There is no such thing as a universal bottom seal for a garage door. The truth is that they come in a wide variety of different sizes and styles for use in different settings. As a result, you are going to have to be absolutely sure what type of bottom seal you will need for your specific type of garage door.
As noted above, there are quite a few different styles of garage door seals. These are seals that have been specially designed to be used with different styles of garage door. You should keep in mind that there do exist a number of universal garage door seals that have been designed to work with most of the varying kinds of garage doors.
There is a very good reason that garage door bottom seals are not universal. This has to do with the fact that garage doors almost always used to be made of wood. This ended sometime in the 1980s when garage door makers began preferring to use steel as their chosen medium. This resulted in the need for a different kind of bottom seal.
As of the 21st century, replacing the bottom seal on your garage door will require a bit of research. You need to know the precise measurements of your seal. You will also need to know exactly what type of seal your particular garage door uses. This is research that you can conduct on your own prior to replacing the seal on your door.
Can You Replace The Rubber On The Bottom Of A Garage Door?
There are plenty of places on the web where you can go to buy a replacement for the rubber seal on the bottom of your garage door. This is not a hard operation to perform. You can easily do it all by yourself or hire an expert to handle it on your behalf. Once in place, the seal should hold good for a number of years.
First, disengage your door from the automatic opener. Then raise the door to a level where you can easily reach the bottom seal. Slide this seal out of the end of its track. You may need to use a screwdriver to successfully pry it up.
Now take your replacement seal and give it a squeeze. This will line up the edges of the seal with the inside of the track. Move the seal all the way through the track until it snaps into place.
Push the seal about 3 inches past the edge of your garage door. Fold them over so that they now line up with the edge of the door. Cut the other end so that it lines up over the other edge of the door in the same manner.
Lower the door back down to the floor and reconnect it with your garage door opener. This should click your seal firmly into place. Open and close the door a few times in order to check that the seal is tight.
What Are the Different Types Of Garage Door Bottom Seals?
No two seals will be exactly alike. Different types of doors will require a different type of seal. For this reason, you need to check your door before you make an unwarranted assumption. There are a number of different types of garage door bottom seals that you should be aware of. These include the following:
- Bulb seals have a circular bottom that is topped with a large T-shape.
- Beaded seals are T-shaped. They are used in double channel retainer units that have circular grooves.
- J-type seals are, as their name implies, shaped like a J. They are used for single channel retainer units.
- T-type seals are similar to beaded seals. They are shaped like a T on both sides. These are also used for double channel retainers.
What Size Are Garage Door Bottom Seals?
This is a very tricky question. Finding the answer will depend on a number of different factors. The average size of a T-shaped seal will be between 1/4″ and 5/16″. If this is the case for your door, you will most likely be best served by a 4″ wide rubber seal.
It’s important to keep in mind that not every garage door bottom seal will measure the same. For this reason, it’s very important to get the precise measurements of your garage door. This will help you learn not only what type of seal to use but also how wide that seal needs to be.
You may need anything from a 3″ or 4″ wide vinyl seal to a 3″ or 4″ wide vinyl seal. Depending on the size of your garage door, you may also need to get extra length for your seal so that you can fold it over the edges to get a tight and comfortable fit. This need to be taken into account while you are making your initial measurements.
How Much Does It Cost To Replace The Bottom Seal On A Garage Door?
The cost of replacing the bottom seal on a garage door will vary according to the size of the door and the type of seal that it will require. The usual cost of a replacement will normally be between $130 and $400, for an average of about $265.
The cost of your repair will depend on a number of factors. These include the size and age of the door. If you do the repair yourself, it will simply come down to buying the materials used for the repair.
If you hire a professional to do the job, they will supply the materials used. But they will also need to charge for other factors, such as removing debris. They will also charge for the length of time it takes to do the job. Make sure to budget properly before you make the call.
