It’s almost wintertime — and that means in Roseville, California, it’s time to prepare for winter’s heavy rainstorms. How’s your garage door looking? Is it in good repair? One easy DIY garage door repair we recommend this time of year is weatherproofing your garage door. That means repairing and sometimes replacing your garage door bottom seal. You can also seal in any extra drafts you might have in your garage door or garage itself to ensure your garage stays snug and dry throughout the year.
Here’s a brief guide on how to weatherproof your garage door, beginning with repairing your garage door bottom seal.
What is Weatherstripping?
Weatherstripping is the process of sealing off any openings or leaks around your garage door, including the bottom of your garage door, which is protected by your garage door bottom seal. By fixing these leaks, you’ll maintain a dryer, warmer garage that’s also free of pests. By keeping out the weather, you effectively lower utility bills and reduce outside noise interference, especially if your garage is attached to the house and located near a common living area or bedroom.
(One reason we always recommend installing insulated garage doors, even in warm climates like Roseville and Sacramento, California, is the effect it can have on noise pollution. You don’t hear traffic from the street — your house remains safe, sound, and peaceful.)
Different Approaches to Weatherstripping
Weatherstripping comes in a variety of different forms for your garage door. All forms are a fairly easy DIY garage door repair you can do yourself with a few items from your local hardware store.
Garage Door Bottom Seal
Your garage door bottom seal is the strip of rubber or vinyl at the bottom of your garage door. It keeps out dirt, debris, and water, not to mention pests like bugs, rodents, and other outdoor critters from sneaking in through your garage door.
To repair your garage door bottom seal, purchase a new seal from your local hardware store. Be sure to buy enough to cover the entire bottom of the door — and perhaps a little extra. You don’t want to be left empty handed. Repairing the garage door bottom seal is simply a matter of removing the old one and attaching the new one.
Threshold Seal
The threshold seal is very similar to the garage door bottom seal, but instead of being attached to the door, it is attached to the floor itself — serving as an unmoving barrier against rain and debris. They are often needed when there is a slope in the driveway that could send extra water flooding into your garage. They can easily be repaired.