Prevent Paint Bridging on Garage Door Panels

What happens here

After applying paint to a garage door, it is critical to address potential 'paint bridging' or 'tack' that can occur between the individual door panels as the paint dries. To prevent the panels from sticking together and potentially ripping out the garage door opener when the door is next operated, you must either raise the door while the paint is still wet or, if it has dried, carefully run a sharp knife along the seams of the panels. The recommended procedure is to spray the door with paint, allow it to set for just a few minutes (e.g., 2-3 minutes), and then raise the garage door. This action breaks any forming paint bridges before they fully cure and bond the panels together. If the paint has unfortunately already dried and the panels are stuck, use a knife to cut through the dried paint along all seams to release the panels before attempting to open the door.

Goal: Prevent garage door panels from sticking after painting.