What Type of Adhesive Should You Use to Install a Garage Door Seal?
If you’re considering installing a weather seal along the bottom of your garage door, then it’s vital that you install it in the correct way. A key part of a proper installation job is to use the right adhesive. Keep reading and the GaraDry team will tell you what type of adhesive you should use to install a garage door seal…
The answer
Before we go into further detail about garage door weather stripping adhesive, we’ll provide you with the answer that you’ve come here for.
The best type of adhesive to use on a garage door weather seal depends on the type of seal you have selected.
If you have chosen a weather seal that’s made of a high-grade thermoplastic such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) - like GaraDry’s weather seals - then you’ll want to use a professional universal sealant and adhesive.
These types of adhesives are designed to cure to form a durable elastic rubber which will ‘seal’ the garage door weather stripping in place.
Why a professional universal sealant and adhesive is best for garage door weather seals
So, why should you choose a professional universal sealant and adhesive over any other type of adhesive?
The answer lies in the design philosophy behind professional weather seal adhesives.
Professional adhesives such as GaraDry Adhesive have been specifically designed to be used on non-porous surfaces such as garage floors, and take into account the specific challenges that such an application presents.
This contrasts favorably with generic sealants which are not designed for specific use cases and as such will not last as long, or provide as good adhesion, as a specific weather seal adhesive.
What are the benefits of GaraDry Adhesive?
Because professional adhesives - such as GaraDry’s Adhesive - have been designed with a specific use case in mind, they provide a series of benefits that generic adhesives do not.
For example, GaraDry’s Adhesive has the following benefits:
- Universal bonding and sealing for interior and exterior use.
- Permanently elastic - providing long-lasting adhesion. Resistant to temperatures ranging from -40ºF to +194ºF and will always stay sticky.
- Free of isocyanates, solvents and silicone (highly-reactive chemicals).
- No shrinkage and bubble free.
- Resistant to UV, moisture, mold and weather.
- Adheres perfectly without primer on most, even damp, surfaces.
- Neutral curing, almost odorless.
- Non-corrosive towards metals.
- High mechanical resistance, end strength e-modulus (highly resistant to elastic strain).
- Absorbs acoustic and mechanical vibrations.
- Black coloring for a polished, seamless finish.
- Can be painted over with your own paint.
- Generous shelf life (unused, in the tube) of 18 months.
As you can see, Garadry Adhesive has been engineered to perfectly handle the challenges that are present in an outdoor, garage environment.
The same can’t be said for other generic types of adhesive and sealant.
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What tools do you need to install a garage door weather seal?
Of course, when it comes to installing a garage door weather seal, you need more than just a quality adhesive.
Other installation essentials that you’ll need, include:
- GaraDry threshold seal.
- Skeleton sealant caulk gun.
- Tape measure.
- Sharp box cutter, knife, or hacksaw.
- Pencil to make marks with.
- Spirit level or ruler.
- Brush (to sweep debris up with).
- Wire brush (only necessary if your garage has a painted floor).
- A spare pair of hands.
With those tools and parts, you’ll be perfectly positioned to add weather stripping to your garage.
Step-by-step guide: how to apply a garage door threshold seal
Below, we’ve outlined a step-by-step process for installing a GaraDry weather seal, including some handy hints and tips that’ll make installation a breeze.
Step 1:
Clean the area by sweeping any dust, dirt, or debris from your garage floor. It’s also important to remove any oil or grease that could compromise the adhesive you’re about to use.
If your garage has a painted floor, you should now brush the area where the seal will be placed with a wire brush to make the surface rough and therefore easier to adhere to.
Step 2:
Use a tape measure to measure the outside edges of the garage door’s tracks and then, with a sharp knife or hacksaw, cut your threshold seal to the same length.
Step 3:
Place the seal behind the garage door tracks and, with a pencil, mark where you’ll need to cut to be able to position it securely around the tracks.
Step 4:
Measure the distances between the back of the door and the back edge of the door track. This will give you the depth that needs to be cut out of the seal so that it can be slotted into each of the tracks.
Step 5:
Position the door seal between the door tracks and push the seal flush against the back of the door to ensure a watertight fit.
Step 6:
Close your garage door and check that it shuts snugly onto the front edge of the seal. If not, simply adjust the seal back slightly and repeat the process.
There should be no visible daylight or draft from under the garage door. If there is, you’ll need to retrace your steps and double-check your measurements.
Step 7:
Once you've worked out the right position for your garage door seal, with the door still closed, use a pencil to mark along the back edge of the seal. Next, open the garage door and mark along the front edge of the seal as well.
Now, put your seal aside for the time being.
Step 8:
Mark out two parallel lines around half an inch inside the other two lines you’ve just made. Inside these parallel lines, create a zigzag line along the length of where the door seal will be affixed.
Step 9:
Take your door seal and using a clean, dry, lint-free cloth, wipe the underside thoroughly.
With a sharp knife, cut the end off your GaraDry Adhesive and insert it into your caulk gun. Apply the adhesive to the floor in between the parallel and zigzag lines you marked out earlier.
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Step 10:
Take your door seal and start at one end of the garage door opening. Carefully place the seal on top of the adhesive and press down firmly, making sure consistent pressure is applied along the full length of the seal.
Top tip: this step is much easier with another person on hand to help. Use an old cloth to wipe away any excess adhesive that might leak out.
Step 11:
Apply adhesive around the door tracks to secure the door seal in place.
If your garage has open side tracks, adhere two side blocks (these come in all of our kits) in the space between the wall and track to prevent water ingress.
Note: You’ll need to wait at least 24 hours before driving over the threshold seal to give the adhesive a chance to dry completely.
FYI: All of our garage door threshold seal kits come with comprehensive but easy-to-follow instructions, so don’t worry, you won’t need to memorize all of this information.
What else can you use the GaraDry Adhesive for?
So far in this article, we’ve focused on how the GaraDry Adhesive can be used to install GaraDry’s range of garage door weather seals.
However, did you know that you can also use the adhesive on our range of commercial threshold seals?
Our commercial garage door weather seals are manufactured from heavy-duty aluminum and are designed to withstand heavy traffic such as forklift trucks, tractors, and other commercial vehicles rolling over them all day.
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The design of our commercial threshold seals incorporates innovative inserts on the ‘feet’ of the seals, creating a seamless barrier against the ingress of wind-driven water and rain.
So, where does our GaraDry Adhesive come into the picture? Well, you may find that the garage/warehouse floors in many commercial buildings are not particularly even or level. If that’s the case for your commercial property, then you can use the GaraDry Adhesive to level out the floor below your commercial threshold seal.
In other words, if you want to ensure that your commercial threshold seal fits perfectly, then ensure you have some GaraDry Adhesive to hand!
Get everything you need for better garage maintenance right here at GaraDry
Protecting your garage against things like weather and critters isn’t just essential for the garage itself, it’s also an important part of safeguarding your entire home.
Garage doors with no threshold seals or damaged seals compromise the security and condition of your property, which is why kitting your garage out with products you can rely on is so crucial.
We’ve got everything you need right here, from adhesive and accessories to garage door threshold seals in a whole host of different sizes.
Plus, all of our residential threshold door seal kits come complete with a 5-year warranty, so you can be sure you’re getting a quality product that will do the job and stand the test of time.
Note: All of our seals are designed to be used with up-and-over, sectional, roller shutter, and side-hinged doors, so there’s something to suit every garage.