Common Garage Door Seal Types (and How to Maintain Them)
When you think of your Parker or Broomfield garage door installation, generally you think of the material, the pattern, the often broken garage door springs and maybe, just maybe, even the tracks. But do you ever think of the seals around the outside?
These are the unsung heroes of garage doors. They serve so many purposes, and yet often go unnoticed and forgotten. Let us explain how they work and why they’re so important to the functioning of your overhead door installation.
About Garage Door Seals
Garage door seals are a vital part of your garage door installation. They are usually made of rubber or vinyl and their purpose is to guard against rain, snow, ice and gusts of wind – preventing bad weather from getting inside your garage.
It’s not just weather they keep out, either. They stop bugs, leaves and dust from getting in, and stop heat and warmth from getting out! All in all, they’re pretty important.
Types of Garage Door Seals
There are various different types of garage door seals or, as they are sometimes called, gaskets.
All garage door installations will have some form of seal that goes along the bottom. These are, perhaps unsurprisingly, known as the bottom seal – their purpose is to bridge the gap between the garage door and the concrete floor underneath.
Most doors also have side seals, too. Again, the purpose of these is to keep rain, snow and ice out, and keep heat and warmth in.
It’s important that seals are flexible in nature, as concrete floors very often aren’t exactly level. Having a seal helps with this, as their flexibility means you don’t need the floor to be perfectly level.
Bottom Seals
Seals running along the bottom of your garage door are vital – ultimately helping weatherproof your garage. Without it, you’d certainly feel a draft, and possibly suffer from some serious damp issues over the years.
There are a range of different bottom seals on the market. Examples include:
It’s really important to ensure your bottom seal isn’t broken in any way. Otherwise, to put it simply, it won’t do its job, and you could end up with a stuck garage door!
Specialist Seals
Most overhead doors come with bulb seals. However, there are a range of specialist seals that can offer even more protection, or that can fit more unique requirements.
These specialist seals are listed below.
Brush Seal
It's likely that most Americans will recognize a brush seal, as they are popular in commercial overhead door installations. It’s in the name – a brush seal looks like a brush on the bottom of the door and is often used on rolling or sheet garage doors.
Brush seals offer a better protection against debris, which makes them ideal for high-traffic, commercial areas. However, they aren't as effective at keeping water out.
Threshold Seal
Another one that you might recognise. Threshold seals are attached to the floor, rather than the door. They join together with the bottom seal on the garage and provide the ultimate protection against ice, rain, wind and debris.
These kind of seals are deceptively strong and are usually designed to hold under the weight of a car, making them ideal for garages in areas that are hard hit by bad weather.
Maintaining Your Garage Door Seal
Just like with everything, keeping your garage door seal well maintained is so important if you want your garage door installation to do its job, and last a long time. There are two key steps when it comes to maintaining yours.
Firstly, keep it clean! Using an all-purpose cleaner and a trusty rag, make sure to properly and regularly clean your seals. Debris and general dirt can contribute to faster wear and tear.
Secondly, keep it lubricated! This is especially relevant after spells of hot weather, which may lead to the rubber getting dry. Our advice is to use a silicone-based lubricant to keep it flexible - around every three months is ideal.
Overhead door repair and maintenance isn’t to be taken lightly – keep on top of it!
Replacing Your Garage Door Seal
Whilst it’s important to maintain the seal on your garage door installation, it's also worth noting that eventually, they all do need replacing.
When cleaning and maintaining your seals, look closely at whether they are cracked, completely dry or no longer flexible. If this is the case, you may need to bring in some help to fully replace them, as they can’t function like they should.
Here To Help
Looking for some help with your garage door? Rather than searching ‘garage door repair near me’ in Google, how about just giving us a call? We specialize in garage door repair and stuck garage doors.
Here at A Better Garage Door Inc., we have been working in the garage door repair and sales industry for a long time. Our overhead door company stays ready to help with any garage door installation needs you might have. Get in touch today!