Metal Garage Maintenance: Yearly Checklist For Longevity

Are you the proud owner of a metal garage? If yes, congratulations on your modern, sleek, and sustainable choice. Metal structures are becoming widely popular in residential spaces due to several advantages they offer over other materials.

They reduce the cost of upkeep and deter away any pests, mold, mildew, and even termites. Steel buildings are excellent for residential purposes, too. One reason is that they are incredibly versatile. You can easily use them as a simple parking space, workshop, or home office and even renovate them into a living space. Not only that, they add value to the property. So, let’s look at some simple practices for maintaining steel garages.

Here Is The Necessary Maintenance Check List For Metal Garage

1. Cleaning

First and foremost, cleaning your metal garage will prevent most problems. To clean any metal structure, you will need the following tools and items:

Water	Garden hose with Spray Nozzle | Pressure washer
Cloth | Sponge	PPE (personal protection kit)
Mild detergent	Solvent (remove tough stains like bird dropping)
Soft bristle brush	Bucket
Ladder

It is best practice to start from the roof and then clean it from top to bottom. Mix in 1/3 of detergent to 6 gallons of water. If you are using a pressure washer, use it on the lowest setting to avoid damage. Using any harsh detergent or abrasive scrubber can damage the protective coating and expose it to rusting in the future.

How To Start Cleaning A Metal Garage?

• Start with roof
• Clean gutter and downspout
• Then, clean the frame, side walls, and panels
• Finally, clean doors, windows, vents, etc.

After cleaning, it is necessary to let your garage air dry before you start storing all the items in it. This ensures that no moisture builds up inside. Cleaning can be done monthly, quarterly, or annually, depending on your local climate zone and use.

Note: A simple step such as cleaning your metal garage will increase its lifespan. Now that you are done cleaning, it is best to check for all issues and note them on paper. You can fix them further.

2. Cracks & Leakage 

Monitor your garage for cracks and leakage. How? Simply start with the roof. Check to see if you notice any cracks, leaks, or other issues. Then, move towards the metal wall panels and finally to the base.

• To Fix Cracks, you can patch them with a small metal sheet and seal them with a good sealant.
• To Fix Leakage: Leaks can be easily fixed by sealing it properly.
• Sealants For Metal Building:
  • Butyl: Long lasting; Get soft when extreme heat & hard when extreme cold
  • Polyurethane: Provides excellent joint movement
  • Silicone: Long-lasting

Metal roof coating, rivet and silicone-based sealant, caulking, liquid rubber, etc., can fix minor issues. In case of severe damage, panel replacement or retrofitting is an option.

Cautions When Using Sealant:

• Use the correct sealant.
• Do not overuse it. It may cause separation or buckling.
• For sealant to adhere properly, clean and dry out the surface.

3. Rusting | Corrosion

To prevent rusting, always choose galvanized steel. Clean steel is bathed in molten zinc to create a moisture-resistant coating. However, during cleaning, if you notice any rusting, you can use the following methods:

• Chemical rust removal in the affected area converts iron oxide to iron phosphate coating.
• Use paint, plastic, or powder (epoxy, nylon, etc.) as a barrier coating to spray over the metal to prevent rust.
• A cost-effective solution is wielding that can repair rot & rust.

4. Insulation

After cleaning your steel garage, check if the insulation is functioning properly. If you notice any issues, fix them with glue and tape, insulation pins, lace banding, or a ratchet strap. These will secure the insulator for some time.

5. Loose Nuts & Bolts Or Screw

Notice any loose or missing screws or bolts? Do you spot any rusting on them? You can replace them with a new one. Nut bolts or screws are readily available in the local hardware store or online.

6. Chipped Or Faded Paint

A washed-out paint may take down the appearance of your garage. But it can invite far more serious damage if the rustproof coating has been chipped off. So, it is crucial to examine paint coating. If you notice chipping or fading, a quick fix will be sandpaper and one or two coats of metal paint.

7. Foundation

Do not forget to wash your foundation. Your car can bring in a lot of dust and debris that may sit in the gaps and holes. You can use the same cleaning technique as mentioned above.

After cleaning, examine your garage’s base. You can check for cracks on the side of the concrete and any air draft building up. If you notice one, a silicone-based waterproof sealant is best to seal all the problematic areas.

8. HAVC | Electric | Plumbing

Inspect all artificial lights, sockets, water pipelines, faucets, etc., to ensure they are functioning properly. Check all wiring and pipes. If they need repair or replacement, do it promptly before stashing your stuff back inside the garage.

9. Security

Maintenance checking is the best time to assess your garage’s security features. Thoroughly go through all the smart security features (if any) and locks. If they need an update or replacement, you can go ahead and fix them.

10. Oil Hinges & Doors

While cleaning your metal parking garage, did you notice any creaky noise from doors or window panels? If so, it’s time to oil those hinges. It will reduce friction for smooth working.

Although this annual inspection of the metal garages will retain their structural integrity over time, you can go one step further to ensure that the garage has comfortable accessibility throughout the year.

For this, you can take a few more steps, which are as follows:

Water Logging

If you have uneven ground near your steel garage, it is best to fit all the pits and even it out before the rainy season or snowfall begins. Water logging can attract insects with deadly diseases.

Grass & Weed Near Foundation

Keep grasses near your garage trimmed and short, as tall ones can attract insects and animals.

Landscaping

If you have plants and trees, trim them neatly for an aesthetic appearance. If not, you can add local flowering plants to make your yard look appealing.

Driveway

In the US, driveways are generally made of concrete, asphalt, brick, or pavers. Clean your driveway with water. Anything lying on it will likely stick to the tires and enter your garage.

Fences (If Any)

Any fence, patio, or deck surrounding your garage must be checked to see if they need any repair.

Most Importantly

There is not much to do when it comes to maintaining a steel garage. They are built to last. With regular cleaning, you can keep most of the problems at bay. This is a major reason why most industry and commercial sectors prefer metal structures.