Do you notice water or dirt in your garage, and you have no idea where it’s coming from? The last time you checked, you don’t leave your garage door open, so there’s no way water and dirt can get in, right?
The question is: is your garage door weather-sealed properly? That might have made you less confident in your answer.
Garage doors do come with a bottom seal to keep these elements out, but they’re not designed to last forever. Another thing is, if your concrete floor or driveway has shifted or cracked, it can create large caps under the door that your seal can’t cover.
There are several ways to weather-seal a garage door. Here are some of them:
Bottom Seal
Also known as door sweep, a bottom seal uses a long strip of rubber or vinyl attached to the bottom edge of the garage door. When the door closes, the material compresses and seals the gap along the floor. This helps keep the water, dirt, critters, and a lot more out.
If you can see daylight below the bottom of the door when it’s closed, that’s a clear sign you need to replace your bottom seal.
Threshold Seal
Similar to the bottom seal, a threshold seal is attached to the floor instead of the door. It can be used alone or with a door seal. Usually, when your driveway slopes down toward a garage, a threshold seal is recommended. However, you need to keep in mind that this isn’t the right seal to use if you like hosing down your garage because it can keep water from flowing out.
Garage Door Stop with Weatherstripping
If you are concerned with rain and wind getting into the garage around the sides of your garage door, then this can be a useful seal. You can attach new weatherstripping onto your door stops if you don’t have rubber or vinyl weatherstripping. So, if you need to get new weatherstripping, make sure it’s pressed against the door for that perfect seal.
Vinyl Door Stop with Integrated Weatherstrip
If you need to replace your door stops, then you need to get a door stop moulding with weatherstripping. It is usually made of vinyl with a moulding strip and a weather-seal flange all in one piece.
When using this, make sure to install the top moulding first, then have the ends overlap with the ends of the top moulding with the side stops.
Garage Door Panel Weatherstripping
If you have older wood doors with panels that have flat edges, then this may be the perfect seal to use. It’s easy to use because all you need is to stick it to each panel’s top or bottom edge. When the door is closed, the panels will compress the weatherstripping that creates a more powerful seal.
Conclusion
Don’t let water and other outdoor elements get into your garage. It’s time to check your weatherstripping, and if you see they could use an upgrade, choose from these options to protect your garage.
Capable One Door & Gate Services is a reliable garage door company. We specialize in overhead door service for homes or businesses in the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley. Contact us today!
