When people prepare for a hurricane, they think about windows, roofs, and water. The garage door is often left off the list, even though it is usually the largest opening on the front of a building. A standard double garage door is about 16 feet wide, and in strong winds, that much surface area takes a beating.
If a garage door fails during a storm, wind can rush into the garage and push up on the roof from the inside, causing damage far beyond the door itself. Storms also bring long power outages, so knowing how to open your garage door without power is just as important as keeping the door strong. This guide covers how to check your door, how to reinforce it, what to do during the storm, and what to look for afterward.
Quick Answer
To prepare your garage door for hurricane season, check that tracks, brackets, and hinges are tight, lubricate moving parts, replace a worn bottom seal, and test the emergency release. If your door is not wind-rated, add reinforcement struts or a hurricane brace kit. Before the storm, lock the door manually and unplug the opener. Afterward, inspect the door before using it.
Why the Garage Door Is a Weak Point in a Hurricane
A garage door is designed to move. It has hinges between each panel, rollers that ride in tracks, and springs that let it lift easily. All that flexibility makes it more vulnerable to wind than a solid wall.
During a hurricane, wind pushes on the outside of the door and pulls on it as it moves around the building. A door without enough strength can bow inward, pop out of its tracks, or collapse. Once it fails, wind entering the garage raises pressure inside the structure, which can lift the roof and blow out other doors and windows.
Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, with peak activity usually from mid-August through early October. The best time to prepare is before the season starts, not when a storm is already in the forecast.
Is Your Garage Door Wind-Rated?
A wind-rated garage door is built and tested to resist a specific wind load. These doors usually have heavier-gauge steel, reinforcement struts across the panels, stronger hinges, and heavier track brackets.
To check, look for a label on the inside edge of the door or on the end stile. It usually lists the manufacturer, model, and design pressure rating. If there is no label, check your installation paperwork.
In parts of the Texas coast that the Texas Department of Insurance designates as catastrophe areas, new garage doors generally need to meet the windstorm building code to qualify for a windstorm certificate and TWIA coverage. That includes Galveston County cities like Texas City, along with parts of eastern Harris County. If you are replacing a door in one of these areas, confirm the requirements with TDI before installation.
How to Reinforce a Garage Door That Is Not Wind-Rated
If your door is not wind-rated, you still have options:
- Reinforcement struts. These horizontal steel bars attach across the inside of each panel and stiffen the door so it is less likely to bow.
- Hurricane brace kits. These are vertical posts that attach to the floor and the header above the door. They can be installed before a storm and removed afterward.
- Heavier hinges and track brackets. Upgrading these parts helps the door stay connected to the tracks under pressure.
- A wind-rated replacement door. For older or lightweight doors, replacement may be the most reliable option.
One thing to keep in mind: struts and other reinforcement add weight to the door. The springs must be adjusted to match, or the door will become unbalanced and strain the opener. Our guide to torsion vs extension springs explains why heavier doors usually do best with a torsion spring system.
Pre-Season Garage Door Checklist
Before hurricane season starts, go through this list:
- Tighten hardware. Check the bolts on hinges, track brackets, and the opener mounting.
- Inspect tracks. Look for bends, loose brackets, or gaps between the track and the wall.
- Check rollers and hinges. Replace any that are cracked, worn, or wobbling.
- Test the balance. With the opener disconnected, lift the door halfway and let go. It should stay in place.
- Lubricate moving parts such as rollers, hinges, and springs.
- Inspect springs and cables for rust, gaps, or fraying. Leave repairs to a professional.
- Test the emergency release so you know how it works before the power goes out.
- Check the manual lock and make sure it slides into the track easily.
- Add a battery backup to your opener if it does not have one.
Prepare for Flooding, Not Just Wind
Houston storms often bring more water than wind. Heavy rain can push water under the door, damage the bottom section, rust the lower tracks, and soak sensor wiring.
A tight bottom seal is your first line of defense. If yours is cracked or flattened, follow our guide to garage door bottom seal replacement before the season starts. For garages in low-lying areas, a floor-mounted threshold seal and sandbags along the outside of the door add extra protection. Move valuables, electronics, and chemicals off the garage floor.
What to Do Right Before and During the Storm
- Close the door fully and lock it with the manual slide lock.
- Install your brace kit if you have one.
- Unplug the opener to protect it from power surges.
- Move vehicles, bikes, and loose items away from the door so nothing gets damaged if the door flexes.
- Bring in outdoor items that could become flying debris and strike the door.
- Stay out of the garage during the storm.
What to Check After the Storm
Once the storm has passed and it is safe, inspect the door before using it. Do not open it with the opener right away. If the motor hums or runs but the door will not move, stop and read our guide to a garage door that won’t open but the motor runs, which covers the most common causes.
Check for these signs of damage:
- Dents, cracks, or panels bowed inward.
- Bent tracks or loose brackets.
- Rollers sitting outside the track.
- Broken springs or frayed cables.
- Water damage at the bottom of the door or on the sensors.
- An opener that will not respond after the power returns.
If the door hangs crooked or a roller has slipped out, do not try to force it. Read our guide on a garage door off track to understand the risks, then call a technician.
When to Upgrade to a Wind-Rated Door
Replacement makes sense if your door is old, lightweight, single-layer steel, or was damaged in a previous storm. It is also worth considering if you live in a windstorm-designated area and plan to insure the property through TWIA. A professional installer makes sure the new door, tracks, struts, and springs match the correct wind rating and are balanced properly.
Get Hurricane-Ready Garage Door Service in Houston, TX
If you are searching for garage door repair near me before the next storm or after one has passed, Ultra Garage Door Services can help the same day. We provide garage door repair in Houston, TX and nearby cities, including pre-storm inspections, reinforcement struts, spring and cable repair, track realignment, battery backup installation, and storm damage repair for residential and commercial doors.
Get your garage door ready before the next storm. Request a free estimate or call Ultra Garage Door Services at (346) 630-9023. First-time customers get 10% off their first service.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I protect my garage door from a hurricane?
Make sure the door is in good repair, with tight hardware, a working lock, and a solid bottom seal. If it is not wind-rated, add reinforcement struts or a removable brace kit. Before the storm, close and lock the door manually and unplug the opener.
Should I leave my garage door open during a hurricane?
No. An open garage door lets wind into the structure and raises pressure inside, which can damage the roof and walls. Keep the door fully closed and locked throughout the storm.
Can I brace my garage door myself?
Yes, many hurricane brace kits are designed to be installed by owners before a storm. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions closely. Adding permanent struts or upgrading hardware is best done by a professional, since the springs may need to be adjusted for the added weight.
Do I need a wind-rated garage door in Houston?
It depends on where your property is located. Coastal areas designated by the Texas Department of Insurance generally require new garage doors to meet windstorm code. Elsewhere in Houston, a wind-rated door is not always required but offers stronger protection.
What should I do if my garage door was damaged in a storm?
Do not open or force the door. Unplug the opener, keep people away, and take photos of the damage for insurance. Then have a technician inspect the springs, cables, tracks, and panels before the door is used again.
