How do I clean my pre-finished steel Wayne-Dalton garage door?

To clean the surface of your pre-finished steel garage door, simply follow these easy steps annually:

• Remove dirt, chalk, and mildew by the use of a diluted solution of common bleach OR mild detergent at a concentration of one ( 1) cup in five (5) gallons of warm water. (Caution: Never Mix Cleansers and Bleach!)
• Rinse with clear water after washing and allow to dry completely.
• For added protection of a pre-painted steel door, apply wax suitable for automotive use.
• You can wipe the inner surface clean like you would a range or refrigerator.

How do I clean my wood Wayne-Dalton garage door?

Yearly cleaning and inspecting your wood garage door is easy:

• If the finish appears to be in good condition, cleaning and touch-up work is often adequate. 1)Remove dirt, chalk and mildew by washing your wood door with a diluted solution of mild household detergent at a concentration of one (1) cup in five (5) gallons of warm water. 2)Rinse with clear water after washing and allow to dry completely
• If the finish is badly eroded and thin, clean the areas where the wood substrate is showing through as described above and prime those areas using an oil/alkyd primer. 1) Follow the cleaning and priming with a complete priming and finish coating. 2) If there is no bare wood showing through, finish coating only may be required.

View our Maintenance Brochure for more information on cleaning and maintenance of your wood door.

How do I paint my pre-finished steel Wayne-Dalton garage door if I want to match my home's color?

To prepare your pre-finished steel garage door for painting, it is important to give it a good cleaning, but do not wax. Remove surface wax to prevent the paint from peeling or flaking.

• Remove surface scratches which have not exposed the metal substrate by lightly buffing or sanding with 0000 steel wool or No. 400 sand paper to create a smoother surface for painting. Do not over buff or sand the garage door, because paint will not adhere to the door if the surface is too smooth.
• Do not attempt to remove scratches if your steel door surface has a finish painted texture representing wood grain, stucco, etc. because of the increased danger of exposing the metal substrate. Simply paint them with a high quality metal primer. Follow drying time on primer can label before applying topcoat.

To prevent rust from forming, treat any scratches that have exposed the substrate by sanding the exposed area lightly and then painting with a high quality metal primer. Follow drying time on primer can label before applying topcoat.

After properly preparing the surface according to the above instructions and allowing it to dry thoroughly, coat the door with a premium quality latex house paint. Follow the paint label directions explicitly.

• Oil base paint is not recommended.
• Note that if substrate is exposed, painting with latex paint may cause accelerated rusting of steel. Follow previous instructions on priming the door for painting.

View our Maintenance Brochure for more information on cleaning and maintenance of your steel door.

How do I process a warranty claim?

You must contact an authorized Wayne-Dalton professional dealer for warranty determination. If you need to find a Wayne-Dalton dealer, use the Dealer Locator on the Home Page of this web site.

How important is insulation in a Wayne-Dalton garage door?

Insulation is important in a garage door for many reasons. In addition to helping control the temperature, Wayne-Dalton's patented design and foamed-in-place insulation add strength to your door while reducing noise.

The amount of insulation a garage door provides is represented in its R-value, which represents its resistance to heat flow. It is important to select a garage door with an R-value that is consistent with your local climate and lifestyle. Ask yourself these questions when deciding the R-value that best fits your needs:

• Is my garage climate controlled? If you heat or cool your garage, insulation is very important. Having a well-insulated garage door will keep your heating or cooling costs down by reducing the heat flow through the door.
• What climate do I live in? Someone living in an extreme hot or cold climate would likely require a garage door with a high insulation value. Even in milder climates, having an insulated door can still affect the temperature in your garage by a noticeable amount, as well as provide additional benefits.
• Is my garage attached to my house? If your garage is attached to your house, the insulation value of your garage door affects the insulation of your whole house. The R-value of your walls affects how much heat escapes from your house into your garage, and the R-value of your garage door affects how much heat then escapes into the environment. Insulating your garage well will help keep down the heating and cooling costs of your home. In addition, Insulation helps reduce the noise of your garage door as it opens and closes.
• Do I spend a great deal of time in my garage? People who like to work on their cars or who have workshops in their garages may want their garage to be more insulated, especially if in a colder climate.
• Is there a bedroom or other interior room above my garage? Many houses are built with rooms over the garage. Whether this room is a part of the house or is a separate apartment-style room above an unattached garage, the insulation value of the garage can greatly affect the insulation of the room. And, again, a higher insulation R-value can equal lower heating and cooling bills. In addition, insulation helps reduce noise.

I purchased a door through a Wayne-Dalton Dealer / retailer. How do I get missing parts?

For missing garage door parts, you must return to the place of purchase.