Your garage door is integral to the protection and security of your home. Severe weather conditions — especially heavy rainfalls and storms — can penetrate the door, compromise the system’s effectiveness, and cause expensive water damage.
How do you waterproof your garage door? This guide highlights how to protect your garage door to combat leaks that can negatively impact your space.
Common Garage Door Water Damage Issues
The following are common signs of water damage and the potential impacts on your garage door system:
- Rust and corrosion: You may notice rust or corrosion on the panel and other parts of metal doors. For nonmetal doors, corrosion on internal metal components like tracks and springs is a major sign of water intrusion.
- Warping and swelling: This is common with wooden garage doors that have absorbed water, leading to swelling and decay.
- Mold and mildew growth: Constant moisture creates the ideal environment for mold and mildew to thrive.
- Discoloration and stains: Water seeping into your garage door often causes discoloration and stains on the paint or floor.
- Cracks or peeling paint: Excess moisture can cause the garage door material to swell, leading to peeling paint or cracks.
Aside from visual signs of water damage, there are performance issues related to water damage, such as difficulty operating the door and unusual noises. These signs usually indicate structural damage.
Waterproof Garage Door Seals
Knowing the risks water poses, what can you put on your garage door to keep water out? The solution is installing weather-resistant seals, which offer additional benefits that improve protection and functionality, such as:
- Extending door life span: Using weather seals to limit exposure to the elements slows down wear and tear, reducing the risk of premature garage door replacements and maximizing your door’s service life.
- Preventing leaks: Weather seals prevent precipitation and moisture from seeping through the garage door and causing water-related damage such as swelling, decay and mold.
- Improving energy efficiency: Gaps around the garage door can allow conditioned air to escape and outside drafts to enter your space. Sealing these gaps regulates garage temperature, reducing energy costs.
- Blocking dust and debris: Wind and storms can significantly impact garage doors, blowing in dust and debris, which buildup on the door and impair performance. Proper sealing keeps the door’s system cleaner, reducing potential operational issues.
- Keeping out pests: Weather seals are an effective barrier against insects, mice and other pests that may enter the garage through gaps around the door.
Types of Garage Door Seals to Consider
Weather seals vary based on their function and material, so knowing the types you need to weatherproof your garage door is important. Also known as weatherstripping, these seals are made of flexible materials designed to line the edges of the door to fill gaps. Common materials to choose from include rubber, vinyl and silicone. The type of weatherstripping you use varies depending on where you need it.
Top and Side Seals
These effective seals block gaps at the top and sides of the garage door. Installation depends on the material and manufacturer’s mounting design. Some of these seals come with an adhesive side that you strip and press onto the door, while others, like vinyl weatherstripping, may require additional tools to secure it to the door’s frame.
While installing weatherstripping seems like a quick DIY project, consider professional garage door services to avoid damaging your garage door or frame. An expert will know the appropriate seal type for different parts of your door.
Bottom Seals
The bottom garage door seal is a common weatherstripping designed to line the bottom of the door. When placed, the seal sits between the bottom edge of the door and the floor, effectively sealing any gaps when the door closes. Since bottom seals are lined along the bottom of garage doors, they move with the doors when opening and closing.
Threshold Seals
These are different types of weatherstripping for the garage door’s bottom edge. Unlike a bottom seal, which attaches to the door, a threshold seal is installed directly on the garage floor using adhesives. While threshold seals are an alternative for the garage door base, they often work best alongside the bottom seals to create a strong barrier against the elements.
Preventative Maintenance Plans
Garage doors need regular preventative maintenance to ensure optimal performance and longevity.
Keeping up with general and professional preventative maintenance lowers the need for reactive maintenance, which involves repairs after the door or its parts are broken. Waiting for your garage door system to break down before having a professional inspect it can be an expensive mistake.
Schedule periodic professional servicing, especially before winter. Other times, however, the following general maintenance tips will help prevent water damage:
- Inspect and replace seals: Working weatherstripping keeps water out. Inspection allows you to identify and replace worn seals for optimal moisture protection.
- Clean and lubricate the door: Frequently cleaning the door removes dirt, debris and road salt, which can accumulate and cause rust. Lubricate moving parts to keep them moisture-free and ensure the door closes well.
- Maintain proper drainage: Rainwater or melted snow should not flow directly to your garage door. Remove and combat puddles by creating a drench drain to redirect water away from the door.
- Clean the gutters: Clogged gutters located above the garage door can pour rainwater on the door. Clearing these gutters allows water to flow effectively.
When to Call a Garage Door Professional
If you already notice signs of water damage on your garage door, call professionals. Besides impairing performance, structural damage can seriously impact the door’s life span. Remember that minor damage can quickly snowball into major issues requiring heavy repairs or a total replacement.
Seeking professional repair services from experts like Continental Door takes the guesswork out of repairs, saving you money and likely saving your garage door. Our quick response team will visit your home, examine the damage and offer necessary repairs. We have garage door parts from all the top brands on the market to ensure quality replacements.
Depending on our expert analysis, we’ll advise on whether repairing or updating your garage door to a newer model is best. We have a diverse inventory of beloved collections, such as Avante®, Canyon Ridge® Louver and Bridgeport™ Steel.
Protect Your Garage Door With Continental Door
Waterproofing is key to protecting your garage door from water damage. Make waterproofing part of your overall preventative maintenance plan for a comprehensive approach to garage door upkeep. Call the experts at Continental Door for reliable garage door services and emergency 24-hour repairs.
We service residents of the Greater Spokane and Coeur d’Alene areas and the entire Inland Northwest. Contact Continental Door for professional assistance!
