Are You Wasting Money? Does Your Garage Door Need Weatherstripping?

Is the garage area of your home starting to show a noticeable temperature change? Have you found evidence of insects or critters that weren’t there in the past? Do the leaves and dirt continue to resurface, no matter how often you clean?

Efficient weatherstripping can help with your energy bills by eliminating drafts or keeping out heat and humidity.

Cleaning also becomes much easier during the fall and spring seasons.

Save energy and money with new garage door weatherstripping.

New weatherstrippings will help you save energy and money!

Knowing the specific areas of installation can help narrow down the decision.

These are the 4 most common types of weatherstripping options for homeowners.

1. Weatherstripping at the Bottom of Your Garage Door

The following types of weatherstripping are meant to seal the bottom area of the door. These attachments are installed either on the floor beneath the door or to the door itself.

Bottom sealing weatherstripping is the rubber piece you see on the very bottom of a garage door. The rubber piece hangs off the bottom of the door and touches the ground about two inches before the garage door does. This allows the rubber to create a seal between the door and the floor before the door finally closes.

An example of the best bottom weather seal.

The bottom pieces of weatherstripping are separated into 2 main categories. There are single-channel attachments and double channel attachments.

The first is fastened to the door at only one point, while the second is fastened at two points. From this point, there are usually four main types of bottom sealing types of weatherstripping.

J-type seals are single-channel attachments. The rubber creates a "J" shape on both sides of the garage door after it closes.

T-type seals are single-channel as well. When the rubber meets the floor, this attachment forms a "T" shape with the rubber.

Bulb-type bottom sealers are thin at the top and get larger towards the bottom. This type of sealer works great for unevenly paved surfaces since there's more room for them to move upward.

Bead attachments are used only indoors with double channel attachments. Both sides bend upward and fasten into the garage door's grooves.

These seals effectively keep anything from leaves to even tiny particles of dirt and dust out of your garage. Furthermore so, if your garage door threshold was not properly prepared. They can be efficient in stopping small amounts of water also. You can find more details about this type of weatherstripping here.

When this seal breaks down on your garage door, there could be some potentially disastrous effects. Water can easily find its way into the garage through rips and punctures in the rubber seal.

Cold air and freezing temperatures during the winter can have a particularly nasty impact on the inside of the garage as well. If the seals on your door are not efficient enough to insulate, the freezing temperatures could easily permeate through the door.

This could ultimately lead to ice buildup inside the garage. Your garage door opener can suffer significant damage if ice finds its way to their mounting location.

There are also threshold seals made for the bottom of the garage door. This stripping is attached to the ground beneath the garage door instead of the garage door itself.

This weatherstripping material is made from a much harder rubber than normal garage door bottom seals. When added to garage doors with efficient bottom seals attached, these strips can stop pretty high levels of water from reaching the inside of the garage.

The harder rubber is durable enough for vehicles of any weight to pass over. These strips are also a great addition if wires need to be covered that run in and out of the garage.

If water buildup is an issue because of the angle your garage entrance is sloped at, these Storms Shield threshold strips may offer a solution. These thresholds create a slope high enough to keep higher levels of water at bay.

Weatherstripping for the Sides of Your Garage Door

The following models are designed for installation on the outer perimeter of the garage door.

Vinyl door stops serve to protect the perimeter of the garage door and add a stunning element of wood trim. These seals are a vinyl trim and a flange sealer combined into one piece.

This vinyl weatherstripping is excellent for debris and leaves. The added flange also gives it the ability to stand up to water.

These doorstops are meant to create a seal for the top and sides of your garage door. Pieces can easily be measured and cut to fit, then fastened with stainless steel nails. Because of this relatively simple application process, most homeowners should have no trouble handling their installation.

The vinyl portion of this weatherstripping component comes in several different woodgrain and stone-surfaced looks. Because of the wide variety of available colors and finishes, most homeowners should have no problem finding a design to match their home.

The track and frame of the door also affect how well the door is sealed. Depending on the color of the home, using PVC for your door might be a potential option. However, darker-colored homes should stray from any type of PVC option.

This material breaks down easily during hot summer conditions. Under the right conditions, PVC can warp and become severely damaged. Lighter-colored homes are a better candidate for PVC since lighter colors do not take in as much heat from the sun.

There are other options if you want to go with this style of weather stripping and have a dark-colored home. Aluminum supports fare much better in direct sunlight and intense heat. The only downside is after an aluminum support installation, the screws are still visible.

Example of Perimeter Weatherstripping: The PVC or aluminium support is used to fill the gap between the wall and the door, making a complete isolation

Reverse angle mounted weatherstripping covers the bottom and the sides of the door. This type of install provides a tight seal around the perimeter, forming a track for the door to slide into.

This weatherstripping is made from a mixture of plastic and rubber and is usually only seen in commercial settings. The rubber molding is attached snugly to the sides of the garage door opening and runs firmly along the floor beneath the door.

As the garage door closes, it will enter the track created by the weatherstripping in this setup. The door slides down the rubber molding, fitting into the bottom piece that lines the floor. This type of setup looks like a horseshoe design and is excellent at combatting water.

Brush seals are used more frequently in commercial buildings and warehouses, but it's not uncommon to see them in homes as well. These seals are used in commercial doors prone to bumps and friction since the brushes won't be as damaging as other seals and trims.

These seals are great for keeping large debris out. This is another reason they are great for commercial doors or heavy-use areas.

Top Edge Weatherstripping of Your Garage Door

An example of a garage door top seal, which is made of a flexible rubber to fill the extra space between the wall and the top of the door.

Weatherstripping around the top edges of a garage door is not found in residential doors as often as commercial doors. This top rubber strip provides a seal between the door and the top of the door frame, keeping cold temperatures out of the garage.

If your garage is used frequently during the winter months as a personal workshop or business area, a top seal for the garage door could be a good idea. Keeping your work area warm through the use of a heater is more energy-efficient if the proper seals are installed.

Sealing Between Your Garage Door Sections

Finally, there are seals installed on a garage door that are strategically placed between the panels of the door. This type of seal protects the inner workings of the door, giving it another layer of protection from extreme light, humid or cold air, and water.

A great example of this is InterlokTM technology by Garaga. These joints utilize 3 separate points of contact that prevent harsh elements like UV rays, freezing cold, and thick, humid air from permeating the door.

Typically, if a seal is breached by extreme weather conditions, the garage door is exposed and will most likely need replacing. However, this additional layer of protection makes it possible for a Garaga garage door to withstand these types of natural events.

A garage door section weather seals: The Interlock joint, located between the panels, use triple contact points to stop water and wind from going through the door.

What Can You Do to Prevent Damage?

A few other types of routine inspections you can make that work well to prevent more significant problems. Catching damage as it happens could allow you to make repairs early instead of making a large installation later.

Always inspect the perimeter of your garage door. Check all the seals around their entirety to look for cracks or rips. The rubber in the bottom seals can become damaged over time, and minor imperfections like tears and snags can turn into big problems later.

It's not a bad idea to do a thorough cleaning of all your weatherstripping components every 6 months. There are even special treatments you can apply after cleaning, such as weatherstrip lubricants.

An image of someone cleaning: Your garage door should be cleaned regularly to avoid futur troubles.

Do You Need Extra Care or Service?

Have you been thinking about getting weatherstripping or a new garage door? Don’t hesitate to contact us!

This garage door is a Moderno SSG design, 12' x 8', Black Ice color, window layout: Left-side Harmony.

Are you looking for a more modern look? This garage door is a Moderno SSG design, 12' x 8', Black Ice color, with a Left-side Harmony window layout.

You’ve been thinking of changing your garage door for a while now? We will be to help you every step of the way!

Use our 3 style guide to help you in choosing the best garage door to suit your taste. You can even try your favorite designs and colors on a picture of your house thanks to our Design Centre app.

Here at ACS Door Services of Omaha, getting a quote is more effortless than ever with our online system. If you have more specific questions, one of our experienced experts will be glad to help.

Call us at 402-333-8988 where we’ll be glad to assist you.

We look forward to hearing from you!

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