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How to salvage external door with water damage?

Hi All, I'm looking for ways to salvage this external garage door that is just a year old.

After installation of the door, it seems like the painter has missed painting the bottom and the top of the door, leading to water damage. Are there any suggestions on how to stop this from taking further damage? I don't mind it looking weird, just don't want it to get worse.
WhatsApp Image 2025-12-18 at 11.24.36 AM.jpeg

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EricL

Hello @razdi

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's sensational to have you join us, and thanks for sharing your question about your water damaged door.

If you are not ready to replace your door, I suggest taking it off its hinges and painting the bottom of the door to prevent further water damage. I suggest doing the same for the door knob and dead bolt cut outs in the door. I don't recommend spending more resources on the damaged door. At this point it is difficult to tell how far the water damage has travelled, but it's clear that the door is damaged. I suggest replacing the whole door so that you'll know that it is structurally sound.

Let me call on our experienced members @Nailbag, @Dave-1 and @AlanM52 for their recommendations.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

razdi

Thanks for your response! We got the door just about a year ago so that is why I want to try and salvage it. Will look at painting the door and see how it holds up.

AlanM52

Hello @razdi,

I am scratching my head looking at those photos and need to ask some questions because for that amount of water damage there would usually be more bulging along the bottom of the door (last photo) and I have never seen a 'water damage pattern' like that around the locks.

We first need to investigate the water problem.

Does the door get the brunt of the weather (maybe prevailing) that it actually gets wet along with water coming in on the concrete floor.

Maybe you need a weather canopy.

Cheers

Dave-1

Good Afternoon @razdi

That is an odd way that the waterdamage has happened. I am scratching my head like @AlanM52 . Was it an old door reused or repurposed unbeknown to you? The patten is what I have my confused face on. It honestly looks like a door that has been worked on before it was put back into service. As @EricL has suggested I would maybe paint but head towards a new door. I mainly am suggesting that as you dont know what has been done to cause it to do that.

Dave

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