Properly sealing your garage door can save you a lot
of money. Garages aren’t exactly energy efficient, but you can change all of
that with the right garage door weatherstrip. Even if you only use your garage
to park your car, you'll still want to make sure that this part of your home is
well insulated. Why? Any heat (or cold air) that escapes from your garage is
air that is escaping from your entire house. In short, you will be heating your
home without much of a result if you don't weather-proof that garage door. So,
what kind of weatherstripping should you choose?
You'll find that we offer many different kinds of
garage door weatherstrip. Sometimes, this selection can become overwhelming.
However, there are just a couple of things that you really need to be concerned
about. When you look for a kit, look for one that includes the garage door
bottom seal and some kind of flexible strip that can be placed around the
outside of the door frame. The best type of strip is one that is made from
rubber or vinyl, since these materials are easily bendable. If you want a kit
that is easy to use, look for one that includes a nail-in bottom seal.
Bottom seals that snugly fit into
aluminum channels are also available, but these are a bit harder to find. Most
garage door weatherstrip kits can be painted to match any color, which can be
handy if you don’t want this strip to stand out from the rest of your garage
door. The most important thing to look for is a strip that is flexible. This
way, you won't have to struggle with the strip when it comes to installation. You
can find the exact type of weatherstrip that you need on our site. If you
aren't sure what kind to buy, go ahead and give us a call - we're here to help
you with all your DIY needs!
For the most part, installing a garage door
weatherstrip is not hard to do. Simply follow the instructions listed on the
back of the package, take your time installing the strip, and be sure to cover
all cracks and gaps with the strip. Almost immediately, you will begin to feel
the temperature within your home change thanks to this sealant. Weatherstripping
effectively keeps that cold air out of your house during the winter months,
while keeping the warm air outside of your home when the temperature begins to
rise.
Installing A Garage Door Bottom
Weatherstrip
I've tried to install a
garage door bottom weather-strip, but it is so unmanageable that it always comes
out crooked. Is there an easier way to install it than just nailing it?
This is the nonpareil of tips... the creme de la creme! Do this and you will
not only have the weather-strip up in record time, but have it as straight as
possible!
TOOLS NEEDED: Garage door bottom weather-stripping kit (including nails),
maybe a half-pound of 1" or longer galvanized roofing nails, heavy duty
staple gun with minimum ½" staples, hammer, patience.
Optional: Sandpaper and wood preservative
Remove
old weatherstrip completely, including old nails if possible.
Any old nails or staples that are not removeable should be hammered flush to
bottom of door so they don't tear the new weatherstrip.
Sand bottom of door and coat with a clear wood
preservative. Since the weatherstrip is non-breathable solid
rubber, moisture can accumulate between it and the bottom of the door,
promoting rot.
Position
the door so that it is about chest height. Not my chest height,
yours. This will give you a view of your finished product as you work. You
can use your garage door opener to do this (most modern ones reverse on the
down cycle and stop on the up cycle), or disconnect the opener and use
clamps on the track(s). You can use one, or two for extra security!!
Unroll the weatherstrip completely, and make sure
it is long enough. You want to avoid stretching it excessively
now or during installation. If there is a ratty end (sometimes the ends are
a little beaten up because of staples or other rude behavior), and you have
extra length to work with, do a little trimming.
Position the weatherstrip so that the overhang
extends to the inside. This is important! If the overhang extends
to the outside, the weather-strip will hit the garage door frame and force
you to trim it to compensate. Only install the weatherstrip with the
overhang outside if the outside level is significantly lower than the area
under the door.
Usually, the bottom roller bracket (to which the
garage door cable attaches) inconveniently obstructs or limits your
fastening options on the first 3" or so on either side of the garage
door bottom. Sometimes, there is a single hole for you to nail
into. Sometimes not. In either case, you will not do any fastening through
the bracket until you get the rest of the weatherstrip secured
Line up the weatherstrip so it lines up with or
is slightly past the end of the door, and with the outside edge where you
want it. Put a staple through the weatherstrip and into the bottom of the
door near to the bottom roller bracket. Continue across the
bottom of the garage door, stapling every 3 or so inches.
When you are within a foot of the other end of
the door, measure and trim the weatherstrip so it will just meet the end of
the door. Finish stapling.
Raise the door to a comfortable hammering
position, and hammer in the nails that came with the kit. Place
them between the staples. Attach the weatherstrip to the two bottom roller
brackets via the holes we looked for earlier. If there is a nail in it
already, remove the nail and then renail the weatherstrip to it. If there is
no hole (hello, Mr. Murphy), get out your drill and make one!
Many of the kits I have used come with painfully short ½"
nails. Have a bunch of minimum 1" long galvanized roofing
nails handy, and throw the short nails into the "circular file"!!
That's about it. The staples cannot be relied on to hold the weatherstrip
permanently, but they eliminate the snake-wrestling match that installing a
garage door bottom weatherstrip can turn into!! Enjoy.
