Why Your Garage Door Needs a Proper Seal

If you are like many homeowners who have to replace their garage door, you put a lot of thought into the type of door you are going to install. The look of your garage doors can make or break the look of your home.

Unfortunately, many homeowners do not put the same amount of thought into the small extras such as the garage door seals. When the right seals are installed correctly, they offer many benefits you may not have even thought about. Knowing the various types of seals available will help ensure your door has what it needs.

Why Do Garage Doors Need Sealing?

Your garage door is probably the largest opening you have going into your home. Not only does this door make it convenient to get large items your want into your home, but it also allows small things you may not even notice to enter, as well as exit your space. 

  • Garage door seals help to regulate your homes temperature. Every time your garage door opens or closes, you lose energy to outside elements. When you leave the spaces around your door unsealed, you will not only experience these loses when you door is open, but you will experience some energy loss all of the time. Proper insulation and sealing the spaces around your door will help to regulate the temperature within this space, and minimize the amount of heat loss you may experience. 
  • Garage door seals help to keep small creatures from entering your garage. A general rule of thumb with most animals is, if they can fit their head through a space, they can fit their bodies. By sealing your garage doors, you will help to eliminate small cracks, holes, and gaps which could be used by small creatures to gain access to not only your garage but also your home.
  • Garage door seals can help keep your garage floors safe. You may not be able to keep all of the wind and rain out of your garage when the door opens, but a good seal can keep the water out when your door is closed.  While dirt and other debris is a pain to clean up, water on your garage floor can create an unsafe environment. Allowing moisture to linger in your space can cause rust and other types of corrosion to your tools and other equipment you may have stored in your space. 

Types of Garage Door Seals

To check to see if your garage door needs sealing is as easy as going into your garage during daylight hours and turning off all of the lights. Anywhere you see sunlight filtering through is somewhere that needs a seal. To do this job there are three basic types of seals you need to be concerned with. 

  1. Garage Door Bottom Seals—These are the most common types of seals found on a garage door. They are the rubber, or vinyl piece you see running along the bottom of your door. When properly installed, they should run from one corner of the door to the other without any gaps. these may be nailed, stapled, or even installed on aluminum tracks. 
  2. Garage Door Threshold Seals—If you are concerned with the integrity of your bottom seal, or you want to reinforce your seal, consider installing a floor mounted threshold seal. These are easily installed using an industrial strength adhesive. 
  3. Garage Door Weather Stripping—If you see gaps or holes around the tops or sides of your garage door, you can use weather stripping to seal these spaces. You can purchase stripping in vinyl, or plastic, and can find pieces which attach with nails, screws, or adhesive. When properly installed, you will still be able to open and close your door without any interference.

When you install your new garage door, make sure you spend a few extra dollars to make sure it is properly sealed. Learn more about these options by contacting companies like America's Garage Doors LLC.

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