Are you looking for a contractor?
Submit our quick form and get quotes now!
Why and How to Weather Seal Your Garage Door
By RenoQuotes.com
Updated on November 7, 2023
Threshold seal, weather stripping, insulation kit, etc., the methods of weather-sealing a garage door surely aren’t lacking. Learn why it’s beneficial to insulate your garage door, and most importantly, how to proceed.
Benefits of Insulating a Garage Door with a Weather Seal
Source: Canva
Weather sealing your garage door has numerous benefits. Here are the main three:
1. Limit heat loss
A garage door is always a point of weakness when it comes to a home’s overall insulation. On average, the R-value of a garage door, which indicates the material’s effectiveness in terms of insulation, is only between 0 and 20.
Why’s that, you ask? Because the material’s effectiveness is based on 2 factors:
type;
thickness.
Regardless of their type, garage doors aren’t especially thick. Therefore, it’s best to focus on insulating the sides of the door as effectively as possible to limit drafts and cut back on heat consumption during winter and air conditioning during summer.
2. Limit noise pollution
The gaps between the garage door, the frame and the wall should also be packed to limit any noise pollution.
Materials designed for weather sealing are rarely the same as those used for soundproofing. However, there are materials that garner these 2 features. It so happens to be the case for:
aerogels;
cellulose insulation;
cork;
wood fibre.
3. Improve indoor air quality
Albeit we rarely think about it, indoor air quality can be significantly influenced by the quality of the outdoor air.
In 1997, as part of a study done by a Canadian research institute on indoor air quality, a residential garage door was insulated to help the homeowner alleviate their asthma symptoms. At cause? Motor vehicle traffic, especially.
Therefore, even if improving indoor air quality in your home isn’t at the top of your list when it comes to insulation-related work, you’ll still breathe better.
How to Weather Seal a Garage Door
Source: Canva
Here’s a 5-step guide to weather sealing your garage door:
Step 1: Choose the right material
The most commonly used insulation material for PVC or sheet metal garage doors is polystyrene or polyurethane sheets.
However, you can also opt for wood fibre panels or thermal shield insulation.
Choosing a material doesn’t mean solely focusing on its insulation-based qualities but more on the type of garage door that’s in question. For example, while wood fibre is the best insulation material out of the three, its weight doesn’t suit an overhead garage door.
Step 2: Seal around the frame
Typically, garage doors are retailed according to standard sizing, which can increase the gaps between the frame and the walls. As such, the first thing to do to insulate your garage door is weather-seal said gaps.
To that effect, there are two solutions available:
adhesives;
expanding spray foam.
Based on the size of the gap between the frame and wall, adhesives can effectively fill in the cavities. However, if the gaps are too big, instead opt for expanding foam.
Step 3: Insulate the garage door
Garage doors are more often than not made with one or more very thin panels. Therefore, as above-mentioned, the thinner a material, the less effective it is, insulation-wise. To enhance the insulation properties and render it more effective, now’s the time to use the material you selected in Step 1.
There are also insulation kits sold in all hardware stores. These kits include thin insulation panels, which can either be in the shape of:
a roll or;
panel.
To install these, you can simply apply a double-side adhesive to the surface of the garage doors.
Step 4: Install threshold strip
This element is near-invaluable for overhead garage doors that close vertically. Without a threshold strip, there’s an entry point for air between the bottom of the door and the ground.
To insulate this entry point, threshold strips are available in 3 different materials:
steel: very resistant but oxidizes over time.
aluminum: doesn’t oxidate and is rather rigid when extruded.
synthetic materials or rubber.
The only issue in regard to this solution is that repetitive vehicle traffic can damage your door’s threshold strip and limit, or render useless, its insulation properties. This is often the case when it comes to threshold strips made of rubber or synthetic materials.
Step 5: Install weather stripping
An add-on or straight-up alternative to the garage door threshold strip, a weather stripping is a U-shaped seal that runs along the bottom of the garage door. When the door is shut, it applies pressure onto the stripping, which then creates a seal between the door and the ground.
Weather stripping for doors is available in hardware stores for less than $50 and can be fitted without the need for tools. Simply apply lubricant to the gaps at the bottom of the garage doors, then slide the strip in place.
Allow for half an inch of excess material to overhang on either side and, if it gets in the way, trim part of it and tuck the excess length inside.
Garage Door Weather Stripping Models
Garage door weather stripping prices range from $30 to $70. Here’s why the pricing differs:
Thickness (starting at ¼ in. to 1 in.);
Length (9 in. to 10 in.);
Width (2 ½ in. to 3 in.);
The size of the gap to seal;
Installation system (slide-on or screw-in).
Get 3 quotes for your garage door weather-seal project
RenoQuotes.com can help you get quotes from a general contractor. By submitting your project, we’ll put you in contact with top-rated contractors. Fill in the form on the homepage (it only takes a few minutes) and get estimates from trusted professionals.
Dial 1-844 828-1588 to speak with one of our customer service representatives.
Looking for something else?
Related articles
The latest industry news, interviews, technologies, and resources.
Léa Plourde-Archer • 08 Jan 2024
Are you in the process of renovating your kitchen? This list, combing the main characteristics and prices of all the important elements, is meant to help you plan out your project and choose things that are suited to your budget.
RenoQuotes.com • 07 Nov 2023
As the cold weather arrives, the lucky few who can afford it may look forward to a vacation home getaway, a place dedicated to comfort and relaxation. On a winter evening, what could be better than a cozy fireplace, surrounded by good company, as well as an all-white landscape visible through the windows?
Cynthia Pigeon • 28 May 2024
Are you currently in the midst of planning your dream home but find yourself uncertain about the optimal ceiling heights? Look no further! In this comprehensive guide, we'll provide you with the essential information you need to make informed decisions regarding ceiling heights in your new abode.
RenoQuotes.com • 21 Jun 2024
What was once considered a luxurious service reserved for hotels and restaurants is now increasingly sought-after by homeowners. Interior designers are called upon to revamp living rooms, kitchens, and bathrooms. Hiring the services of an interior designer can be a wise choice if your goal is to tailor your home to your favoured aesthetic, rather than settling for something that vaguely resembles it.
RenoQuotes.com • 07 Nov 2023
By nature, the bathroom is a humidity-ridden and wet space. If you’re renovating your bathroom, avoiding waterproofing may save money in the moment, but it can lead to serious problems in the long run. Water dripping through the ceiling to the floor below, deteriorating tiles, peeling paint and mould are all realities of a bathroom that hasn’t been waterproofed.