Why Replace Your Garage Door Weather Stripping

Garage door weather stripping, as mundane as it seems,  is very important for the insulation of your garage and your house itself (if the garage is connected).  Every garage door should have weather stripping .  The garage door weather stripping gets lots of wear and tear from the opening and closing of the garage door as well as from changes in the weather.  As the wear and tear occurs the sealing of the garage erodes and will let in moist air, cold air, or hot air and effect the climate of the house and raise your energy bills.  For example, often the coldest room in a house is one that is over the garage and if the garage door is drafty you will feel it in that room – try feeling how cold the floor of that room is compared to one not above the garage.  Another benefit of having new garage door weather stripping is that you will have less debris in your garage as the stripping will help to diminish the amount that gets in.   Garage door weatherstripping is also known as weather seals and astragal.   By weatherproofing your garage door, you can save on your energy bill and stay warmer through the winter.

How to Install Garage Door Weather Stripping

Garage door weather stripping kits are available from almost any hardware store and should be relatively inexpensive.  They should cost less then $20.   Most kits consist of the stripping and the nails used to attach it to the garage door.   Replacing your garage door weather stripping is simple and can be done by the homeowner.  The first thing to do is to completely remove the old garage door weather stripping.  Use some light sandpaper and a stiff brush to clean the area and prepare it for the new stripping.  Follow the directions in the kit to install it - you will not likely need any tools other then a tape measure, hammer and scissors.   Most garage door weather stripping is tubular in shape and is made of rubber or vinyl.  Once installed the pressure of the garage door going down on the stripping forms a tight seal.  One hint, even if you measured the base of your garage door do not cut the weather stripping until after you have installed it.