A Gap on your garage door can attract unwanted attention, noise and can affect how the garage door opens. Gaps can appear on the sides or at the top or bottom of the door. These can let in water, snow, rain, and wind. Also, mice, reptiles and rodents may easily squeeze in through small openings. These gaps affect the appearance of your garage door and can lead to deterioration in the quality of your property.
Your garage door could double as a workshop and gaps may allow cold weather during winter. For comfort and, it’s important to seal any cracks or holes at the earliest time possible. Probably, you might think its costly calling in a professional to do the repairs. However, with just a few DIY fixes, you can seal a garage door from the inside and eliminate any unsightly gaps. Let’s find out how.
1. Insulate the garage door
If your door and the walls are not insulated, it can let in cold air into the garage and trap warm air when it’s hot. Similarly, sealing by adding blocks to lock out unwanted sounds is a good idea. You can purchase an insulation kit which consists of a solid foil. Choose lightweight material which doesn’t affect the opener. Other items are a tape measure, utility knife, insulation material, foil tape, adhesive, caulking gun, nails, and hammer.
Start by measuring the size of the door panel. Next, measure the distance between your garage door and the edges. It helps to ascertain the size of the insulation to buy. Slice the foam with a knife and slide it into the space between the door and the ribs. To seal, use a foil tape for holding the material into place. Repeat this procedure for all the panels. To complete the process, add a weather sealer on the edges and weather-stripping underneath.
2. Inspect your door stops and fix the tracks
These are strips found in either side of the opening. They are also funded on the top side and mainly cover any opening between the edge and jabs. They seal against rain, snow, and water and help in insulation. The stops are flexible, and when faulty, they leave a gap. Inspect if they are defective and consider replacing them.
If your garage door does not align in a vertical position when closed, the problem could be the tracks. These are rollers on the sides and in a normal situation, should level and hold the garage door at a considerable distance from the stops.
The tracks are on top of the brackets and have holes slotted on them. Relax the bolts and push the rails a little bit. It will move the door closer to the level and stops. After that, tighten the bots not too much since there should be space for the door to play.
3. Fixing the gaps at the bottom and Inspect the limit switches
There are different reasons why a gap would occur at the point where the garage door comes into contact with the ground. Flexible seals are easily attacked by rats since they like chewing and may cause a gap.
Similarly, if your garage door doesn’t close properly, it could be due to the limit switches. These may need fixing by adjusting to ensure the seal compresses between the floor and the door’s bottom.
The limit switches control the positioning of the door and are found at the opener. It’s essential to choose a high-quality opener for your garage door.
4. Replacing the flexible seals
The seal could cause a gap due to wear or advancement in age. Replacing it is a simple DIY project; however, it’s important to buy a seal kit from stores near you. The installation procedure varies depending on the manufacturer. Simple tools will come in handy when fixing everything. Read the instructions since sliding doors may require a unique lubricant to ensure the door opens smoothly.
5. Adding and replacing the weather-stripping
Weather-stripping involves sealing all the four edges of the door. It not only keeps the garage dry but also keeps away things that might create a puddle such as; rain, water, and snow. Since most doors are made of wood, they may rot. Equally, accumulation of water may damage the track, and this necessitates weather-stripping.
It might be expensive gathering your supplies for this exercise; however, you may need just a few items. However, for weather-stripping get someone to help just in case you feel you is not up to the challenge.
If your garage door is made from wood and there is a minor gap, slightly trim the door at the bottom. You can use a compass and pen to mark the area to trim. Use a jigsaw to cut the door if you are a beginner. However, if you are an expert use a circular saw. Next, add a weather stripe on the gap.
Most metallic garage doors have weather stripping which may need replacement after years of use. The first option is the bulb seal, and the next is U-Shaped weather-stripping, that generally slide into two-door contours.
Ensure the weather-stripping is of perfect length such that it covers the gap. If you are doing bulb stripping, ensure its diameter is wide to cover the entire gap.
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6. Raise the concrete level
If the garage door is metallic, it may cause the floor to crack and wither, thus creating a gap. You can seal the gap under your garage door by adding concrete and raising the floor level. A layer of fresh concrete will offer a flat and concrete slab for the seals.
7. Install a threshold on your garage door
You can buy threshold strips from stores around you or online. Glue them permanently at the floor point where the garage door meets the floor. These are permanent solutions and will ensure water does not flow in and also acts as a barrier to crawling animals.
On how to seal a garage door from the inside
A properly sealed garage door will keep rain, water, and unwanted noise away. It will also keep away dirt, debris such as leaves and pests. If you are working in your garage, it will ensure maximum comfort during winter and summer too. The bottom line is, whatever procedure you undertake it should produce favorable results. If it’s more engaging, contact an expert.