How to Prepare Your Garage Door for Severe Texas Storms

When the Weather Warnings Hit

It's spring in Central Texas, and severe weather is forecast. Tornado warnings are possible, hail is likely, and winds could exceed 60 mph. You're securing lawn furniture, checking your emergency supplies, and... what about your garage door?

Your garage door is the largest moving part of your home and one of the most vulnerable points during severe weather. A failed garage door during a storm can allow devastating wind and rain into your home, and in severe cases, wind pressure inside your garage can even contribute to roof failure.

After servicing hundreds of storm-damaged garage doors across Cedar Park and Austin, I've learned that preparation makes all the difference between minor issues and catastrophic failure. Let me share what you need to know to protect your garage door—and your home—before severe weather strikes.

Understanding Storm Threats to Garage Doors

Wind Pressure

The primary threat is wind pressure. Garage doors are large, relatively lightweight panels designed to open easily. This makes them vulnerable to wind forces. When wind hits your garage door, it creates pressure that can:

• Bow panels inward
• Lift the door off its tracks
• Cause sudden, catastrophic failure
• Once breached, allow wind inside the garage, creating pressure that can damage your roof structure

Standard residential garage doors are typically rated for winds of 50-70 mph. Severe Texas thunderstorms regularly exceed this, and tornadoes... well, nothing's rated for tornadoes.

Hail Damage

Central Texas is notorious for large hail. Golf-ball to baseball-sized hail can severely dent or puncture garage doors, especially lighter-weight aluminum or thin-gauge steel doors.

Flying Debris

Wind-driven debris—tree branches, patio furniture, trash cans—can impact garage doors with significant force, causing dents, cracks, or penetration.

Power Outages

While not a direct threat to the door, losing power during a storm can leave you unable to operate an automatic garage door, potentially trapping vehicles or preventing you from securing your home.

Pre-Storm Preparation Checklist

When severe weather is forecast, take these steps:

24-48 Hours Before the Storm

1. Close and Secure Your Door

This seems obvious, but I've seen countless storm-damaged doors where homeowners simply forgot to close them. If severe weather is forecast and you're not sure when it'll arrive, close your door.

2. Check Weather Stripping and Seals

Ensure your bottom seal and perimeter weather stripping are intact. These prevent water intrusion during heavy rain. Replace damaged seals—it's a quick, inexpensive fix that can prevent water damage.

3. Inspect Hardware

Walk around your door checking for:

• Loose hinges or bolts
• Frayed or damaged cables
• Visible cracks in springs (don't touch—just observe)
• Track damage or misalignment
• Worn rollers

If you spot any issues, call for service before the storm if possible. A small problem under normal conditions can become catastrophic under storm stress.

4. Test Door Balance

Disconnect your opener (pull the red emergency release) and manually lift your door halfway. It should stay in place. If it falls or rises, your springs are out of adjustment, making the door more vulnerable to wind pressure. Call a professional for adjustment.

5. Clear the Area

Remove anything from around your garage that could blow into the door: trash cans, lawn furniture, tools, toys. These become projectiles in high winds.

6. Charge Battery Backup

If your opener has battery backup, ensure it's charged. If you don't have battery backup and severe weather is common in your area, consider installing one.

Immediate Pre-Storm (When Warnings Are Active)

1. Lock Your Door

If your garage door has manual locks, engage them. These add significant resistance to wind pressure by securing the door at multiple points rather than relying solely on the opener.

2. Consider Temporary Bracing

For extreme wind warnings (tornado warnings, hurricane-force winds), you can add temporary bracing:

• Use 2x4s or metal struts to brace the door from inside
• Secure braces to the floor and to the door at multiple points
• This won't stop a tornado, but it significantly increases resistance to straight-line winds

Note: This is only practical if you have advance warning and time to prepare. Never wait until conditions are already dangerous.

3. Unplug Automatic Opener

Lightning strikes can damage garage door openers. If you're not using your garage during the storm, unplug the opener to protect it.

4. Move Vehicles

If hail is forecast and you have room in your garage, get vehicles inside. If your garage is already full, consider the vehicle that's hardest to replace or most valuable. If hail is severe (baseball-sized), vehicles inside the garage are much safer than those under carports or in driveways.

Storm Reinforcement Options

Beyond immediate preparation, you can permanently strengthen your garage door against storm damage:

Reinforcement Struts

Horizontal reinforcement struts (metal bars that attach across the back of door panels) dramatically increase wind resistance. Benefits include:

• Significantly increased wind rating (often doubling resistance)
• Prevents panel bowing under pressure
• Relatively affordable ($100-300 depending on door size)
• Can be retrofit to existing doors

For wide doors (16-18 feet) or if you live in an area prone to severe storms, struts are an excellent investment.

Hurricane-Rated Doors

If you're replacing your door anyway, consider a hurricane-rated model. These doors are engineered and tested to withstand extreme winds (120+ mph in many cases). Features include:

• Thicker steel or aluminum construction
• Reinforced panel design
• Heavy-duty hardware
• Enhanced track systems

While designed for coastal hurricanes, these doors handle Central Texas severe weather with ease.

Impact-Resistant Windows

If your garage door has windows, they're a weak point. Impact-resistant or laminated glass resists shattering from hail and debris, preventing wind from entering your garage through broken windows.

Enhanced Track Systems

Heavy-duty tracks with additional fasteners provide more support points, reducing the chance of the door pulling away from its mounting during extreme wind events.

After the Storm: Inspection and Damage Assessment

Once the weather has passed, inspect your garage door before using it:

Visual Inspection

Look for:

• Dents, cracks, or punctures in panels
• Bent tracks or hardware
• Frayed or broken cables
• Visible spring damage
• Water damage or standing water in garage
• Gaps in weather stripping

Operational Test

If everything looks intact:

1. Manually open the door (using emergency release) to check for smooth operation
2. Listen for new sounds (grinding, scraping, squealing)
3. Watch for binding or uneven movement
4. Test the automatic opener
5. Verify safety sensors work properly

If anything seems wrong, don't use the door. Storm damage can weaken components in ways that aren't immediately visible. Continuing to operate a damaged door can cause complete failure and potential injury.

When to Call a Professional

Call for professional inspection and repair if:

• You see any structural damage to panels, tracks, or hardware
• The door operates differently than before the storm
• You notice any new sounds or hesitation
• Springs or cables show any damage
• You're uncertain about the door's condition

Insurance and Documentation

If your garage door is damaged:

Document Everything:

• Take photos and videos of all damage from multiple angles
• Document the date and nature of the storm event
• Keep any fallen debris that caused damage
• Get professional assessment documentation

Contact Insurance Promptly:

• Report claims as soon as possible after the storm
• Your homeowner's insurance typically covers storm damage to garage doors
• Hail damage, wind damage, and debris impacts are usually covered
• Keep all repair estimates and receipts

Get Multiple Estimates:

Insurance companies often require or appreciate multiple repair estimates. Get quotes from reputable contractors who can provide detailed damage assessments.

Long-Term Storm Preparation

Beyond immediate pre-storm preparation, take these steps to ensure your garage door is always ready:

Regular Maintenance

Well-maintained doors withstand storms better:

• Annual professional tune-ups
• Keep all hardware tight
• Lubricate moving parts
• Replace worn components before they fail
• Maintain weather stripping and seals

Upgrade Aging Doors

If your garage door is 15+ years old, consider replacement before storm season. Older doors are more vulnerable because:

• Materials have degraded over time
• Hardware is worn
• They were built to older, less stringent standards
• Components are more likely to fail under stress

Know Your Door's Rating

Understand your door's wind rating. If it's below 70 mph and you live in an area prone to severe storms, consider upgrades or reinforcement.

Create a Storm Plan

Include garage door preparation in your family's severe weather plan:

• Who's responsible for securing the door?
• Where are supplies kept (bracing materials, tools)?
• What's the sequence of preparation steps?
• Do you have emergency service numbers saved?

Special Considerations for Cedar Park

Central Texas weather patterns create specific concerns:

Spring Severe Weather: April-May brings our highest tornado and hail risk. This is when reinforcement and preparation matter most.

Flash Flooding: If your garage is in a low-lying area, consider flood barriers in addition to door preparation. Water intrusion can damage openers and electrical systems.

Heat Damage: Our intense summer heat can degrade weather stripping and seals. Replace them annually if needed so they're fresh before storm season.

Dry Spells and Dust: Extended dry periods fill the air with dust. Keep tracks clean so doors operate smoothly when you need to secure them quickly before storms.

Our Storm Preparation Services

At Elevate Overhead Doors, we offer storm preparation services including:

Pre-Season Inspection ($69):

• Complete door and hardware inspection
• Identify vulnerabilities
• Test door balance and operation
• Recommendation report

Reinforcement Installation ($150-400):

• Strut installation
• Hardware upgrades
• Enhanced track mounting
• Increased wind rating

Emergency Storm Repair (24/7):

• Available during and after severe weather events
• Temporary securing of damaged doors
• Emergency replacement when necessary
• Insurance documentation assistance

Don't Wait for the Warnings

The time to prepare your garage door for severe weather is before the storms arrive, not when you hear the tornado sirens. Regular maintenance, appropriate reinforcement, and a preparation plan can mean the difference between minor damage and major disaster.

Contact Elevate Overhead Doors today to schedule a storm readiness inspection. We'll assess your door's current condition, identify vulnerabilities, and recommend cost-effective solutions to protect your home during severe weather.

Serving all of Cedar Park and the Austin area with professional installation, maintenance, and 24/7 emergency service. Be storm ready with Elevate Overhead Doors.

Because when the weather turns severe, you want to know your garage door is ready.