Where the Weatherstripping Is
Around the outside of the door opening there's a strip along both sides and the top with a soft flap that presses against the face of the door when it's closed. That's the weatherstripping. The seal along the bottom of the door is a separate part, covered on the bottom seal page.
Signs It's Worn Out
- Light shows around the sides or top of the door at night with the garage lights on, or during the day with them off.
- The flap is cracked, stiff, shrunk or pulling away from the frame.
- The strip has gaps at the corners or is missing in places.
- The garage gets drafty or dusty, or wasps and spiders are getting in.
How Zach Replaces It
He removes the old strips, checks the wood trim behind them for rot, and installs new stop molding along the sides and top so the flap sits evenly against the door. If the door doesn't sit square in the opening, he adjusts it so the seal touches all the way around. It's often done together with a new bottom seal.
Worth Doing With Insulation
An insulated door only does its job if the edges are sealed. The R-value on a door is for the panel, not the gaps around it, so worn weatherstripping can undo a lot of what the insulation is doing.