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Whether it is the summer thunderstorms or the freezing winter air, the elements can seep into your garage and wreak havoc on whatever you have stored there. Small, barely noticeable leaks can result in mold, mildew, and even pest infestations. If your garage is attached to your home, a leaky garage door can also cause you to use more energy to maintain your home’s indoor temperature; wasted energy is wasted money from higher energy bills. Your best defense is to seal your garage door! You have to know how to do it right, though, or you could wind up with even more problems. The good news is that Garage Doors of Indianapolis is your local expert for all things all garage-related. Read on to learn what’s involved in properly sealing a garage door.
Why Sealing Your Garage Door Matters
Will sealing your garage door really make much difference? That depends on what you want out of your garage. There are many reasons to properly seal a garage door, including the following:
- Protect Your Belongings: If you care at all about the stuff you’ have stored in your garage, then you probably want to prevent water, dirt, and pests from damaging those belongings. This is typically enough to motivate many people to seal their garage door.
- Save on Energy Costs: Is your garage temperature-controlled? Would you like it to be? How about your home? If your garage is attached to your home, then it has an impact on the house’s energy efficiency, whether it’s keeping cold air out in the winter or hot air out in the summer. Either way, sealing the garage door is one of the most effective steps you can take to lower your energy bills. Remember, every time you invest in becoming more energy-efficient, you’re setting yourself up for long-term savings!
- Increase Usability: As mentioned above, if you plan to use your garage as a year-round indoor space with interior temperature control, such as making it a workout space or even a lounge area, livability is going to depend on sealing the garage door.
- Extend Garage Door Life: Simply put, proper sealing prevents damage to the garage door and its components over time, protecting a part of your home that is often the most visible architectural feature from the street (depending on how your home’s garage is oriented). As such, it is an asset you want to maintain over time–one that has a surprisingly large impact on the overall value of your home.
- Insulation Boost: If you have an insulated garage door (and if you don’t, learn more about that here: The Best Insulation Service in the Indianapolis Area), a lack of sealing or a broken seal can seriously undermine its efficiency.
These are just some common reasons to seal a garage door. You may have your own.
Key Areas to Seal on Your Garage Door and Materials Needed
The best way to seal a garage door requires using the right materials. You’ll need:
- rubber/vinyl seals
- weatherstripping
- sealant
- cleaning tools
- adhesive, and
- nails or screws
You want to make sure you seal the following three key areas:
Begin with the bottom of the door, where it makes contact with the ground when the garage door is closed (sealing options include a door bottom seal made of vinyl/rubber or a threshold seal that adheres to the floor to effectively block water, debris, and pests). There are two different ways to do this. You can place a seal along the bottom of the garage door, or you can place the seal on the garage floor so that the door rests on top of it. The bottom-of-door seal is a strip made of vinyl or rubber, which gets tacked or fitted to an aluminum track stretching across the bottom of the door. On the other hand, a threshold seal, usually made of rubber, adheres to the garage floor. It’s very effective in blocking water and debris, so much so that the barrier might make sweeping out the garage challenging.
The other two places to seal include along the top and sides of the door. It’s not completely flush, meaning there is space between the door and the jamb because the door needs space to raise and lower. Robust weatherstripping between these two surfaces can easily be nailed into place to smooth the gap and add protection.
Keep in mind that any materials you use for sealing a garage door need to be both durable and weather-resistant, especially considering Indiana weather, which ranges from hot, stormy summers to brutally cold winters with snow and ice.
Step-by-Step Guide to Sealing a Garage Door
Once you have all the materials and tools you need, here are the steps involved in sealing a garage door:
- Preparation: Clean the garage door surfaces thoroughly to ensure proper adhesion and inspect the door for cracks, damage, or alignment issues. If you notice there are repairs that should be made before sealing the door, give us a call at 317-284-9857. We offer all the residential garage door repair services you’ll ever need!
- Installing Bottom Seals: Measure and cut the seal to fit, then attach the seal to the aluminum track or floor using adhesive or whatever fasteners are recommended by the product manufacturer.
- Adding Weatherstripping: Measure and cut weatherstripping for the top and sides, then secure it with nails or adhesive, ensuring a tight fit.
Optional upgrades you may want to consider include installing V-seals between door panels for added insulation or considering brush seals for uneven floors. Also, please know that if your garage doors are misaligned or need substantial repairs before sealing them, GDI is proud to let you know we offer same-day service. This is a commitment we’ve maintained since we started more than 30 years ago:
Call us this morning for service today!
Today? Yes, TODAY!
317-284-9857
Garage Doors of Indianapolis: A Trusted Partner for All Your Garage Door Needs
Sealing your garage door is an important step in protecting your garage and its contents from being damaged by the elements and pests, not to mention providing substantial energy-bill savings by increasing the energy efficiency of the garage, which also opens up the possibility of making more use of the space year-round regardless of the weather. If you need help with any of this, Garage Doors of Indianapolis stands ready to assist!
From sales and installation to maintenance, repair, and replacement, Garage Doors of Indianapolis is the locally owned and operated team of garage door experts you can depend on for all things related to garages and garage doors. Drop us a line through our contact page or give us a call directly at 317-284-9857. We’re here to help!