It wasn’t that long ago that Dallas was going through its own snow and ice storms. Now that temperatures are warming up, it’s the perfect time to ready your garage door for the heat of the summer. If you’re interested in saving some money while keeping your home cool for the summer and warm in the winter, consider replacing the weather-stripping on your garage door. Think about it; your garage door is huge and it opens multiple times a day, letting the heat of the summer into your home as the air conditioning you pay for goes right out of the door. Save yourself some money by tackling a this DIY project on a Saturday. Try working this bit of garage door maintenance into your annual home maintenance plan this year. If you do it right, you won’t have to do it for at least a few years. Below, we’ll outline the steps to weather seal a garage door, replacing trim with vinyl and cleaning up the garage door track.
First, let’s save some frustration, trips to the store, and time by making sure we have everything we need.
Tools and Materials Needed
For this project, you’ll need:
- A hammer
- Miter saw
- Tape measure
- Screwdriver
- Drill
- Wire brush
- Bar clamps
- Safety glasses
- Utility knife
When you go to the home improvement store, you’ll need:
- Vinyl trip
- PVC cemet
- Casing nails (6d, 8d, 10d)
- Weather seal
- Door bottom gasket
- Threshold gasket
- Metal spray paint
It’s also a good idea to have some leather gloves and plastic gloves on hand.
Weatherstripping Your Garage Door
As you may already know, most of the heat and cool air that’s in the garage escapes through the cracks in the door. Rather than spend a lot on a new insulated door, spend a Saturday afternoon and less than a hundred bucks to weatherstrip the garage door.
First, take measurements. Measure the width, thickness and height of the door. You’ll use these measurements later to buy a garage door stop and a new seal. Additionally, you’ll want to pick up some V-strip weather stripping, some exterior caulk, a rubber threshold, and some wood sealant if your garage door is wooden. Some garage doors feature a track that holds a rubber seal that cracks and flattens over time. Replace that rubber seal with a silicone one; it’ll last longer and will still be flexible throughout the winter. You may have to source this silicone seal online, as it may not always be found in your neighborhood home improvement store. Use dishwashing liquid to lubricate the silicone seal and slide it right into the metal track slots.
Take Off the Old Seal
Raise the garage door and slide out the old rubber bulb. Using a flat-end screwdriver, pry the track ends open gently to remove the rubber bulb. You may end up having to cut it into pieces to remove it. Using a tough brush or sponge, clean the bottom of the door and then cut some new rubber seal to the length of the garage door. Next, start pushing the T-shaped edge of the rubber or silicone seal into the metal track. Patience will help a lot.
For wooden garage doors, simply tear the rubber seal off the door and use the wood sealant to seal the wood. As the sealant dries, cut the new aluminum track to the length of the door, notching the ends around the bottom. Then, bead a thick line of caulk around the edge of the door. Attach the track to the wet caulk and clamp it in place. Drill and screw the track in with 1-inch screws.
Next, clean the areas between the door sections with a rag and all-purpose cleaner. Install the V-strip weather stripping in each section.
Threshold Installation
The threshold is what the garage door will settle into when closed. Begin by using degreaser on the concrete, rinse and allow to dry. Next, roll the threshold into place with the lumped up side situated inside the garage. Cut to the length of the garage door. Close the garage door gently and line the lumped up side next to the door seal. Mark the edges of the threshold on the floor, the glue the threshold into place.
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We can weatherstrip your garage door for you!
Next up is stop installation. Installing the stop is easy. First, pull the old door stop off. Slide the new self-attaching door stop up against the garage, bending the vinyl seal at a 45 degree angle. Nail the stop in place with 1.5 inch nails.
Sealing Garage Door Gaps
If you don’t have the time or inclination to deal with weatherstripping, but still have a few gaps in the garage door, you can still seal those holes. It’s not pretty, but the easiest way to plug these gaps is to install a few pieces of bottom seal retainer and rubber gaskets. Measure the bottom panel’s thickness to get the right amount of gaskets and seal retainer. Wherever there’s a gap, mount a retainer and rubber gasket, seal with caulk, then paint. This DIY trick works on wood and metal panels.
Whether you’re trying to save money, or just enjoy doing projects yourself, weatherstripping your garage door is a great way to accomplish both tasks. Gaps in your entryways add to a high electric bill and make it harder for you to keep your home cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
Filling in the gaps between the ground and your garage door will help save energy and money in the long-run, and for less than $100, you can do it yourself. If you don’t feel up to the challenge, you can always call Nation Overhead Door and discuss your options with us.