Did you install a lot of carriage hardware to your garage door? This can have a quaint, authentic appeal for some, giving the door an antique feel. But as time wears on, that carriage hardware can get a rusty rundown look that can sometimes make the garage door look trashy. Or perhaps you’re just tired of the hardware and would like a simpler door.
Fortunately, removing the hardware isn’t very difficult, but you are left with gaping holes where the screws and nails used to be. Don’t worry! These holes are fairly easy to fill in so that you never even knew they were there.
Purchasing Supplies
First, buy a product designed to cover up holes. Everbilt Screw Covers from Home Depot or Elmer’s Ultimate Nail Hole Filler work pretty well.
Make sure you have matching paint. Hopefully, you’ve kept an extra can lying around from the last time you painted your garage, or you know the exact shade you need. If not, you might want to consider a brand-new paint for your garage door so that everything matches.
Removing the Hardware and Preparing the Holes
Take off the hardware you are looking to remove. You’ll want to trim the holes down with the tip of a drill. This will remove any excess fiber so you have a smoother feel to the surface. This will help the screw head covers provide a flatter surface against the door.
Filling in the Holes
Paint the screw covers with the paint, or use the nail hole filler and repaint that area of the door. Apply a decent amount of heavy sticking epoxy to the screw covers, so they are secured tight against the door. Shove them in the holes. Paint across the new area to provide a natural blend.
Take a look at the newly repaired garage door. Does it look natural? If done well, there should be no sign the original carriage hardware was even there. Your garage door should look as good as new!