With hundreds of types of garage door weatherstripping options on the market, it can be hard to tell which seal is best for your home improvement project. Whether you're combating extreme temperatures, dealing with uneven garage floor concrete, or trying to keep rodents outside where they belong, we at North Shore Commercial Door have the perfect fit for your specific needs.

Why Do You Need a Weather Seal for Your Garage Door?

If you’ve ever felt a breeze drifting through the bottom of a shut door, you know that being shut does not equate to being sealed. Even when closed, doors have small openings that pests, debris, and air can infiltrate. Air leakage is the result of the "chimney" or "stack" effect, where hot air rises and exits through openings around the top of a building and cold air enters through the gaps and openings near a building’s bottom. The loss of heated and cooled air can result in higher utility bills, which no one wants! 

Weather seals seal off these problem points and cut energy costs by creating a tight seal between your home and the outside world. Areas affected by wildfires and poor air quality will greatly benefit from stopping pollution from entering their residence with a weather seal installed.

How Effective Are Weather Seals? 

North Shore Commercial Door offers high-quality weather seals from Action Industries, which can stop up to 99% of air infiltration. See the chart below.

What Are the Best Garage Door Seals for Extreme Weather?

If you live in areas with extreme cold or extreme heat, you need a seal that won't crack, stick or let in drafts during poor weather conditions. Less expensive seals like PVC vinyl will more easily lose their shape in extreme climates and are not recommended for intense environments, but North Shore offers seal options built for enduring harsh weather. Whether you live in Minnesota or Arizona, here are options that will protect your garage better than a standard PVC or rubber seal:

• EPDM seals. EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer) seals are made with ultra-durable synthetic rubber that has a temperature range of -50 to 300 degrees Fahrenheit. The rubber material's single-bond molecular structure makes it more difficult for UV rays and ozone to break apart than double-bond rubbers. EPDM rubber is low maintenance and has an excellent rating in weather resistance, ozone resistance, and heat resistance. This flexible waterproof rubber is also known for holding its shape over time.

• Brush seals. Brush seals are more effective at keeping out drafts than a typical rubber bottom seal because of the barrier the bristles create when they spread. These bristles do not retain water and won’t freeze at sub-zero temperatures for additional protection. Brush seal bristles are made with filaments wrapped around steel rods to prevent pull-out, ensuring long-lasting quality. They are also easy to install for DIY home improvement and will fit most of your existing standard aluminum retainers. If you have no retainers it’s no problem, as North Shore supplies brush seal kits that include everything needed for installation, retainer included.

• WeatherBLOCK. Combine the strengths of EPDM and brush seals with the 2-in-1 WeatherBLOCK. This weatherproof brush seal has an EPDM insert to give twice the protection for whatever extreme weather blows your way.

What Are the Best Garage Door Seals for Uneven Surfaces?

You may have gaps between your garage door bottom seal and the concrete. This often happens when concrete has settled. To fix gaps from an uneven garage floor, you'll need bigger weatherstripping than the typical 3" seal commonly used in installations. Keep in mind that a bottom seal folds into a U-shape, so the size is misleading.

• A 1" gap requires a 4" bottom seal. 
• A 2" gap requires a 6" bottom seal. (We recommend the Giant Garage Door Bottom Weather Seal Replacement Kit for extremely uneven concrete.) 
• Larger gaps require a 7" or 9" bottom seal, or you could use an oversized 4, 5, or 6" brush seal.

What Are the Best Garage Door Seal for Rodents and Pests?

Whether it's mice, squirrels, or other critters, your best bet to keep rodents out is the economically-priced  RodentBLOCK Garage Door Bottom Seal with Xcluder®. Xcluder® is a proprietary blend of stainless steel mesh and strong poly fibers that rodents can't nibble through. 

With North Shore Commercial Door, you can enjoy easy installation with RodentBLOCK seals by watching our installation guide below. And be sure to read up on  how to keep mice out of your garage to vanquish vermin for good!

What Are the Life Expectancy and Upkeep for Weather Seals?

Weather seals are a vital safety net for garage doors and other entry points, so it’s crucial to replace old seals to ensure you are getting maximum protection. When to replace your seal can depend on multiple factors, such as the climate and how often your door is used. 

Brush Seal 

Typically, a brush seal can last around five years, though some can function adequately for up to ten in generous conditions. Look out for signs of wear, such as the bristles being worn, falling out, or there being a lack of consistency in the seal across the entire door’s platform. Potential draughts can be detected by taping a paper slip around the sides or top of the door and watching for movement. If the paper moves, then air is entering through the seal. Inspecting the door after rain to spot potential liquid that leaked through will also indicate damage. 

EPDM Seals 

EPDM seals can last around 10 years, and potentially more in favorable environments. If you notice shining through the seal or any cracks, missing pieces, or water leakage, it is a good idea to invest in a seal replacement. Weather Seal Upkeep To check possible wear and tear, it is recommended that you check your seal at least once a year to check for any issues, so you can replace your seal and maintain full protection. With most seals, you can replace the brush and keep the retainer on your door, saving money in the process.

Need more help finding the best seal for your door?

Still not sure which weatherseal is best for you? North Shore Commercial Door prides itself on quality customer service and providing the best and most complete product information to its customers. Our in-house experts will be glad to answer your brush seal and vinyl seal questions. Get in touch with our support crew: 

• Live chat: Click the green "Contact Us" button on the right 
• Call: 800-783-6112 
• Email: support@northshorecommercialdoor.com