The garage door bottom seal is the component of the garage door that experiences the most wear and tear especially if it is used frequently. Salt, ice, moisture, snow, and heat are some of the things that can cause the rubber to deteriorate over time and lose its function. If this happens, you may notice that your garage is not doing well at retaining temperatures, that debris and dirt are constantly blowing into your garage, and you may even find rainwater seeping in.
The seal is an important component as it helps to protect and cushion the door every time it comes down and also serves as a garage door seal. If you haven’t already installed your garage door bottom seal, here are some steps to follow to help with your installation.
Measure Your Garage Door
This is the first and most important step because the size of the bottom seal is dependent on the measurements of your garage door. You should measure the height, width, and thickness of the door. The ideal bottom seal should fit the various measurements of your door and be six inches longer than the length of the door.
Shut Off the Power and Clean the Track
If you have an electronic garage door, make sure to shut off the power before commencing any installation works. You should also clean the door track by taking your brush and sweeping it. Before cleaning the track, you should disengage the door from the opener, and raise the door while ensuring that it does not go down when you are replacing the seal or gasket.
Try to remove as much dirt and debris as possible at the bottom of the door so it is easier to install the bottom seal. You should also clean the two tracks that hold the weatherstripping and coat the interior of the tracks with a silicone lubricant spray.
Secure the Seal
If your garage door does not have a track, attaching the seal is fairly straightforward as it only involves hammering the seal in place. Make sure to take your time when installing and to be meticulous so that the seal is installed in the right position and is consistent throughout the door. However, if your door has a track, you should carefully examine the track for the two grooves running along with it, which is where the t-shaped sections of the rubber seal will be installed.
After lubricating the tracks, fold the seal widthways to insert the two t-shaped pieces of the seal into the end of the track. Use one hand to ensure the rest of the seal is kept level and the other to fold the end of the seal that is being fed into the track. Ensure that the t-shaped sections of the seal continue sliding into the track as it is pulled along the door.
Trim the Excess
When the seal is fully installed and across your door, use a screw at both ends to secure it in place. Trim any excess seal and you are done!