2026-03-19 7 min read
Spring in North Texas doesn't ease in gently. Out here on the open plains of western Denton County, storm cells can build fast and hit hard with very little warning. Ponder residents know this. the same geography that gives us clear views across the Texas plains also means there's not much standing between us and whatever weather is rolling in off the Panhandle.
Denton County has seen repeated severe weather events in recent years, including golf-ball-sized hail reported across areas from Krum and Aubrey to communities near Ponder, along with wind gusts that have overturned semi-trucks and caused significant structural damage as far north as Sanger. A well-maintained garage door is one of your first lines of defense. and one of the most overlooked parts of storm prep.
Here's what to do before the season gets started.
Your garage door is likely the largest moving panel on your home. In high winds, it acts like a sail. A standard residential door that isn't wind-rated or properly maintained can fail under extreme pressure. bowing inward, jumping its tracks, or simply being pushed through. Beyond wind, large hail can dent steel panels beyond repair, and power outages (a common result of severe storms) can leave you locked out of your garage entirely if you've never tested the manual release.
Start with the bottom seal. the rubber strip along the base of the door. It prevents rainwater from flowing under the door during heavy downpours, which are common during our spring storm season. If it's cracked, compressed flat, or missing sections, replace it before the rains start. Also check the side seals that run along the door frame. These keep wind-driven rain and debris from entering along the edges.
For homes on lots where the driveway slopes toward the garage. which is common in some of the newer developments west of FM-156. a threshold seal on the floor adds another layer of flood protection that a bottom door seal alone can't provide.
Every homeowner in Ponder should know how to open their garage door without power. When a storm knocks out electricity. and it will. being trapped inside or locked out is a real problem. The red emergency cord hanging from the opener trolley disengages the door from the drive mechanism so you can operate it by hand.
Pull it and test it before storm season. Does the door lift smoothly? Does it stay up on its own? If the door is heavy, sluggish, or won't hold position, you likely have a spring balance issue that needs to be addressed before a storm tests it under pressure. Our post on manual release mechanisms walks through exactly how this system works and what to check.
A balanced door is a resilient door. Disconnect the opener and lift the door manually to about waist height. Let go. It should hold its position without rising or falling. If it drops or shoots up, the spring tension is off. An unbalanced door is also harder to open manually during a power outage. exactly when you need it to work most.
After any significant storm, walk up to the door and look it over carefully. Check for:
- Dents or distortion in steel panels. deep dents can compromise the door's structural integrity and its ability to seal properly - Rust spots, especially along the bottom sections where water sits - Cracks or separation between panels at the hinges - Bent tracks. even subtle bends can cause the door to bind or derail under stress
If your home is one of the older ranch-style properties along the edges of town, the doors may have accumulated a decade or more of storm wear. At some point, panel-by-panel repairs stop making economic sense. Our cost per square foot guide can help you evaluate when repair vs. replacement is the smarter call.
Do this at least twice a year. once before storm season and once before winter. Use a dedicated garage door lubricant (not WD-40, which is a cleaner, not a lubricant) on the torsion spring, hinges, rollers, and the track's curved sections. Proper lubrication reduces the strain on the opener motor during operation and prevents metal-to-metal wear that accelerates in humid weather.
After the heavy rains of a spring storm season, moisture works into every joint. A door that was quiet in February can start grinding by May if nothing is done.
Storm debris. leaves, small branches, blown-in gravel. can accumulate near the sensor eyes at the base of your garage door tracks and block or misalign them. After any significant storm, clear the sensor area and do a quick reversal test: place a 2x4 flat on the ground in the door's path and close the door. It should reverse on contact. If it doesn't, your safety system needs attention before you use the door again. Our complete safety reversal testing guide explains this process in detail.
If you're building new or replacing an older door, seriously consider a wind-rated or reinforced steel door. Given what Denton County has seen in recent storm seasons. with wind gusts recorded above 65 mph and tornado activity affecting communities from Flower Mound to northern Denton County. a wind-rated door isn't overkill. It's an investment in the structural integrity of your home. Steel and composite doors hold up better in hail and high winds than older single-layer steel or hollow wood doors.
Ponder Garage Doors can walk you through current options and help you understand what's appropriate for your home's specific setup. Take a look at our full services page for what we offer, or reach out directly to schedule a pre-season inspection.
How often does Denton County get severe storms with hail or high winds? Denton County is in an active severe weather corridor. The area regularly sees spring storms with large hail and high winds. some years experiencing multiple significant events between March and June. Ponder's location on the open plains of western Denton County means storms can arrive with limited geographic shielding, making preparedness especially important.
What should I do immediately after a storm damages my garage door? First, don't force the door open if it looks bent, misaligned, or if the tracks are visibly damaged. Inspect it visually from a safe distance. Check that the door can still close and seal properly. If panels are dented, tracks are bent, or the door is binding or off-track, call a professional before trying to operate it. Forcing a damaged door can cause further mechanical failure or a safety hazard.
Is a wind-rated garage door worth the extra cost in this area? For Ponder and the broader Denton County area, yes. it's worth serious consideration. Standard residential doors are not designed for the high-wind loads that severe North Texas storms can produce. Wind-rated doors include reinforced horizontal bracing and stronger hardware that helps the door maintain its shape and seal under pressure. The cost difference is meaningful, but so is the protection.