great Danger if you don't know what you're doing. Have you called garage door installation company for quote to repair??

Also, now would be good time to Update GJ Profile with City / State so GJer's can give best advice of local repair options.

 

[beeph]

its aluminum, non-insulated panels, torsional springs. The installer doesn't have single panels, so it's either repair or replace.

I'm in Chicago area, burbs.

Why is new HOA management a bad sign? Are they usually predatory? I don't know much about HOAs.

 

[JimVonBaden]

What size is it? $2K sounds way expensive for a standard door, especially if the set-up is already done.

Jim

PS You are already experiencing why HOAs are a PITA!

 

[QwikKotaTx]

Can he not just hammer it out with a block of wood on one side and dead blow or rubber mallet on the other? Touch up paint after?

 

[Cardboard Man]

Like some of the guys said above, I'd try to repair it. Like Qwik said, bang out the majority of it from behind since you have access. Get the panel straight, then as Bill said, use body filler to take out the small imperfections. Most panels have a wood grain finish so it's not necessary to be 100% perfect. Since it's white, it should be easy enough to paint to match, either spray or roller. You might have $15 in materials and an hour in labor?

FWIW, I have actually done this and it works.