Rated What is Garage Door Weatherstripping and Why Should You Do It?
One of the first things most homeowners should do during the rainy season or weather months is either install or replace their garage door weatherstripping. But this can be a bit of a daunting task for an individual, especially if they have never done it before — and an improper application of weatherstripping could be either disastrous or simply ineffective. Professionals such as those at Action Garage Door can quickly replace, repair, and install weatherstripping as needed. But exactly what is weatherstripping and why is it so useful?
What Is Garage Door Weatherstripping?
Garage door weatherstripping (sometimes also spelled as “garage door weather stripping”) is the process of sealing your garage door using long pieces of material which fill the gaps around your garage doors. Weatherstripping can be located at the top, bottom, and sides of the doors, and comes in a variety of materials, from hard materials to softer materials.
In general, weatherstripping is maintained throughout the year. In the summer months, weatherstripping keeps cool air in. In winter months, weatherstripping keeps water and rain out, while maintaining the home’s internal temperature. Weatherstripping is both a way to protect the interior of your garage from flooding in addition to improving the overall insulation of your home.
Why Is Garage Door Weatherstripping So Important?
Without garage door weatherstripping, a garage can easily flood; water can sail right past the door and infiltrate the garage, which can be disastrous for those who use their garage for storage. Additionally, regardless of how well-insulated a garage door itself is, it cannot provide insulation if there are gaps around it.
Very few garage doors will perfectly fit inside of their homes; there will always be some minor areas through which air, water, and sound can pass. Weatherstripping essentially makes it so that these gaps no longer exist; it “fits” the garage door perfectly to your home’s frame. Nevertheless, weatherstripping doesn’t last forever. Because weatherstripping is subjected to movement and to the elements, it will eventually wear down and need to be replaced.
What Are Types of Garage Door Weatherstripping?
Most types of garage door weatherstripping consist of a hard base and a flexible interior. The hard base is positioned along the ceiling, ground, or sides of the garage, while the flexible interior provides an area in which the garage door itself rests. Garage door weatherstripping can be composed of either plastic or metal, with plastic being less durable but metal is more susceptible to corrosion. Generally the more expensive the weatherstripping the longer it will last; most weatherstripping will have similar levels of effectiveness, it’s just the durability that you may need to be concerned about.
How Is Garage Door Weatherstripping Installed?
Weatherstripping is generally installed by first cutting it to size using a saw. This is important: most garages aren’t an exactly standard size, so the weatherstripping has to be cut perfectly so that it fills the entire area. Once the weatherstripping has been cut down to size, it has to be nailed directly in.
Generally, a power tool will be used; though the weatherstripping can be nailed in by hand into the ceiling or into the sides of the garage, the floor of the garage will almost always be concrete. Weatherstripping cannot simply be glued in; it will not last very long and it will make removal and replacement problematic. If there is old weatherstripping in place, it will need to be pried up with a pry bar.
Why Should Garage Door Weatherstripping Be Professionally Installed?
There are a few reasons why garage door weatherstripping is a simple, fast task for professionals but a challenge for homeowners. Garage door weatherstripping has to be perfectly aligned or it will not be effective at all; the door has to rest entirely on the weatherstripping. If the weatherstripping to the sides of the door is installed improperly, it could potentially cause issues with the operation of the door or throw the door off track. Moreover, weatherstripping a garage requires some materials and tools that the average homeowner does not have, such as a tool that has the ability to drive nails through concrete.
Are you still uncertain how to install your garage door weatherstripping — or even what type of weatherstripping you need? The process of getting garage door weatherstripping installed is a fast one as long as it’s done by a professional. Contact the garage door experts at Action Garage Door today to inquire about their weatherstripping services and their comprehensive inventory of garage door products and solutions.
