Your garage is at risk of all kinds of things trying to get in. Whether it’s pests, rain or leaves, you want to ensure that you’re keeping everything out effectively. That’s why you need the right bottom seal on the door, to keep it sealed up until you open the door.
In this article, we’re going to share several garage door bottom seal types for your consideration.
Why Seal The Garage Door?
Your garage door does a lot to keep everything out of the garage, but it’s not 100% impenetrable. The edges around the door can let in all kinds of things, and you need to ensure that you’re doing your best to keep them out. That’s why its so important to keep the right seal on the door. For example, without a seal you could get any of the following:
Water: Without a good seal, water from rain and snow can very easily get into your garage. When that’s allowed to happen, that creates all kinds of issues for you. You’ll start seeing damp and mold, and if you have a wooden garage door then you run the risk of wood rot setting in.
Pests: Pests are another big problem with garages. They see a garage as a safe place to nest and will do almost anything to get in. Many pests can get through tiny gaps too, so even if it looks like they can’t get in around your garage door, they probably can.
Leaves: Leaves are another problem, especially around the fall. If you catch them quick enough, they’re just a nuisance as you have to sweep them up. If they get left long enough though, they pile up and create more issues. It’s better just to keep them out in the first place.
Let’s take a look at the variety of garage door bottom seal types.
Garage Door Bottom Seal Types
Now you know what you’re trying to keep out, you need to know what kind of seal you need for your garage door. There are lots of different types, so here’s what’s available to you.
J Type: This is a very common type of seal, and is named so as it creates a ‘J’ shape at both ends. It’s a single channel seal, which means that it connects to the garage door at one point.
T Type: This is another common seal type. It’s very similar to the J type, and as the name implies creates a ‘T’ shape at both ends.
Bulb: This seal type is a round tube that narrows at the top. They’re best used on uneven cement floors, as they push upwards and spread out, creating a seal.
Beaded: While the above types are for single-channel doors, a beaded seal is for double channels. Both sides of the seal are bent upwards into the grooves, to help prevent water from getting under it.
Threshold Seal
These seals are a little different, as they don’t actually attach to the garage door. Instead, they are affixed to the ground under the door. These can be used with a bottom seal, and they are the best protection against water. This is because it actually elevates the entrance to the garage, making it harder for water to get in.
If you have issues with your garage getting flooded, or are prone to wet weather where you live, then you’ll want to try this on your garage. They’re designed to take the weight of a car as it drives over it, so you won’t have to worry about that.
Vinyl Door Stops
Next, it’s worth considering vinyl door stops. These are actually seals for the sides of your garage door. Normally, you’d think that you don’t need these, and that’s true right after the garage door is installed. Over time though, that garage door is going to shift in place.
Vinyl door stops run all the way down the sides of your garage door, making it weatherproof even when this happens. The vinyl will usually be nailed directly into the door during installation.
Brush Seal
This is another type of seal to consider if you want to keep out hard debris. As the name implies, they consist of a brush, that’s attached to the bottom of the door. These are perfect if you have a garage door with the tendency to bend and flex, or, in high friction areas.
Most commonly though, you’ll actually see them on the sides of garage doors. You’ll also see them in commercial buildings.
If you’re trying to keep debris like leaves and dirt out, then these are the perfect seal. As you’d imagine though, they aren’t going to keep water out. They’re best if you live in a dry climate.
Reverse Angle Mount Seal.
Finally, there’s the reverse angle mount seal. These are most commonly used as an alternative to brush seals and vinyl door stops. This seal is made of plastic and creates a long ‘U’ shape. This gives the garage door a channel to run through, so while the garage door moves, the seal stays in place.
You most commonly see these on commercial buildings. They work best with heavy doors that nails can’t penetrate.
Which Seal Is Right For You?
There’s a lot of choices when it comes to garage door bottom seals, and you need to work out which one is best for you. It all depends on your garage and the climate where you live. For example, a brush seal isn’t going to work if you get a lot of wet weather, and vinyl door stops won’t work if you can’t get nails through the door.
If you’re ever unsure which one is right for you, talk to a professional garage door installation professional. They’ll have the best recommendation for you, so you can install a garage door seal that keeps the outside out.
Now you know what kind of garage door seals are out there. Pick the right one for your garage door, and install it as soon as possible. The best seal will keep your garage warm, dry, and clean.