Installing weather stripping around your garage door is a great way to improve energy efficiency and keep out drafts, pests, and debris.
Why Install Garage Door Weather Stripping?
Weather stripping creates a seal around the edges of your garage door when it's closed. This helps to:
- Reduce energy loss and lower heating/cooling bills.
- Prevent water infiltration during rain or snow.
- Block entry points for insects and rodents.
- Keep dust and leaves from blowing into the garage.
Simple Installation Steps
Based on common methods for installing weather stripping, such as the process shown in this video guide, here's a general approach:
- Gather Materials: You will need the weather stripping material (often vinyl or rubber attached to a wood or plastic strip), box nails or screws, a hammer or drill, a measuring tape, and a saw to cut the weather stripping to size.
- Measure and Cut: Measure the lengths needed for the top and sides of your garage door frame. Cut the weather stripping strips to these measurements. It's often recommended to start with the top piece.
- Position the Top Piece: Hold the weather stripping strip against the door frame along the top edge. Position it so that the vinyl or rubber seal presses against the top of the closed garage door.
- Tack the Top Piece: Starting from one end, tack the weather stripping into the door frame using box nails (as shown in the reference) or screws. Place fasteners about every 16 inches or so. Don't fully secure them yet, just tack them to hold the strip in place.
- Position and Tack Side Pieces: Repeat the process for the side strips, positioning them against the side frames so the seal presses firmly against the side edges of the closed door.
- Adjust and Secure: With the strips tacked in place, check the seal. The weather stripping should be pushed until the vinyl is at about a 45° angle to the door, ensuring a good compression seal when the door is closed. Once satisfied with the positioning, drive all the nails or screws in fully to secure the weather stripping firmly to the frame.
- Trim Excess (if necessary): Trim any excess material at the bottom of the side strips if they extend past the frame.
Following these steps helps create an effective seal around your garage door, enhancing comfort and efficiency.
