Weather stripping is a form of protection against weather elements. The garage door does a lot to protect your vehicle and your home. It serves as the first line of defense against the elements. However, its weather seals shield your garage against rain, debris, dirt, and pests. Furthermore, weather stripping prevents moisture and cold air from seeping into the garage door’s crevices.
Further benefits include saving you money on your energy bill by keeping the garage warmer in the winter. There are many types of garage door weather seals, and the right one will depend on your door type. This article by Titan Garage Doors NE will explain your different weather seal options.
Different Types of Weather Stripping for Garage Doors
Bottom seals
Bottom seals are the most common type of weather stripping for garage doors. The flexible rubber seal slides into the retainer at the bottom of the door. The rubber seal is a barrier that seals the gap between the garage door bottom and the garage floor. Wooden garage doors generally do not require retainers. Instead, the bottom seal is nailed straight on the lower edge.
Bottom seals fall into four types:
J-Type – When the door is closed, the J-type makes two “J’s” on both sides. Single-channel retainers also use this type of seal.
T-Type – The T-type seal is an inverted “T,” as the name suggests. It works just like the J-type seal and works with single-channel retainers.
Bulb – Bulb seals are long, circular tubes with tiny openings at the top. They are commonly seen in single-channel retainers, and the design allows the seal to push upward and spread across uneven cement floors.
Beaded – Double-channel retainers exclusively use beaded seals. Both sides of the strip are bent upwards, preventing water from running under the seal.
Side and top seals
The top and side garage door weather seals are made of PVC. They are fastened to the doorjamb around the sides and top of the garage entrance. The seal’s flap pushes against the garage door when it closes, creating a tight seal around the sides and top. These can seal the gaps along the three sides of the door. However, they will not seal the gaps along the bottom of the door.
Vinyl door stops are pieces of plastic that go along the sides of the garage door. Garage doors can shift after installation. That is why vinyl is typically nailed into the wood and forms a watertight seal from top to bottom. For example, this top and sides weather strip has soft and hard composite material, ensuring they remain soft and flexible. Consult a garage door specialist if you need advice on your options.
Threshold seals
A threshold seal provides excellent protection when combined with bottom seals. They are typically made of a flexible strip of material or hard aluminum. Strong adhesives or concrete fixing screws secure them to the garage floor behind the door. A threshold seal provides a watertight seal when the garage door is closed. This seal is important if the floor is not level or the bottom seal has become worn.
Brush seals
Brush seals are a brush attached to the door’s bottom. High-friction locations or on bending and flexing doors typically utilize these. Garage doors have them on the sides. Furthermore, they are popular in commercial applications due to their durability. These seals are excellent at keeping out hard debris. However, they are far less effective as a bottom seal in stopping water leaks. But brush seals outperform most other garage door seals when it comes to side seals.
Garage Door Service Near Me
Get quality garage doors Omaha weather seals from Titan Garage Doors NE. We serve the greater Omaha area and Council Bluffs, Iowa, with professional garage door installation, garage door repair, and garage door maintenance services. Contact us today at (402) 513-0255 for free estimates.
