Here at Mehr’s Garage Doors, we know how important it is to have a good garage door seal to keep your home safe. In this guide to replacing your garage door seal, we’ll discuss choosing the right type and installing it. We’ve helped people in and around St. George for over 30 years, and we can use that knowledge to help you improve your garage.
We at Mehr’s Garage Doors know that a garage door seal is more than just a piece of rubber. It’s your first line of defense against the weather. A good seal can turn a drafty, wet garage into a warm, safe place we’ve seen for ourselves.
Seals keep dust, debris, rain, snow, and even small animals out of garage doors. They also help keep the temperature stable, essential if you use your garage for work or storage. An effective seal can also lower noise, creating a more comfortable place to spend time in your garage.
But that’s not the end of the good things. A well-sealed garage door can help save energy and lower heating and cooling costs. By avoiding moisture damage and reducing wear and tear from wind and weather, it also improves the life of your garage door.
Since 1980, we’ve been in the garage door business and have helped people in St. George and the surrounding areas. In that time, we’ve changed countless seals and seen how they make a difference. Replacing your garage door seal is a good idea whether you have a worn-out seal that allows drafts in or wants to improve your garage’s ventilation.
Bottom seals are the most essential part of garage door weatherstripping. We have T-style, U-shape, and P-style seals. Each has its benefits, depending on the type of door and the amount of protection required.
T-shape seals are easy to replace and can be used in many situations. U-shaped seals provide excellent protection against water entering. Older doors often have P-style seals that keep the door tight against the ground.
Bottom and side weatherstripping finish off the seal around your garage door. The door frame is usually covered with vinyl or rubber strips. These seals help keep air out of your garage and stop air leaks. Proper installation is essential to ensure a tight seal when the door is shut.
These are put on the garage floor. They are also called floor seals. They add another layer of defense against pests, water, and debris. These are helpful when it rains or snows because they keep water from getting under the door.
You’ll need a few simple tools to replace your garage door seal. A hammer, tools, a utility knife, a tape measure, and a flathead screwdriver are usually included in this call. You may also need a drill and screws, depending on the type of seal.
Safety glasses and work gloves are always recommended. As for materials, you’ll need a new seal, which we can give you based on the details of your door.
Accurate measurements are essential for a good fit. We’ll guide you through measuring the width and height of your door for the bottom seal and the side and top weatherstripping. Sometimes, garage doors aren’t perfectly level, so measuring more than one place is important.
The proper seal for your door will depend on your door type, the weather in St. George, and your unique needs. We’ll help you pick the best shape for your door and decide between materials like rubber, vinyl, or brush seals. Our Mehr’s Garage Doors team can offer expert suggestions based on our vast experience with local conditions and different door types.
Mehr’s Garage Doors has perfected the skill of removing old bottom seals. For T-style seals, we use a flathead screwdriver to open the locking track on one end slowly. Taking care not to damage the track, we slide the old seal out.
When removing nail-on seals, we are careful not to damage the door’s surface as we remove the nails or staples. It’s essential to clean the area carefully after removal to ensure the new seal sticks properly.
It takes time to remove the side and top weatherstripping. We usually begin by looking at how the current stripping is connected. It may be nailed, screwed, or held in place with an aluminum track.
We use the right tool to remove the old weatherstripping carefully, ensuring we don’t damage the door frame. The old glue and other debris are removed to prepare for the new installation.
T-style seals are famous in St. George for their long life and ease of replacement. We spray grease on the track for easier installation to make it smooth. The new seal is inserted into the track from one end, ensuring it fits correctly. If necessary, we use a rubber hammer to tap it into place gently. After putting it in, we cut off any extra and secure the ends.
In St. George’s, where there are occasionally heavy rains, U-shape seals provide excellent protection against water entry. The seal is put on by sliding it onto the bottom of the door. We ensure that it is cut to the exact width of the door and is in the middle. After that, the edges are fixed so they can’t move laterally.
P-style seals, standard on older doors, require a particular installation method. We carefully slide the seal into the existing passage, using lube if needed. During installation, it’s important not to stretch the seal so it doesn’t shrink later.
For doors that need nail-on seals, we carefully place the new seal along the bottom edge. Every 4 to 6 inches, we secure the seal with zinc nails to prevent rust. We are always careful to nail straight so we don’t damage the door or make the seal less effective.
In St. George, vinyl stop molding is often used for weatherstripping on the sides and tops of houses. First, we measure and cut the molding to exactly the right size. The molding is then nailed into place, ensuring that when closed, it makes good contact with the door. We’re careful not to tighten too much because that could make it hard for the door to move.
We frequently recommend retainer and seal solutions for more complex problems. In these, a bendable seal is inserted after installing a metal track. We slide in the seal material after securing the track to the door frame. This method makes replacing parts simple in the future without removing the entire assembly.
Threshold seals can add an extra layer of protection, especially in St. George’s weather, but they are only sometimes needed. We check to see if an entryway seal would be helpful for your garage.
We carefully measure and recommend the seal to fit your garage door hole if necessary. The seal is then stuck to the garage floor with solid glue, creating a barrier that keeps water out when the door is shut.
After installing new seals, it is essential to check and adjust the garage door’s operation. The door’s balance is checked, and if necessary, the opener’s force settings are adjusted. This ensures the new seals do not hamper the door’s smooth operation.
Plus, we ensure the door shuts all the way and all the seals make good contact. At Mehr’s Garage Doors, we don’t consider the job done until the new seals on your door are working correctly.
Mehr’s Garage Doors stresses the value of regular maintenance to increase the life of your new seals. We recommend checking the seals every six months for signs of wear or damage. Clean the seals with water and light soap to clear dirt and debris.
Use a silicone-based lubricant on the seals every year to keep them bendable and prevent them from breaking. Feel free to contact us for professional assistance or help if you find any issues during your inspections.
You might need some help with the correct installation and care. If you experience drafts, check for holes between the seals and the door or frame. If the door doesn’t fully contact the bottom seal, change how far it can close.
Replace the seal if it has become weak or broken. If you’re having problems that won’t go away, our team at Mehr’s Garage Doors is always ready to help you figure out what’s wrong and fix it.
Sometimes, it’s best to call in the pros, even though many homeowners in St. George can handle basic seal repairs. Contact us if your door needs to be fixed, if you need help determining what type of seal you need, or if you encounter any issues with how your door works after the seal replacement.
Mehr’s Garage Doors has the tools and knowledge to handle complex installs and fixes, ensuring your garage door works correctly and safely.
Your home’s energy economy and safety are improved by replacing the garage door seal, a necessary maintenance job. There’s no doubt that Mehr’s Garage Doors wants to help St. George homeowners get the best results.
Remember that a properly sealed garage door significantly improves the warmth and usefulness of your home, whether you’re doing the work yourself or need professional assistance. We’re here to help keep your home safe and comfy, so don’t hesitate to contact us with any garage door needs.
Garage door seals should typically be changed every 5 to 7 years, but this can change depending on how often they are used and the weather in St. George. We recommend yearly inspections to determine whether an earlier replacement is required.
Many homeowners can simply weatherstrip and replace bottom seals. However, to ensure proper operation and safety, it is best to contact Mehr’s Garage Doors for professional installation for complicated setups or if you are unsure.
U-shaped bottom seals and boundary seals provide the best bottom protection. In St. George’s climate, we frequently recommend a mix of both for best protection against sporadic heavy rains.
The door’s close limit likely needs to be adjusted when this happens. We can guide you through this process or provide adjustments to ensure your door closes correctly without putting too much stress on the opener.
Our hot summers can indeed be brutal on seals. We recommend longer life for materials resistant to UV light. Also, because it rains here sometimes, we often recommend better bottom and barrier seals for water protection.
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