Garage Door Weather Stripping: A Guide

by: Wilson Huang
June 2022
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Garage Door Lands: Garage Door Weather Seal and Stripping 101

Garage door weather stripping is one of the most commonly overlooked components of residential garage doors. But this isn’t surprising, since this small and unassuming piece of hardware doesn’t exactly stand out as a critical component. Inside or outside a garage, weather stripping is a necessary part of any door that opens directly to the elements. During extremely cold or humid months, garage doors are frequently left open to provide optimal ventilation for your vehicle. In such conditions, even a small crack in your door can lead to increased energy costs as well as potential moisture infiltration into your home. In fact, many insurance companies specifically recommend installing weather stripping on all garage doors to prevent loss from both natural disasters and minor mishaps like forgetting to close the door when leaving or coming home late at night.

What Does Weather Stripping Do?

Weather stripping seals the spaces in your garage door to prevent intrusion of water, wind, and other weather conditions. It helps to maintain the energy efficiency of your home by keeping out energy-draining elements like dust and pollen. You may be wondering why we’re talking about weather seal in the context of a garage door. After all, garage doors operate in two directions: up and down. Most residential garage doors are designed to close automatically whenever wind gusts reach certain predetermined speeds. This is because garage doors are not sufficiently sturdy to withstand the force of high-speed winds. When your door is closed, weather sealing is essential for keeping out rain, snow, and other moisture that could cause harm to your cars, home, and family. Weather stripping can also help to prevent the spread of insects and diseases from your garage to your house and vice versa.

The Importance of a Quality Installation

Weather stripping is a relatively inexpensive piece of hardware that can go a long way in safeguarding the health, safety, and comfort of your home and family. Because the majority of garage doors come equipped with a preinstalled weather system, many homeowners assume that what they received with the purchase of their door is sufficient. If you’re thinking about replacing your garage door weather seal due to wear and tear, or if you’ve just installed a new garage door, you may be wondering whether to replace the old rubber strips or install new ones. If your weather stripping is old, worn, or damaged, you should replace it rather than attempt to repair it. If you install new weather stripping over the old, you’ll create an even larger channel for weather to enter your home.

3 Best Materials for Installing Garage Door Weather Stripping

There are a variety of materials used for installing weather stripping on residential garage doors, each of which has its own set of pros and cons. Let’s take a look at the most common choices: - Rubber: Rubber is a highly effective material for shutting out both water and air. It is able to repel water at a rate of up to 48% and air at a rate of up to 42%. - However, this material is susceptible to UV damage and requires regular maintenance. It must be inspected and replaced every two to five years, depending on regional weather conditions. - Steel: Steel offers excellent durability and a long lifespan. This material is resistant to rust, corrosion, and extreme temperatures.

2nd Best Material for Installing Garage Door Weather Stripping

- Polyethylene (PE): PE is the second highest-rated weather stripping material, with a water-repelling rating of 39% and an air-sealing rating of 32%. - This material is highly flexible and provides excellent longevity. PE weather stripping can last up to ten years with minimal maintenance.

1st Best Material for Installing Garage Door Weather Stripping

- Polyvinyl chloride (PVC): PVC is the highest-rated weather stripping material, with a water-repelling rating of 53% and an air-sealing rating of 48%. - This flexible and durable material is resistant to UV damage and can last up to twenty years with minimal maintenance.

What Type of Material is Best for Garage Door Weather Stripping?

When selecting the best material for your garage door weather stripping, it is important to consider a few factors: - Climate: Climate plays a major role in determining the type of weather stripping you should use. For example, if your home is located in an area with frequent snowfall, you’ll want to use a material with excellent snow-repelling properties. - Age: The age of your garage door also plays a part in your weather stripping selection. If you have a relatively new door, you may opt for a less durable material that can be replaced more regularly. - Budget: Finally, you’ll want to consider your budget when selecting the best materials for your weather stripping. Although PVC may be the best option, it’s also the most expensive.

Why You Shouldn’t Ignore Garage Door Weather Stripping

Weather stripping is one of the most commonly ignored components of residential garage doors. This is unfortunate, since neglecting to replace worn or damaged weather stripping can cause significant damage to your garage door and the rest of your home. Some of the most common issues that arise when you fail to install or replace your garage door weather stripping include: - Increased energy costs: If there’s a crack in your garage door that allows air to flow through, your HVAC system will have to work overtime to keep your home at a comfortable temperature. - Moisture infiltration: Moisture infiltration can lead to all sorts of problems, including mold, mildew, and rust.

Conclusion

Installing garage door weather stripping is an important component of garage door maintenance. This can be done by anyone with basic DIY skills, and the materials needed are not expensive. It’s important to choose the right material for your climate, and the best time to do that is when you’re buying a new garage door. Nothing can ruin a day at home or a night out at the office like coming home to find that you forgot to close the garage door when you left for work. Fortunately, this common mistake can easily be avoided with regular and thorough use of weather stripping.

Make sure your garage gets the maximum protection it deserves by checking out our weather stripping products!

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