Sealing the Garage Door

[Pete F.]

Guys-

I keep my garage warm during the winter and I invested in a great door that is insulated. Yesterday when I went into the garage without the lights on, I could see light coming in around the door. The bottom is sealed tight - it was the sides and top letting in the light. The installers put new weather stripping on the outside and it seems to have been installed correctly. I was able to get rid of the gaps on the sides by adjusting the tracks, but there is nothing to adjust to bring the top of the door closer to the wall. Since I don't open the door a lot in the winter, I was thinking of making a removeable seal out of foam that I can easily put in and take out. Are there other solutions I should try first?

Thanks in advance.
-Pete

 

[bmwpower]

I would see if you could find some weatherstripping or foam with adhesive backing. You could probably place it on the outer face of the door at the top.

 

[Pete F.]

I would see if you could find some weatherstripping or foam with adhesive backing. You could probably place it on the outer face of the door at the top.

That's a good idea - I'll have to go to the store and see what I can find. Thanks for the input.

-Pete

 

[Steve_S]

It can be done. My door is practically air tight. Maybe your garage door guy didn't do it right? Mine simply has the rubber strips around three sides and the soft rubber seal on bottom.

 

[Paradise Ridge]

Pete,

You need a couple sticks of Garage Door Seal Strip, available at HD, Lowes etc for about 8 bucks a 10' strip.

Nice woodgrain trim board with flexable 1.5" vinyl edge. If this is the stuff he installed, I'd guess he didn't press it hard enough against the door. Removing it and installing it correctly is the best way to go IMHO.

Scott

 

[ZRWON]

Guys-

...Yesterday when I went into the garage without the lights on, I could see light coming in around the door. The bottom is sealed tight - it was the sides and top letting in the light. The installers put new weather stripping on the outside and it seems to have been installed correctly....I was thinking of making a removeable seal out of foam that I can easily put in and take out. Are there other solutions I should try first?
-Pete

DID THE PIECE THE DOOR INSTALLERS PUT ON HAVE A TRIM-LIKE BOARD ABOUT 2 INCHES WIDE AND RUBBER FLAP MATERIAL ON THE PART NEAREST THE DOOR (usually painted white when purchased)?
If yes, then it was installed improperly. The rubber flap side should fit tightly against the top and side edges of the door when closed; thus no leakage. If it's not the type I describe then you should replace it with this type readily available at Lowes, Home Depot etc. Hope this helps. Bill

 

[Pete F.]

DID THE PIECE THE DOOR INSTALLERS PUT ON HAVE A TRIM-LIKE BOARD ABOUT 2 INCHES WIDE AND RUBBER FLAP MATERIAL ON THE PART NEAREST THE DOOR (usually painted white when purchased)?
If yes, then it was installed improperly. The rubber flap side should fit tightly against the top and side edges of the door when closed; thus no leakage. If it's not the type I describe then you should replace it with this type readily available at Lowes, Home Depot etc. Hope this helps. Bill

Bill-

That does help - thank you. It is the part you described - exactly. I think I will just remove what they put up and install new. The pieces they put were with nails, so it makes sense to just start with new rather than trying to preserve what they put up and trying to reuse the nail holes.

I love this forum - thanks for all of the replies.

-Pete

 

[Pete F.]

Pete,

You need a couple sticks of Garage Door Seal Strip, available at HD, Lowes etc for about 8 bucks a 10' strip.

Nice woodgrain trim board with flexable 1.5" vinyl edge. If this is the stuff he installed, I'd guess he didn't press it hard enough against the door. Removing it and installing it correctly is the best way to go IMHO.

Scott

I wonder if they make that material with various widths of the vinyl edge - if I recall correctly, the vinyl strip on mine is only about 3/4". I would guess that 1.5" would do a better job of sealing the door.

-Pete

 

[6t7gto]

how far away is the strip from the door?
the top panel is adjustable by the top rollers.
david

 

[RedRacer74]

I have the same strips nailed to the exterior. No air infiltration on them at all. The door has a nice bulb shaped gasket on the bottom. They have to be installed tight to the door. I had to reposition them on my other garage after the door had been installed.

Still some foam strips slid into the gap might help hold the heat in better if your not going to open one or both doors.

 

[stinky]

gaps

I had some gaps show up but it was just in the winter, my drive would move
around in the cold warm cycles and push up on the brick mold around the door
so I cut off 1/2 in ok now And I think I got a picture of a BIG FOOT thats
bin creepin round my club house!

 

[nova65ss]

You can adjust the top section closer to the house by adjusting the top fixture/ roller carrier. There is a bolt sometimes two that you loosen and push the section up close then tighten it back down. It is the very top roller carrier.

Jimmy

 

[Pete F.]

You can adjust the top section closer to the house by adjusting the top fixture/ roller carrier. There is a bolt sometimes two that you loosen and push the section up close then tighten it back down. It is the very top roller carrier.

Jimmy

I adjusted the top roller mechanism and it fixed the issue. I really appreciate all of the input!!

-Pete

 

[PatrickW]

You need a couple sticks of Garage Door Seal Strip, available at HD, Lowes etc for about 8 bucks a 10' strip.

Nice woodgrain trim board with flexable 1.5" vinyl edge.

This looks like the stuff I put up before winter.

It hasn't held up well in some places. The flexible edge is cracking along where it meets with the woodgrained plastic. Plastic and "cold" don't mix.

In all fairness, this might be something you have to re-install every couple years.

- Patrick