How to tell if your garage door needs weatherstripping?

Are you struggling to keep a good temperature in the garage? Do you feel drafts or find that when the door is closed, you’re still not getting a good seal? It could be time to replace the weatherstripping.

The R-value of your door is an important number, but that’s not the only thing that matters when it comes to insulation. It’s a great indicator of the level of resistance a door has to begin with, but the secret to truly good garage sealing and insulation is all in the weatherstripping.

New weatherstripping can easily save energy and reduce utility bills!

To keep your weatherstripping in the best condition, you’ll need to know what you’re dealing with.

Here are the 4 areas where weatherstripping is found on your garage door.

Your Garage Door Bottom Weatherstripping

This is the most common weatherstripping to require attention. This is also a part that usually has two components: an aluminum or PVC support and then a rubber strip. The issues usually happen on the strip. Rubber is durable, but it can become cracked or worn with age and constant exposure to the elements.

You can check your weatherstripping by looking for cracks, missing pieces, dried-out sections, or any areas that are discolored or drooping.

You will find several options for weatherstripping the bottom of your door.
Check them out here.

The weather seal could also become damaged from water accumulation when the floor is uneven or there isn’t enough of a slope from your garage's entrance. Then, the water cannot escape, so it simply freezes and becomes ice. Next thing you know, the door is stuck and when you try to open it, the electric opener doesn’t work.

You’re just building more problems upon problems here. And that’s just one pool of water.

There are 2 ways you can fix this without investing a lot of money or effort.

You have the option to use sand to protect the door threshold from any water seeping in. Of course, while this will work temporarily, the sand will eventually become wet and risk freezing itself, leading back to the same problem.

Never use salt under the door of your garage. This can cause serious damage to the weatherstripping. You can use calcium to remove the ice from the cement.

You also want to get a silicone-based lubricant that’s designed for weatherstripping. This can help the water bead off the surface and prevent ice buildup, too.

Another option is to use a Storm Shield threshold on your garage door. This is a rubber piece that creates a slope leading away from your garage door to deter water from getting in.

If you have a garage floor that has seen better days, you’ll also benefit from a Storm Shield. Instead of just using a wider rubber strip, which could cause damage to the weatherstripping, choose the Storm Shield for a secure seal that you can trust.

Your Garage Door Perimeter Weatherstripping

Perhaps your door wasn’t measured properly when the weatherstripping was installed. That means it wasn’t given the appropriate space and rubber has rubbed on the door or otherwise been damaged due to improper installation. The weatherstripping could be misshapen or even torn or cracked.

The door isn’t a recessed door. The garage door is parallel to the wall. That is why weatherstripping is used to fill the gap. PVC and aluminum supports are most commonly used here.

PVC is chosen for aesthetic appeal because the screws are hidden. Aluminum brackets are typically used on darker colors to hide the supports and their hardware. PVC is available in several colors but they’re all light options because PVC doesn’t handle heat well. Sometimes, the aluminum might even oxidize, or start to rust.

UV rays from the sun may also crack the weatherstripping. This is usually more common on the jambs, but it can happen anywhere if your garage door is exposed to a lot of sunlight.

Your Garage Door Top Weatherstripping

You can also add weatherstripping to the top of the door. It’s not common, but it’s possible. Commercial doors will also have a harder material than residential ones because they are bigger and require more reinforcement.

Typically, you’re not going to need weatherstripping along the top of your door for residential purposes. If you do a lot of work in the garage or need it kept warm for other purposes, though, you’ll want to consider it.

Garage doors experience what is known as a “thermal break”, which is where the air outside and the air inside don’t mix because one is really hot and one is really cold. If the metal is hot, it will expand. If it is cold, it will shrink. If the door is properly insulated, heat and cold will not transfer and the door won’t bend or break.

Over time, doors are going to develop a bit of a bend just because of extreme cold or heat, when the temperature differences are highest.

This could be a good time to install a header to solidify the door. As a bonus, it keeps cold air out, too!

Garage doors are usually made in a way that parts are easily changed and repaired. If you think you could benefit from weatherstripping on the top of your garage door, get in touch with a garage door professional for more details.

Looking for a more modern style? This garage door is a Moderno SSG design, in 12'x8' size, Black Ice colour, with window layout called Left-side Harmony.

You can also count on a garage door specialist to provide you with the right materials and parts when you are replacing or repairing your weatherstripping.

You could try to do it yourself because the materials are readily available. However, it generally is better to leave work like this to the professionals because they will install it with skill and experience. They may also provide a guarantee. Plus, 90% of weatherstripping problems are caused by poor DIY jobs.

When it’s done right, weatherstripping should last as long as the garage door, if not longer. That’s almost 30 years. If you don’t do it correctly, however, you could be replacing it every few months.

Weather Seal Between Your Garage Door Sections

There’s another seal on your garage: the cracks between the door panels. For example, the Interlok^TM joints used by Garaga include 3 contact points to keep out air, light, and even water. If the seal is defective, the entire garage door usually ends up having to be replaced. When you choose a Garaga door, it’s not likely that this will be an issue.

The Interlok^TM joints in between the panels use joints known as triple-contact joints, which block heat and cold transfer and keep air from seeping through. If you’re able to slide a piece of paper in the crack, the seal has gone bad.

How can my weatherstripping last longer?

You should clean and inspect your garage door regularly to make sure that it’s in top condition at all times.

Check for problems, perform routine maintenance, and make sure that you do what you can to give your door the longest life possible.

Dust can be a bigger danger than you think. The weatherstripping, and even the door itself, can be impacted by this dust, which gets abrasive as it builds up.

Cleaning the dust will prevent this, while also preventing mildew and mold that can damage the weatherstripping.

You’ll want to rinse the door to remove any excess grime or debris. Then, cover the weatherstrip with a premium silicone-based spray that is designed for garage door use. Regular dusting is important, and if you wash your car at home, you’ll be able to spray off the garage door at the same time to keep the dirt from building up.

You’ll also want to keep a schedule of about every 3 months when it comes to cleaning the weatherstripping. Since weatherstripping is made of premium PVC, you want to use a vinyl cleaner that’s designed for all-purpose use. Choose a silicone-based lubricant.

Petroleum can damage the rubber and cause breakage or other issues, so avoid anything petroleum-based.

Cleaning your weatherstripping can go a long way in keeping it in good condition. If you ever have issues with your weatherstripping from wear or due to an accident, feel free to contact us for a proper repair.

Is there more than weatherstripping at risk?

Call us at 613-675-4473 to talk to the experts about your garage door needs. We’re here to help you make the right decision, and we know how overwhelming it can be to purchase a new door.

Here at Huneault Garage Doors, our email quotation takes the pressure off the situation and lets you get an idea of what to expect. Plus, if you’re not sure where to start, you can also browse through our 3 styles to help you figure out your home’s style. Put your creative hat and use your smartphone on our Design Centre to build the garage door of your dreams.