How do you fix a swollen wood garage door that sticks?

A wood door that sticks after wet weather may be swelling, but swelling is only one possible cause. Misaligned track, worn hardware, shifted framing or rot at the attachment points can produce the same binding. Trimming an edge so the door clears treats the symptom, and it will not fix structural movement or widespread moisture damage.

What we inspect

• The wood: soft spots, rot, splitting or separating layers, especially along the bottom section and around the hinges.
• Clearances: where the door rubs the jambs, header or stop molding, and whether that changes with the weather.
• Track alignment: whether the track has drifted so the door runs too close to the opening on one side.
• Hardware: loose hinges, worn rollers and fasteners pulling out of softened wood.

Possible fixes

• Realigning the track and securing the hardware when the wood is sound.
• Repairing and sealing a sound section so it takes on less moisture.
• Replacing a section with a matched one when rot or damaged attachment points make repair unreliable.
• Pricing a new door when moisture damage is widespread.

In the meantime

Do not keep forcing a binding door with the opener, since that strains the opener, arm and hinges. Keep sprinklers off the door and clear debris from along the bottom seal. Repair visits carry a $45 diagnostic trip fee, with a written price before work. For broader wood door repairs, see repairing custom or old wood doors.

Read more

• Wooden garage doors
• Garage door repair

Related questions

• Can you repair a custom or old wood garage door?
• Do you repair one-piece tilt-up garage doors?
• Should I repair or replace my garage door?
• Can you work on barn-style or carriage house garage doors?
• Is an old garage door worth repairing?

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