Even with the door closed, you can't keep the ambient temperature in the garage, and you feel drafts? Close the window. If the draft continues, there might be a problem with your door’s weather stripping.
Most people make the mistake of thinking that the insulation of a door is only calculated by the R-value. Yes, a high R-value is a useful thing, but what good would the best-insulated door be if there were an inch of space on either side of the door? The secret of a good door lies in the airtightness of its weatherstripping.
New weatherstrippings will help you save energy and money!
There are 4 types of weather stripping on a garage door, each one with its particularities. You have to identify which one is causing the problem.
1- The Bottom Weather stripping of Your Garage Door
This weatherstripping is the most likely to be changed. The bottom weatherstripping is usually made of 2 pieces: a PVC or aluminum support and a rubber strip. Most problems often come from the rubber portion, which can be damaged or too rigid, no longer remaining flexible.
You can see if your bottom weather stripping needs to be changed if it’s cracked, dried out, discoloured or droopy.
There are different types of weather seals for the bottom part of your door. Take a look at them here.
The bottom weather seal could also break if there is water accumulation under the garage door. This could happen if the floor of your garage's entrance is not sloped enough or if it’s damaged. If the temperature drops below freezing, the ice could cause the door to stick and damage your electric opener.
This could cause even more harm to your garage. All this, because of a bit of water under the door.
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 like salt would. However, sand is only a temporary solution. As soon as the sand gets wet, the ice will stick to the door again.
You should never put salt under your garage door. Salt will seriously damage the cement and rubber of the weatherstripping. To deglaze the cement, use calcium.
For the rubber strip, while cleaning it, use a silicone-based weather stripping lubricant. In winter, this lubricant will make the water bead and prevent ice from forming on the door throughout the winter.
Second, you can also install a Storm Shield threshold seal under your door. This rubber band creates an artificial slope that will prevent water from entering your garage and from remaining under the door.
The Storm Shield is also efficient if your garage floor is old and patchy. Instead of putting a wider rubber strip under the door, which could lead to premature wear of the weather seal, install a Storm Shield. It will help the door close tightly.
2- The Perimeter Weatherstripping of Your Garage Door
If the side dimensions had not been calculated correctly when installing the door, it could be that the rubber has repeatedly rubbed on the door and is badly worn. It could be torn, or it could no longer regain its shape.
The installed door is not recessed into the wall; it is parallel to it. The weather stripping fills the gap between the wall and the door. The supports are most often made of PVC, sometimes of aluminum.
The reason for using PVC is mainly for aesthetics since the screws will not be hidden on the aluminum supports. Aluminum brackets are mostly used on dark-coloured doors. PVC supports are now only available in light colours since PVC reacts poorly to heat. For example, black supports, exposed to the sun, can twist and shrink.
Rarely could the aluminum in the frame have oxidized.
The weather seal could be cracked due to sun exposure. The sun's UV rays attack the polymers in the rubber, which, over time, cause the rubber to crack. This particularity is aimed more at the rubber on the jambs since they are the most exposed to the sun.
3- The Top Weather stripping of Your Garage Door
Weather stripping can be added to the top of the door, though it is not on many garages. Usually, a header weather seal will be installed on commercial doors as they are larger than residential ones.
In most cases, weatherstripping along the top of a residential door won’t be necessary unless the garage is used as a workshop and/or needs to be kept very warm during the winter months.
Since the inside side of the door is warm and the outside of the door is very cold, a thermal break will occur between the outside and the inside because of the polyurethane insulation. Hot metal will expand a little while very cold metal tends to shrink slightly. Insulated, the two sides of the door will not transfer heat, preventing the door from bending.
Doors will tend to bend slightly inward over time or during extreme cold, when the temperature differences between the outside and the inside are at their peak.
In this case, a header will be useful, since it will give more solidity to the door (preventing it from bending) and will stop cold air from entering if the door ever bends.
Garage doors are usually made in such a way that parts can be repaired and changed individually. If you do not have weather stripping for the top of your door and want some, please get in touch with a garage door specialist in your area for more information.
You like this look? This garage door is a Moderno SSG design, 12' x 8', Black Ice, window layout: Left-side Harmony.
Likewise, for any needs you may have for the three categories of weather stripping mentioned above, you can find all the necessary parts at your garage door specialist.
You can try to replace your weatherstripping yourself by buying the right materials. However, we always recommend calling a professional for any kind of repair to your garage door. Professionally done, you are assured your weather stripping will be well installed and last longer. Poorly done installations are the cause of 90% of weatherstripping problems.
Normally, properly installed weather stripping should last as long as the door itself - almost 30 years, while an improperly installed one might only last two months.
4- The Weather Seal Between the Sections of Your Garage Door
The fourth seal on your door is found to be integrated between the door panels. For example, the InterlokTM joints from Garaga have three points of contact, which ensure that air, light and even water will not pass through the door. If a weather seal is defective, the entire door will have to be changed. With a Garaga door, it is very unlikely to have this kind of problem.
The InterlokTM joints between the panels use triple-contact points that block cold air and prevent cold or heat transfer. If it’s possible to slip a sheet of paper between the panels, the weather seal is no longer effective.
How Can Your Garage Door Weatherstripping Last Longer?
We recommend that you clean your door at least twice a year to keep it in top working order. Checking your door frequently will allow you to see any problems before they arise. Regular maintenance is necessary in order for your garage door to last as long as possible.
Long-term dust build-up can be very damaging to the weather stripping parts and the door itself. Over time, dust becomes abrasive. Cleaning will also prevent the appearance of mold and mildew that can blacken the weatherstripping.
Good maintenance consists first of rinsing in order to remove dust and dirt, then covering the weatherstrip with a silicone-based spray in order to protect it. Dusting it off regularly can be useful. When washing your car, why not turn around and spray your door. A little water rinse won’t hurt.
Weather stripping should be cleaned every three months to ensure the best efficiency. As weatherstripping is made of high-quality PVC, it should be cleaned with an all-purpose vinyl cleanser. Lubricate the weather stripping after with a silicone-based lubricant. Petroleum-based oils should always be avoided, as petroleum attacks the rubber’s polymers and decreases its flexibility.
In summary, to make sure your weather stripping last as long as possible, it should be cleaned from time to time. Should it ever break, whether due to an accident or the wear and tear of time, contact a professional so that your door can be repaired properly.
Your Garage Door Needs to Be Repaired Or Replaced?
Then contact a GARAGA dealer in your area.
They are indeed experts in garage doors. They have extensive experience, and they love helping you find the perfect garage door system at the right plus for you.
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