One of the ways you can keep your garage in great condition is to look for potential warning signs that may indicate different types of damage. You can look for potential warning signs by walking around the inside and outside of your garage to inspect the walls. Also, you can stand back a few feet from your garage door and take a good look at the condition of the roof. Taking a few moments to look for damage can help you to discover a small problem and solve it before it turns into a bigger one.
Four Warning Signs to Check for in Your Garage
- Missing Shingles. Missing shingles are a sign of roof damage. A strong storm with high winds can blow shingles off a roof or at least move them out of place. Missing shingles expose your garage roof to the elements and can lead to further damage. If your garage roof is relatively new, you may want to replace the missing shingles instead of ordering a whole new roof.
- Pest Droppings. Droppings are a definite warning sign that you have pests in your garage. Termites and mice are just two of the pests that can cause damage to your garage walls and floor. You can tell what type of pest you have by looking at its droppings. Termite droppings look similar to coffee grounds or sand. They use their droppings, also known as frass, to build mud tunnels on a wall. Traveling through these mud tunnels gives termites protection from their predators. If you think you have mice in your garage, look for black droppings that are about a quarter of an inch in size. You may find a collection of mouse droppings inside cabinets, in drawers, or in the corners of the garage. Along with looking for droppings, check wooden shelves or cabinets for evidence of chewing. If you do have mice in your garage, your first step should be to remove any food that is out there to discourage them from staying for long.
- Cracks in the Gutters. Look for cracks when examining the gutters on your garage. A crack can allow water to leak out and damage an exterior wall. Another warning sign to look for is a gutter that is pulling away from the garage. This means that water is becoming trapped inside one portion of the gutter instead of flowing through it. Each spring, I like to walk all around my garage to inspect the condition of my gutters.
- A Garage Door That Sits Unevenly. Take a moment to inspect your closed garage door. Is it sitting evenly on the pavement? If not, that may be a warning sign that you need to replace the rubber gasket on the base of your door. This gasket keeps air from blowing into your garage and protects the bottom of the door from scraping the pavement. Another warning sign to watch out for is an automatic garage door that only goes partway down, then rolls up again. It may have something blocking its track, or its chain may need lubrication. Unless you are mechanically inclined, you may want to call a repair person to conduct a thorough inspection of your garage door.
Thanks for reading! – Alan
