Do you like this look? This garage door is a Standard+ Shaker-Flat XL, 9' x 8', in Black color, with Clear windows.
Keep Your Garage Free from Pests and Weather
Have you noticed tiny pieces of cardboard scattered through the garage? Have the corners of your boxes been ripped or torn with no explanation? If you answered yes, there is a good chance the culprit is a pest or rodent that’s entered through the crack in your garage door.
Mice and other small creatures can slip through the tiniest openings between the garage door and floor. It may look like the gap is too small to allow intrusion from anything bigger than an ant. Truthfully, it doesn’t take much space for these small critters to maneuver their way under the door.
When water makes its way in underneath the garage door, the effects could potentially be devastating over time. If left untreated, the water could end up absorbing into the walls via the baseboards. Darker, more humid garages are especially at risk, as these conditions are ideal for the growth of black mold.
There could also be damage to your wallet through an increase in the utility bill. If the garage is cooled with an air conditioner, or heated in the winter, the air that enters under the door could make your bill skyrocket.
In areas of extreme cold, ice buildup can affect the walls of your garage. When the wall-mounted garage door controls become frozen or undergo water damage, they could begin to malfunction.
Luckily, these problems are easily avoidable by taking a few precautions. Follow these three tips to help close the gap between your garage door and floor.
1- You Could Need New Weatherstripping
Your Garage Door and the Bottom Seal
The piece of rubber located at the bottom of your garage door that expands and contracts when the door is engaged is known as the garage door weatherstrip. Occasionally, this bottom sealer is made from PVC as opposed to plastic. Without an efficient seal from this weatherstripping, the insulation for your garage could be compromised.
That is a U-shaped garage door seal. Most likely, you’ve seen this type.
One of the most efficient garage door seals is known as a u-shaped bottom weatherstripping seal. When the garage door meets the floor, these seals mold and bend to the contour of your floor. This type of weatherstripping is especially efficient for uneven floors.
What Are the Signs My Seal Needs Replacement?
Normally when a seal begins to wear down, you’ll notice the holes or tears in the rubber. However, the damage can’t always be seen at first glance. It’s not a bad idea to give the weatherstripping a quick once-over twice a year. The best times to do this inspection are before summer, and before winter.
Inspecting your weatherstripping at these specific points of the year is crucial. Why is the timing so important?
● Right before wintertime you can avoid the freezing temperatures and make sure everything is sealed properly so the cold doesn’t make its way into your garage. Animals also like to take cover from the cold anywhere they can. A broken seal or gap between the door and floor is a perfect entryway for small animals looking for warmth.
● On the other hand, summertime usually means you’ll be turning up your air conditioner. A thorough inspection before the summer months will avoid higher costs on your utility bill by overworking your air conditioner.
You can also prevent damaged weatherstripping and save yourself some money through regular maintenance. A special lubricant is available that treats the rubber, guarding it against damage as time goes on. This is a much cheaper alternative than buying new weatherstripping after the damage is already done.
Can I Change My Current Weatherstripping?
Changing your current weatherstripping is possible if you feel like your current seal isn’t getting the job done. If you’re a do-it-yourself type of homeowner, follow the instructions on this website for assistance.
If you’re unsure about the installation process, it’s not recommended that you try doing the installation by yourself. Seek the help of a garage door technician who can assist you and answer your questions.
2- Always Check the Condition of Your Threshold
See how you should properly place your bottom weatherstripping to have an efficient door threshold. An inward and outward slope will drain the water out.
Outdoors
Directly outside of your garage door, you should notice a downward slope leading to the length of your driveway. This slope is vital in the water drainage process. During times of heavy rain or snow, this slope will guide rainwater and snowmelt away from your door.
Indoors
The floor directly beneath the garage door should be free from any damage. Cracks and missing pieces of concrete could potentially be problematic.
If you notice any damage to the floor around the threshold, you could remedy the problem without spending money on floor repairs. You can install threshold weather stripping that runs the length of your garage door.
This weatherstripping is slightly raised to allow water drainage. The material it’s constructed with is strong enough to withstand the weight of a vehicle.
If you decide that concrete finishing is the best course of action, you have several choices available.
Epoxy is an efficient choice for its durability but also has an excellent cosmetic value. This finish gives off a brilliant shine and is available in several different colors to match your garage. Concrete paint may not have the durability of epoxy, but you’ll have many more options when it comes to the color of your floor.
Efficiently repairing damage to your concrete floor is much easier with a little knowledge. Let’s examine some of the different types of concrete cracks.
Types of Concrete Cracks
To most people, all cracks are the same. However, this assumption couldn’t be further from the truth. This blog goes into more detail about specific cracks and how to repair them. For now, let's look at some of the most common types of concrete cracks.
● Cold joints
Cold joints are caused by improper timing when mixing batches of concrete. Whenever a batch of concrete is poured, that section must completely dry before beginning to pour a new section. Pouring a batch prematurely leads to cold joints.
● Settlement cracks
These cracks are more typical and happen during your house settling. While these cracks are normal, you should still keep your eye on them to ensure they don’t turn into a problem.
● Hairline fractures
Hairline fractures or hairline cracks are extremely tiny and may not even be noticed initially. However, just because they’re small doesn’t mean they’re not a potential threat. Normally these small cracks are caused by unsatisfactory preparation of the concrete surface. When these small cracks aren’t remedied, their size can grow as seasons change and temperatures fluctuate.
According to you, what causes this concrete crack? Should you be concerned about it? Image from Pixabay.
Tip 1: Resealing your concrete floor every few years can help you avoid more costly repairs later.
Tip 2: Keeping your floor clean can help you spot cracks as they happen. A good seal between the door and floor makes cleaning easier by keeping out dust and dirt.
3- Test Your Garage Door Opener
After you check the weatherstripping and inspect your floor, the last thing to do is test your electric garage door opener. The door should close tight enough to create a seal between the door and your floor without damaging your weatherstripping.
You can test your doors opening and closing functions and adjust the settings if needed. Refer to your garage door opener manual for instructions on your specific model. It’s important to ensure the emergency reversal system is also working properly on the garage door.
According to most garage door manufacturers, you should be able to slide your fingers between the door seal and your garage floor. Keep in mind this will be a tight fit, and there shouldn’t be extra air between your fingers and the door.
Do you like this look? This garage door is a Cambridge CM, 9' x 7', Ice White door and overlays, 4 lite Panoramic windows.
Contact Us for Assistance
Get in touch with one of our professionals at Island Overhead Doors, where we’re waiting to gladly assist you. We have the knowledge it takes to point you in the right direction, and the customer service to ensure your satisfaction.
Creating a Custom Garage Door
Let us help you pick out the perfect garage door style for you and your family. Our Design Centre has many different models for you to choose from.
Our image gallery has examples of some of our previous garage door creations. Feel free to browse the beautiful images of some of our past clients' finished garage doors.
If you’re not quite ready for a new garage door, we’d still love to hear from you. We also provide other services, including regular maintenance.
Don’t hesitate to contact us at 902-439-7907 or get a free quote.
We look forward to hearing from you!
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