Blocking the gap around Garage Door?

[jake26]

In my garage makeover, I am learning all kinds of stuff from electrical, insulation, plumbing and plastering (hence it seems to be taking forever). I learn as I go and have to thank everyone on this site for answering my many questions. So here is another:

My garage door has air gaps around the perimeter that lets in cold air and light. I never cared before until I installed an electric heater so now I would like to limit the heat loss if possible. Are there any products that will block that gap but still allow the garage door to move freely?

 

[Chaz]

There is weatherstrip available for just that. A garage door supplier can fix you up. They work well.

 

[karl1672]

I put this in a few weeks ago and works very well. A bit pricy, but high quality. HD seemed to have the best price. Comes in multiple lengths.

http://www.homedepot.com/buy/doors-windows/garage-doors-openers-accessories/tsunami-seal/10-ft-garage-door-threshold-kit-in-gray-83230.html

 

[Milton Shaw]

I have the brush type on my door it seems to work good. Got it from a garage door dealer.

 

[Wingnut65]

In addition to the threshold that Karl mentioned, here are a couple options at Lowes for the sides and top. Try to go with rubber or vinul over the foam type, much more durable

White Aluminum/Vinyl Door Weather Strip

Black Rubber Garage Weatherstrip

White Vinyl Garage Weather Strip

 

[trbomax]

I had that problem with the doors in toledo,and Ive noticed this year my door up here is showing a gap too. What I did was to get some of the self stick black 1" wide weatherstrip that is used to gasket truck caps and apply it too the trim between the face of the door and the opening frame. You must run it above the door opening a few inches so that it doesnt catch the bottom edge of the door when it goes past it. I also found that after one season it came loose but was easily reattached with 3-m super 77,so when the weather warms up and I put the weatherstrip on the opening here, I will spray the frame with 77 before even putting it on.

 

[Torque1st]

Adjust the door for the minimum gap that will allow free operation. Remember that materials change dimensionally with humidity and temperature. Seal the gap with something like one of these:
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...053&langId=-1&keyword=door seal&storeId=10051
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...053&langId=-1&keyword=door seal&storeId=10051

 

[hfdff]

karl1672 can you post a some pics of the install.

 

[Jbullfrog]

I use garage door weather strip. It is vinyl with an 1-1/2" wide 1/4" thick trim that screws on and an 1" flexible strip that sits against the door.

 

[jake26]

Thank you for all the suggestions.

I will need to go shopping to check out these options. I assume they all go on the inside frame of the door opening and I would have to paint the area before installation. Hopefully, I can find some photos or instructions so I can see the process.

 

[BeachBum2012]

I just purchased the White Vinyl kit that Wingnut posted as well as a threshold. Looks like they will both be quite simple to install. Guess I'll find out Saturday.

 

[jake26]

Opps ... I take that back. Of course the weather stripping will need to go on the outside to keep the weather out.

I know my garage already has a stripe along the outside door frame (it is only 10 years old) so I may have to remove that product and install a new tighter fitting rubber product.

 

[RKA]

To piggyback on the original question...I'm curious if anyone has added brush seals inside the door to supplement the vinyl seals outside? I've seen one person mention this in the Heat/AC forum, but wasn't sure how effective it was (purpose is energy efficiency w/conditioned air space inside). I have relatively new insulated doors with fresh vinyl seals installed around the perimeter but there is a good deal of air movement through that gap even though the seals sit flush. I could install some brush seals on the inside of the frame, but would rather not go through the added trouble and expense if it's not going to do much to impede the air movement.

 

[Tom in Seattle]

Not trying to hijack the thread... but are there any products that would help seal an uneven floor under the door? For whatever reason my garage floor is bowed up in the center so the 2-car garage door hits in the middle and thus leaves gaps under the door at the sides. It seems the rodents like to visit my garage in the winter and I'd rather not have critter visitors.

 

[shawge]

@ Tom_in_Seattle: I have the same issues with my garage floor as well. I installed a retainer and bottom seal similar to this:

The center squishes flat and the outer edges seal well.

 

[Falcon67]

I used this on the exterior door trim to seal the edges:
http://ddmgaragedoors.com/parts/part/STS-210WH.html

Lowes site *****, I actually bought this at Lowes in 8' sticks.

 

[gatewaysysop]

In my garage makeover, I am learning all kinds of stuff from electrical, insulation, plumbing and plastering (hence it seems to be taking forever). I learn as I go and have to thank everyone on this site for answering my many questions. So here is another:

My garage door has air gaps around the perimeter that lets in cold air and light. I never cared before until I installed an electric heater so now I would like to limit the heat loss if possible. Are there any products that will block that gap but still allow the garage door to move freely?

Check out this thread, a pretty good amount of info in there.

I did the vinyl weather strips outside AND the brush-style stripping on the inside of the garage, it's a great combination (and cheap!) and works extremely well. I'm super happy with it.

Post #20 in that thread has a picture of how the brushes look installed on the inside. Again, this a great setup and I can't recommend it enough.

 

[jake26]

Check out this thread, a pretty good amount of info in there.

I did the vinyl weather strips outside AND the brush-style stripping on the inside of the garage, it's a great combination (and cheap!) and works extremely well. I'm super happy with it.

Post #20 in that thread has a picture of how the brushes look installed on the inside. Again, this a great setup and I can't recommend it enough.

Very cool! I think this may be what I need. Thanks for the link!

 

[diggertodd]

Even as tight as I have my door sealed, in the dead of winter, I use 6 wedge door stops from the dollar store and wedge them between the track and the door to push the door against the seal. works great

 

[RKA]

Check out this thread, a pretty good amount of info in there.

I did the vinyl weather strips outside AND the brush-style stripping on the inside of the garage, it's a great combination (and cheap!) and works extremely well. I'm super happy with it.

Post #20 in that thread has a picture of how the brushes look installed on the inside. Again, this a great setup and I can't recommend it enough.

Awesome! Just the feedback I was looking for. In case anyone doesn't read completely through that thread, the standard seals from sealeze were twice the thickness of the residential and if you call them, they will mail out samples if you're not sure what size will work best for you.

 

[karl1672]

karl1672 can you post a some pics of the install.

Here's some pictures. Garage door openings in FL are usually a little different in that the door closes behind the garage slab, rather that on it.

First, I installed a new bottom seal kit from MD, and then the Tsunami. Also had to adjust the force on the garage door opener.

 

[mpire]

I have the seals on the outside but the garage door tends to move back and forth in the tracks more than a quarter of an inch.

So I also installed brush seals on the inside.

Still don't have a good seal.

 

[AndyL]

Mpire- straighten up that top section (notice its tipped out?) Then re&re the weatherstrip, install it tighter lean on the door as you install, to push it back. And fix that corner

 

[santagary]

@ Tom_in_Seattle: I have the same issues with my garage floor as well. I installed a retainer and bottom seal similar to this:

The center squishes flat and the outer edges seal well.

I cannot use those because of freezing conditions in coloado...it would rip off upon opening it!

 

[AndyL]

Yes you can we use them in calgary all the time... chinese rubber will stick, but most will shed the ice just fine

 

[mpire]

Either my door is curved or the concrete is curved, either way it doesn't seal in the middle.

I am not sure what to do next.

 

[AndyL]

How big is the gap - go measure... Ive got an old door guys trick that'll fix you up nicely...

 

[darkk]

There is a commercial poly trim board with a rubber seal made specifically for that.

 

[mpire]

My gap is only about a quarter of an inch.

But the issue isn't the seal isn't flat on the ground, its that the door bows out or the concrete lip bows in.

 

[mmhouse]

I have the brush type on my door it seems to work good. Got it from a garage door dealer.

The brush type works really well for the sides and top of the door. It's used in Alaska and other severe climates.

 

[A1an]

How do these flexible seals compare to the more rigid ones sold in 7 or 8' secions?
http://www.lowes.com/pd_66657-81-03...0__s?Ntt=garage+door+weather+strip&facetInfo=

Seems they would be more difficult to install and wouldn't provid that great of a seal unless you glue them to the trim around the door, no?

 

[AndyL]

There's various grades of weatherstrip... That roll stuff, probably ok for warmer climates, I wouldn't use it in the snow belt... Even up here, I take issue with the various grades we see... Triple seal (sometimes called arctic grade) is the only way to go - but everyone claims to sell it - very few really do, perhaps I should go take a picture to show the differences... I'm not a fan of the brush type personally, it doesn't actually do anything to stop air infiltration.

Mpire - is it bulb rubber underneath or is it one of those damn foam strips?

 

[AndyL]

Left - is steelcraft (but it's commonly found with various manufacturers)

Center - Arctic grade - note it's a triple seal, one between the steel and the jamb, 2 to the door...

Right - typical PVC stuff (this is wayne dalton stuff) You get a true thermal break - it leaks less than the steel on the left, as it typically bends and sits flush (and pvc actually does have an R rating)

 

[A1an]

Thanks for the comparison photos. That triple seal looks great but probably overkill and impossible to find down here in FL. The PVC seems superior to the roll but I am just having a difficult time finding it locally. Lowes or HD show it in stock on the website but when you go to buy they have maybe 1-2 strips in a color no one wants.

 

[DustynF]

I have the seals on the outside but the garage door tends to move back and forth in the tracks more than a quarter of an inch.

[Still don't have a good seal.

I didn't quite have that big of a gap on the sides but what I ended up doing is drilling the rivits on the side rails and then adding bolts to move the rail closer to the jamb. My doors are tight on the weather stripping now. The bottom can be fixed as well, either add a rubber threshold or repour. I repoured my floor because whoever poured the floor initially put a 7 inch pitch from left to right.

 

[mpire]

I have the standard loop type garage door seal on the bottom, but to make it stiffer, I stuffed some pipe insulation inside it to try and make the seal better.

It didn't help.

So I have to come up with another solution.

 

[mpire]

What I need is a seal that is wider in cross section on the bottom and not just taller.

 

[AndyL]

Mpire - yeah pipe insulation won't compress where you need it to - and provide substance where you need it... as pathetic as it sounds - try stuffing some old Safeway shopping bags (yeah plactic grocery bags) in, its an old door guys trick; works better than any 'manufactured solution I've ever found...

 

[canadiantim]

AndyL,
Can you tell me where to find the Arctic Grade Triple Seal in the Calgary area?
Thanks!

 

[langss]

I used this on the exterior door trim to seal the edges:
http://ddmgaragedoors.com/parts/part/STS-210WH.html

Lowes site *****, I actually bought this at Lowes in 8' sticks.

I bought this at Lowes as well. I'm using it on my front and back entry doors to seal the gap between the door and the threshold. The doors are longer than the standard 36". I also ran two lengths along the bottom of my Garage Door. It seals really well.