As fall starts to turn into winter, you want to stay on top of ensuring your garage door isn’t subjected to the adverse effects of the season. In Sugar Land, such effects can range from water damage to moving parts getting stuck from a lack of lubrication or excess debris. The most tried and true solution? Weatherstripping. This addition protects your garage door from a multitude of weather conditions throughout the year. While there are many specific types of weatherstripping, one notable type is the garage door bottom seal. Keep reading this blog to learn more about it.
What Does A Garage Door Bottom Seal Do?
The first thing you want to know is what exactly a garage door bottom seal does. This specific piece of weatherstripping, as its name suggests, is found at the bottom of your garage door and is typically installed into a retainer. It keeps any possible gaps at the bottom of your door closed and keeps warm air from escaping. Additionally, it’s also useful in preventing rising water from getting into your garage.
Installing A Garage Door Bottom Seal
If your garage door doesn’t currently have this feature, you’ll naturally want some insight into how to install a garage door bottom seal. First, you need to choose the right bottom seal for your garage door, with beam or bulb types being the most common variety. Other kinds of bottom seals include beaded ones for double channel retainers, as well as J and T-type ones. You will also need to measure the bottom of your garage door, but wait to trim it after it’s fully installed. A razor knife is usually the best tool for this step. As for securing your garage door bottom seal, silicone caulk will help secure it after you’ve taken a moment to lubricate it first.
Garage Door Bottom Seal Maintenance
Care for your garage door bottom seal continues after its installation. You also need to commit to regular maintenance to ensure its continued effectiveness. Here are just a couple of tips to maintain your garage door bottom seal:
Cleaning The Seal
Every so often, you need to open the garage door so you can inspect the state of the bottom seal. Is there visible dirt and debris buildup? Do you want to ensure your garage door bottom seal lasts as long as possible? If the answer to either question is “yes,” you need to make time to clean it. Usually, you just need a bucket of water, a sponge, mild soap or detergent, and a rag. You can start by soaking the sponge in soap so you can use it to clean the seal before drying it with a rag. This routine can be completed about every three months as the seasons change.
Clean The Retainer During Replacement
When replacing the bottom seal, you want to ensure that the retainer channel isn’t also congested with grime. Upon removing the old seal, you will need to clean the retainer channel with a wire brush and rag since it needs to be sufficiently dry for the installation. The last thing you want is any leftover pieces of the old seal getting in the way of this process.
Ask Garage Door Installation & Repair To Weatherproof Your Garage Door This Holiday Season!
Thanks to this blog, you are now better equipped to care for this particular piece of garage door weatherstripping. Of course, bottom seals are not the only way to weatherproof your garage door, as additional weatherstripping, sealing gaps, and insulation also make a huge difference. For the best weatherproofing services this holiday season, reach out to our Garage Door Installation & Repair team today.