Garage Door Weatherstripping

[Vettman]

Has anyone any experience with this garage door threshold material? http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00008WFTE/?tag=atomicindus08-20.
My garage floor crowns in the middle and gradually drops 1/2" on each side of a 17 foot roll up sectional door. I'd like to seal it better but I'm wondering if there's a better (and less expensive alternative). $5.00 buck a foot seems a bit much. I'm surprised neither Lowe's or Home Depot carry the stuff! The door is 26 yrs. old and the seal at the bottom in integrated into the bottom panel. I've been told it's pretty much irreplaceable. It still seals but only from the center out about 6 ft' in each direction.

 

[jstroede]

Irreplaceable? I have never seen a door that you couldn't replace the bottom seal on. Got any pics?

John

 

[Vettman]

Not the best but. Looks like I need to clean my door!

 

[Kevin54]

The current seal you have might be non-replacable but they do make replacement seals for garage doors. Check with a local garage door installation company. They make balloon type seals that will seal something like an 1 1/4" variation. My buddy had to have one on his door due to a very uneven floor surface.
As far as the seal that you show, I would not want that type. For one, any water in the garage and you have just now built a small dam for it so the water will pool in the garage instead of running out. Secondly, it is a piece of rubber glued down that you will have to run over constantly. I would think after a period of time, it will shift, the glue will let loose, or the complete rubber will come loose do to moisture. More trouble than what it would be worth.
Does your existing seal come off, or can it come off along with the extrusion that it is in? They do make an adjustable seal that is in a "U" shaped channel. You slip the channel over the bottom of the door, close the door, adjust the seal down as far as necessary, then screw the channel to the door using self tapping screws.

 

[Vettman]

I wasn't crazy about the "threshold" idea either. I saw several replacement seals like you have pictured for sale at Lowe's. I wonder if replacing the bottom panel is an option? I hate to replace the entire door, but then again it's about 26 yrs. old. If I could find that channel, I could pop rivet onto the bottom of the door and just remove the old original seal.

 

[kbs2244]

I would guess you problem is more in the door being bowed up at the ends then the floor being less than flat.
You could replace the bottom panel.
Or, I have made tapered “”wedges” that fill in the outside corners of the door.

 

[Vettman]

I believe the bottom panel is straight or it would bind upon opening and closing, which it doesn't. I think the age has taken it's toll on the rubber seal, so it smashed flat in the middle where it contacts the concrete and it doesn't flex enough to contact the outside 2 or 3 feet.

 

[Mike F]

Here is one of the type that Kevin showed. I am sure there are better or more robust units but this came up after doing a quick search. http://cgi.ebay.com/Garage-Door-Bottom-Retainer-and-bottom-Seal-FREE-S-H_W0QQitemZ260692535847QQcategoryZ115699QQcmdZViewItem

 

[Vettman]

Thanks Mike, I like this idea better than the threshold.

 

[djjsr]

I have 2 doors with that threshold type seal and they work really well at keeping things out. But they also work very well on keeping things in. If you often use a garden hose to wash off your floor, that threshold seal is not a good idea. (The glue seems to be ok so far, about 5 or 6 years and it hasn't come loose)

 

[Vettman]

I have 2 doors with that threshold type seal and they work really well at keeping things out. But they also work very well on keeping things in. If you often use a garden hose to wash off your floor, that threshold seal is not a good idea. (The glue seems to be ok so far, about 5 or 6 years and it hasn't come loose)

I think my major concern would be going over the threshold with a heavy floor jack. Not an every day occurance, but might be damaging?

 

[djjsr]

I think my major concern would be going over the threshold with a heavy floor jack. Not an every day occurance, but might be damaging?

It's pretty durable hard rubber. I doubt that a floor jack would damage it. BTW, if you're thinking about installing one, you won't be able to do it in cold weather.

 

[Vettman]

Good the hear about the jack not damaging it. It's supposed to be 66 here tomorrow, but I'd probably wait 'till it's warmer anyway. I wish they'd made the floor perfectly level, It would have eliminated this problem.

 

[jstroede]

That floor seal does work pretty well most of the time, but you are right, it is expensive.

Looking at your door, I can't see 100% on that end view how your existing seal comes out, but it looks like it might be part of that metal angle I see on the back. You may be able to remove that, but you must be very careful as it may run underneath that bottom bracket that is under cable tension.

If you can get it off, that ebay link is what you want. There are also different lengths of the rubber bulb portion that can be used to fill larger gaps. That pieces laying flat is normally about 3" long, but we also have a 7" version for big gaps.

John

 

[SwampCat]

Dont know how the arc in your floor is. But I attached pressure treated wood to the bottom of the door. lowered door to floor (make sure the wood is thicker than the gap you are trying to fill) and scribe the profile of the floor to the wood. Perfect custom fit.