DIY & Home Improvement

Sienna86

(2,151 posts) Wed Dec 14, 2011, 07:16 AM Dec 2011

Gap around garage door

I had a new garage door installed several months ago. I notice on extremely windy days, I can see daylight around the sides of the door when I step into the garage. Is this an installation problem and/or is there someway I can insulate the gaps?

6 replies

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Gap around garage door (Original Post) Sienna86 Dec 2011 OP

Is the gap between the door and the (presumably new) door stops? Stinky The Clown Dec 2011 #1

You didn't specify what sort of home this is tech3149 Dec 2011 #2

Thanks Sienna86 Dec 2011 #3

Adjust the brackets that hold the door so the door is held tight against the door stop madokie Dec 2011 #4

Garage doors are designed so that they push into the seals as they finally set down to the floor Kolesar Dec 2011 #6

Before you do that, consider contacting the installer. Gormy Cuss Dec 2011 #5

Stinky The Clown

(68,461 posts)

1. Is the gap between the door and the (presumably new) door stops?

Reply to Sienna86 (Original post)

Wed Dec 14, 2011, 10:39 AM

Dec 2011

If that's the case, I'd call it an installation problem.

tech3149

(4,452 posts)

2. You didn't specify what sort of home this is

Reply to Sienna86 (Original post)

Wed Dec 14, 2011, 10:48 AM

Dec 2011

Generally a garage door needs a fairly open track to move freely. My last place was a townhouse with attached garage. I had the same problem as you. It was irritating because I used the garage as a workshop. My solution was to install foam rubber seals around the tracks. Most hardware stores stock different sizes with adhesive backing that only take a few minutes to put up. The stuff is sold as doorway or window seals. The stuff I used was about 1/4" thick and 2" wide. Worked pretty well. I used a little piezo heater during the winter and that $20 cut down the heater operation by half.

Sienna86

(2,151 posts)

3. Thanks

Reply to tech3149 (Reply #2)

Fri Dec 16, 2011, 06:05 AM

Dec 2011

I think the foam rubber seals might work. There's too much wiggle room in the tracks. When the wind is strong, it literally blows the door in towards the garage.

I appreciate the help.

madokie

(51,076 posts)

4. Adjust the brackets that hold the door so the door is held tight against the door stop

Reply to Sienna86 (Reply #3)

Sat Dec 17, 2011, 10:16 AM

Dec 2011

when the door is closed. Problem solved. a 7/16 wrench should be all you need, tool wise

Kolesar

(31,182 posts)

6. Garage doors are designed so that they push into the seals as they finally set down to the floor

Reply to madokie (Reply #4)

Sun Dec 18, 2011, 06:42 AM

Dec 2011

Note that the brackets that hold the wheels have different standoffs from the surface of the door. The standoff gets bigger with height. The user could adjust them so that they push in more.

:. What Madokie said!

Car windows are like that too.

Gormy Cuss

(30,884 posts)

5. Before you do that, consider contacting the installer.

Reply to Sienna86 (Reply #3)

Sun Dec 18, 2011, 02:27 AM

Dec 2011

As Stinky wrote above, the install usually includes new door stops on the exterior so that there's sufficient overlap to get a decent seal. When I had my door replaced the worker didn't install the stops and I called the company to complain about the gaps. They sent a worker back to install the stops and the manager apologized because it had been on the original work order.

If the installer is a pain in the neck about it, the foam seals are worth the small investment of time and money.

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