Step into your garage. Do you feel drafts even with the door and windows closed? That’s a sure sign your weatherstripping has seen better days and needs to be replaced.
How well insulated is your door? If you’re thinking in terms of R-value only, you’re missing a critical part of the picture. Yes, R-value is important. However, if air can blow under, besides, or over the door, then no amount of insulation in the door itself is going to help you. Creating an airtight seal requires good weatherstripping.
Save money, energy, and headaches with new weatherstripping!
Your garage door has four different types of weatherstripping, and each is unique. We’ll walk you through what they are and how to spot a problem.
Weather Seal Under Your Garage Door
Most people are familiar with this type of weatherstripping. It’s also the most frequently damaged of the four. For most garage doors, it comes in two different pieces. First, there’s an aluminum support component (sometimes made of PVC), and then there’s the rubber cap. If the rubber is damaged or becomes inflexible, it can’t do its job.
Inspecting the bottom weatherstripping is simple. Just raise the door. That lets you check to see if it is torn, cracked, sagging, or discolored.
Of course, there are multiple weather seal styles on the market. Use this post to explore how they look and differ from one another.
It’s also important to note that water accumulation under the door can also cause damage to the seal. It’s most likely in garages where the entrance is not sloped enough to force water to flow away from it. In the winter, puddled water can freeze in contact with the weather seal. When you try to open it, the seal may rip, and you may even damage your electric opener.
Thankfully, there are ways around the water issue. One is to spread sand under the door before the temperature plunges. That will help to keep the seal from freezing to the water, but once the sand is soaked all the way through, it’ll freeze just the same.
Note: Don’t use salt under your garage door. Sure, it’ll keep ice from forming, but it will also damage the rubber. Instead, consider using calcium and coating the weatherstripping with a silicone-based lubricant that will keep water from freezing in contact with the rubber.
To remedy this, two solutions are available to you. First, you can spread sand under the door before the water freezes. This will prevent the door from sticking without damaging the rubber and concrete as salt would. However, sand is only a temporary solution. As soon as the sand gets wet, the ice will stick to the door again.
Your second option is a Storm Shield threshold. It’s basically a large band of rubber that helps create a steeper angle at the door and prevents water from accumulating under it. This can also work if the concrete under the door is cracked and damaged, ensuring a tight seal.
Weatherstripping for Your Garage Door’s Sides
The weatherstripping on the bottom of your garage door is just one type. You have another that is installed on the sides of the door. It’s not usually subject to the same kind of wear and tear as the bottom weatherstripping, but there can be some concerns.
For instance, if the door was not sized correctly, then the weatherstripping might rub when the door opens and closes. This can eat away at the rubber, eventually creating gaps that allow air into the garage.
Remember – your door isn’t recessed into the wall. The door is installed parallel to the wall. There’s a slight gap on either side, and the weatherstripping is used to fill that. In most cases, the weatherstripping uses PVC supports, but sometimes aluminum is chosen.
You’re most likely to see PVC used with light-colored doors. That’s because dark-colored PVC is subject to warping and shrinking when exposed to sunlight. Aluminum is usually used with darker doors, which won’t distort, although it can oxidize in rare instances.
As mentioned, sun exposure (UV rays) is the primary cause of rubber damage. Ultraviolet light dries out rubber, causing it to crack. This will be most prominent on the jambs because they are more exposed to sunlight than other parts of the weatherstripping.
Top of the Door
Your home may not have this type of weatherstripping. It’s uncommon on residential garage doors but is often used with commercial applications. A header weather seal can be a great idea if you’re using your garage as a workspace or shop, though.
Header weatherstripping is important for one reason: to combat door warping during extreme temperatures. When one side of the door is cool and the other is warm, it will bend slightly toward the cold side because warm metal expands and cold metal contracts. Weatherstripping at the top of the door can help to prevent airflow in or out of the garage when this occurs.
Concerned about replacing your weatherstripping? There’s good news: garage doors allow you to add or replace components as necessary.
That means you can install header weatherstripping now even if your door doesn’t currently have any. Get in touch with your local garage door specialist for more information. You can also find any parts you might need with your specialist.
Love the modern style? This garage door is Moderno SSG design, in 12'x8' size, Black Ice color, and Left-side Harmony windows.
What about replacing your garage weatherstripping yourself? While it’s certainly possible, we don’t recommend it. You’ll need the right tools and supplies, as well as a working knowledge of how to install it in the first place. Properly installed by a professional, your weatherstripping can last up to 30 years or so. Improperly installed? You’re looking at a couple of months. In fact, 90% of weatherstripping problems stem from poor installation.
Your Garage Door Sectional Weather Seals
Finally, we need to talk about the fourth kind of seal. This one is actually on the door itself and sits in between the door panels. A great example is the InterlokTM joint from Garaga. It has three contact points with the door, ensuring that no light, water, or air can get through. Note that these seals are integral to the door – if one has failed, the entire door will need to be replaced. Garaga’s engineering team does a great job, though, so this is not a common issue.
How do you tell if the joint is working or now? Try to slide a sheet of notebook paper between the panels. If you can, then the seal is degraded.
Maximizing Your Weatherstripping’s Life
Want to make sure your weatherstripping holds up well and lasts a long time? The key is cleaning it. We recommend that you rinse and wipe it off at least twice each year. That will remove dust and debris that can accumulate and become damaging and abrasive over time.
We also recommend that you do a deeper cleaning periodically. You’ll need a high-quality vinyl cleaner for the PVC. You will also need to lubricate the rubber with a silicone-based lubricant.
Note that you should never use petroleum-based products on your weatherstripping. While it might look like it lubricates, it actually attacks the polymers inside the rubber, drying it out and making it rigid and brittle.
So, to keep your weatherstripping in good shape, just give it a little TLC every year. When it does degrade and it’s time to replace it, contact us and we’ll make sure that it’s installed properly for the best use life.
Does Your Garage Door Need More Than That?
Did you find more than weatherstripping damage? If so, we can help.
Call us at 518-562-8310 and we’ll provide you with advice and guidance to solve the issue. We have years of experience working with garage doors and can help you decide on the right style and design.
At North Country Door Systems, we want to make it simple to get answers to your questions. Call us on the phone or come down to the showroom. You can even request a quotation via email.
What if you’re not sure about your home’s style? Explore these 3 styles and you’ll be well on your way. You could also spend some time in our Design Centre. You’ll be able to build your garage door in a few clicks and try all our colour and window options. We look forward to helping you with your garage door needs!
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