How to Replace Garage Door Seal and Its Bottom

When was the last time you checked a garage door seal? If the answer to this question is “a long time ago,” you should do it right now. Maybe it’s time for you to know how to replace the seal on the bottom of a garage door. The garage door is one of the largest openings in your home. Accordingly, it releases heat and can allow cold air to circulate freely in your home. In addition, water and ice in the coldest times of the year, or even garbage can pass through the gap under the garage door.

Only the garage door seal (threshold) prevents all the above undesirable elements from getting into your house. However, like any other thing, it needs to be changed from time to time. This process does not take much time from professionals, but it may take you a whole day if you do not know the replacement technique. By the way, we will be happy to help you figure out how to carry out a garage door replacement.

Step-by-Step Guide on How to Replace a Garage Door Seal

We have prepared a list of steps that will help you figure out how to replace the rubber seal on a garage door without extra help. We have also prepared a garage door opener replacement guide for anyone interested.

Material Selection and Required Measurements

First, you need to choose a new high-quality sealant for your garage. It’s worth figuring out how to make a good choice. You need to get the necessary measurements. You can use a tape measure or another available tool. Furthermore, you will need to measure the thickness of the garage door and the length of its bottom part if you want to replace only the bottom seal. If you want to replace it around the entire perimeter of the door, you will need to take the appropriate measurements of the side parts.

Now you can go to the store to select a seal. Most modern seals are made of rubber. It is an inexpensive material, so you can save your money by choosing this. Especially if you live in a warm climate, it will serve you for a long time without the need for replacement.

But, if you live in a severer and colder climate, you should choose another material. The thing is that rubber tends to break with temperature change, especially because of a temperature decrease. So it can significantly reduce the life of the seal. In this case, it is better to pick the silicone version. Ready? You can proceed to the next step of the guide on how to replace the seal on a garage door.

Remove the Seal

When removing the seal, you need to be as careful as possible. First, you should see if the seal is screwed on. If so, use a screwdriver to remove the bolts.

1. How to replace a garage stainless door seal.

If the garage door is metal, in most cases, it has a bottom track. In this case, it is safe to pull out the seal. To do this, simply choose the side where you will pull it out, grab it securely and pull. Sometimes, it will be easier to pull it in parts in two directions if it is already too damaged.

2. How to do it if the door is wooden.

In this case, nails are most often used to fix the sealant. Raise the garage door higher and check it. The glue may be used in some cases, but it is extremely rare. To remove the old sealant, it will be enough to pull out the nails one at a time with the sharp part of the hammer or a nail puller designed specifically for this purpose. Of course, you can pull the seal, but then you can get unwanted injuries.

Prepare the Surface

If you want to know how to replace the rubber seal around the garage door in the most correct and future-proof way, we advise you to pay great attention to this part.

Regardless of what type of fastening was used before, we advise you to install a metal track. Thus, you no longer have to spend more time on installation. Why? The fact is that when using nails, it is necessary to close up all the remaining holes with wood. This is a fairly long process, but it is simply necessary for the new seal to hold on and keep water and debris particles out.

If you decide just to nail the seal again, you will have to close these holes back up next time, but if you buy even the cheapest version of the track, you will forget about it once and for all.

Even if you decide to just nail the sealant back on, you need to prepare the surface. Brush away dust, rubber residue, and other debris. If you use a track, clean it with a brush. It will save a lot of time when installing a new seal.

Replace Garage Door Bottom Seal

Decided to just replace the garage door rubber seal by hammering it back in? Then you should pay special attention to its size and do everything right so that it does its job.

If you have a track, you need to give the seal a “U” shape. This process is not very convenient, especially if you choose the wrong position for the door, so take care of this in advance. Then put one end of the seal into the track’s channel, slowly sticking it inward. To do this, you have to bend the seal.

Perform it slowly. Sometimes the seal can get stuck, so go back a little and continue operating.

Once you’ve pushed the seal into the channel so that it spans the length of the door, cut the remaining piece from one end.

How to Replace the Garage Door Bottom Seal

Now, you know how to replace the weather seal on a garage door and can lower your garage door without worrying about debris or moisture getting in through the bottom. Moreover, in this way, you will make your garage and house warmer even in the coldest times of the year. For this process to go quickly and without injuries, you should not rush. First, prepare all the tools needed for each of the steps.

Moreover, the list of necessary tools is not so long and includes:

• Hammer;
• Measuring tape;
• Nail puller (optional);
• Screwdriver;
• Brush.

Of course, you will need a new seal, and our guide will also help you choose the best one.

The Cost to Replace a Garage Door Seal

We offer the most cost-effective seal replacement services. Our professional workers will come and replace the garage door seal in the blink of an eye, using our material and leaving complete cleanliness.

The cost will depend on the type of fastening of the sealant, the amount of material needed to perform the work, and additional services. How much does it cost to replace a garage door seal? Just contact us, and we will give you an accurate price for your type of door!

Replace a Garage Door Seal with the Help of STI Garage Door Specialists

Don’t want to waste personal time on this routine and tedious process? Our specialists will gladly do everything for you. STI Garage Door has over six years of commercial experience installing, replacing, and repairing garage doors of all types and designs. Our well-trained technicians can carry out repairs of any complexity, so replacing the garage door seal is nothing for us.

You can leave a request 24/7 or contact us in any other convenient way.

STI Garage Door

Operating in the garage door industry for over 25 years, STI Garage Door is dedicated to quality service and excellence in everything.

The company is a proud partner to the top brands in the field — LiftMaster for commercial door openers and Amarr and Clopay for residential and commercial doors.