Learn the Styles & Locations of Weatherstripping 

Garage door weather seals are a protective barrier installed on a garage door or similar entry point. When the right type of seal is installed, they can protect your stored valuables from outside infiltrators like dirt, insects, pests, rain, snow, and more! They also block drafts from seeping inside which can help maintain an ideal temperature and save you money on your energy bills. However, not all seals excel in every environment. That’s why our experts created this handy guide to breakdown the main types of garage door seals and where each one fits on a door to ensure you get the best protection.

Bottom of the Garage Door

The bottom of your garage door is one of its most vulnerable areas, as its proximity to the ground makes it easy for the elements and pests to get inside. You can protect the bottom of a door with either a seal or a threshold (or both).

Bottom Seals

A garage door bottom weather seal is a specialized seal made of rubber or vinyl that is typically U-shaped but can also be bulb shaped. Usually, the bottom of a garage door has one or two channels that a weather seal can be fed into. When the door closes, the U or bulb shape flattens out to create a seal between your garage door and the ground. Sometimes a bottom seal can be attached to the door using what's called a retainer held in place with bolts or screws.

The lifespan of a bottom seal is largely determined by the material and climate you live in. When you see cracks in the seal or notice that the material remains flattened when the door is open, it's time for a replacement (see how in this article).

Retainers

A bottom seal retainer attaches a bottom seal to the garage door. These aluminum strips have tracks into which the bottom seal fits. Is your retainer rusty or separating from the door? Before buying a new one, make sure the bottom seal will match the retainer tracks. Your best bet is to buy a bottom seal kit rather than separate parts.

Threshold

A garage door threshold doesn't attach to the door as seals do. Instead, it sits on the concrete where the door meets the ground and forms a seal when the door closes and presses against it. Thresholds are the easiest form of weather seal to install, with some having a “peel and stick” option that takes mere minutes to set up.

Side and Top of the Garage Door

Protecting the sides and top of a garage door may not seem as apparent as a door's bottom, but the natural gaps they create still allows air infiltration and grants access to pests, rain, snow, and other forms of extreme weather. The sides and top of a garage door can be protected with jamb seals and brush seals.

Jamb seal / Stop Molding Seal

Jamb seals like Duraseal are mounted on the inside edge of a door jamb. The vinyl PVC fin presses against the garage door when closed to keep out air, moisture and pests. Many options on the market are paintable or come in colors that will match your door so you can have protection that raises your curb appeal too! We carry six colors that are black, white, brown, almond, sandstone, and gray. Similar to other vinyl seals, when side and top seals begin to crack they should be replaced promptly. Check out this video on installing Coiled DuraSeal if you opt for this form of protection.

Brush Seal

Brush seals are durable and more effective than vinyl jamb side and top seals at stopping air infiltration, as seen in the chart below.

Like bottom seals, side and top brush seals slide into retainers installed on the sides and top of a garage door’s jambs for installation. While brush seals offer superior protection compared to vinyl alternatives, you won't typically see brush seals on residential doors because of the aesthetic advantage vinyl has. Side and top brush seals last around five years and bristles falling out or growing misshapen signals that a replacement is needed.

Need More Information about Weatherstripping for Your Garage Door?

Please ask! Our in-house experts can help you with all of your garage door questions. Get in touch with our support crew:

• Call: 800-783-6112 
• Email: support@northshorecommercialdoor.com