What Types of Garage Door Can You Use a Garage Door Weather Seal With?
Are you thinking about weatherproofing your garage with a garage door weather seal, but not sure if your garage door is suitable? Then keep reading and the GaraDry team will take you through the garage doors with which you can use weather stripping…
What are the different types of garage door?
A garage door is a garage door, right?! No, not necessarily.
Whilst at first glance garage doors more or less look all the same, on closer inspection you’ll find that there are several distinct types of doors found on garages across the country.
Below, we’ve set out the main types of garage doors - and crucially - whether you can use one of GaraDry’s residential threshold seals with them.
1. Tilt up garage doors
Tilt up garage doors are a fairly rare type of domestic garage door.
As their name suggests, tilt up garage doors are operated via a turn handle on the front. When turned and pulled upwards, the garage door lifts ‘up and over’ towards the garage ceiling.
There are two main types of tilt up garage door:
- Canopy tilt up doors.
- Retractable tilt up doors.
Canopy tilt up garage doors
Canopy garage doors are the most popular type of tilt up garage door. They take their name from the fact that, when fully open, approximately a third of the door sticks out of the top of the garage door frame - creating a canopy.
Canopy garage doors work using a torsion spring system which is mounted to the top of the door. When the handle on the front of the garage door is turned, it triggers the spring, which pulls a set of metal cables or arms which are fitted to either side of the door. The door opens and moves ‘up and over’ using a set of rails which are mounted on either side of the door frame.
Retractable tilt up garage doors
The other main type of ‘tilt up’ garage door you’ll encounter is the retractable tilt up door.
As its name suggests, a retractable door retreats entirely within the body of the garage when opened.
This type of garage door features springs mounted to either side of the garage door frame, as well as a set of horizontal rails that sit at the top of the garage door frame and which project back into the garage. It’s these ‘top’ horizontal rails that support the door when it is fully open.
Tilt up garage door characteristics
Whether you select a canopy or retractable up and over garage door, you’ll find that they share a number of common characteristics.
Firstly, it’s possible to buy up and over garage doors that are manufactured from materials such as:
- Steel.
- Aluminum.
- GRP (glass-reinforced plastic, a.k.a. fiberglass).
With regard to dimensions, up and over garage doors are typically between six and a half and eight feet wide, and between six and a half and eight feet tall - however, it’s possible to buy bespoke doors of unique dimensions.
Popular manufacturers of up and over garage doors include Garaga, Haas, Raynor, and Midland.
Can you use weather stripping with an tilt up garage door?
Yes. Provided there is sufficient space between the bottom of the garage door and the floor of the garage, you will be able to use a garage door weather seal.
What’s particularly important to note when adding a weather seal to an up and over garage door, is that the opening and closing action of the door doesn’t hit the seal and dislodge it. So, be sure to select a weather seal of the correct height and depth.
2. Sectional garage doors
Arguably the most popular type of garage door to be found on garages across the East Coast are sectional garage doors.
As their name suggests, sectional garage doors are made up of a series of articulated sections which allow the garage door to slide up and into the garage along a set of rails. These rails run up the side of the garage door frame and then project horizontally from the top of the door frame into the garage.
By opening vertically - rolling along a set of rails - sectional garage doors have the benefit of allowing you to park your automobile directly in front of the garage and still open the garage door.
Sectional garage door characteristics
Sectional garage doors are typically made from a metal such as galvanized steel, which ensures they are durable and robust - however, it’s possible to buy sectional doors made from aluminum or timber.
Depending on the exact model you select, you may find that sectional garage doors are double skinned and are filled with an insulating material such as foam.
If you have a larger garage, then sectional garage doors are an ideal choice, as they are available in sizes as large as 16 feet wide (although timber sectional doors tend to only be available up to eight feet wide).
Of particular note is the fact that - due to the way they are constructed and installed - sectional garage doors are secure and can be very difficult to break into.
As you would expect from such a popular type of garage door, it’s possible to buy models which feature automated opening and closing functionality, additional security measures and more.
Popular manufacturers of sectional doors include Hormann, Clopay, and CHIOD.
Can you use weather stripping with a sectional garage door?
Yes. Like up and over garage doors, it’s entirely possible to use a garage door weather seal with a sectional garage door. The key point to remember is that there is an appropriate gap between the bottom of the garage door and the garage floor.
Provided you select a garage door weather seal of the appropriate height, you’ll be able to install weather stripping on a sectional garage door.
3. Roll-up garage doors
Considered to be one of the ‘tidiest’ garage door solutions, roll-up garage doors (also known as roller garage doors) are typically made of tens of 2” to 3” strips of aluminum which are connected together to lift vertically and roll up into a box located at the top of the garage opening.
Roll-up garage doors have a number of benefits. Firstly, because they open vertically, they’re particularly suited to short or compact driveways where it’s necessary to park your car immediately in front of the garage door.
Secondly, roll-up garage doors can be installed on practically any size or shape of garage. Thirdly, because roll-up doors sit within their own housing, they take up very little space within your garage (especially compared to up and over garage doors).
Roll-up garage door characteristics
Roll-up garage doors tend to be manufactured from metals such as aluminum or steel and in many cases are available as either non-insulated single skin models or double-skin insulated models.
Insulated roll-up garage doors not only have the benefit of retaining heat within your garage, but offer a degree of soundproofing too; ideal if you’re intending to use your garage for band practice!
It’s increasingly possible to buy electric roll-up garage doors which can be opened and closed using a remote control. Some roll-up garage doors are available with additional features such as integrated garage lighting and extra security features.
Popular manufacturers of roller garage doors include Dako, and Hormann.
Can you use weather stripping with a roll-up garage door?
It depends. Roll-up garage doors are designed to meet the garage floor. However, in many cases, garage floors are not especially level. This results in gaps across the bottom of the garage door. This can be remedied by installing a garage door weather seal.
It’s worth noting that - depending on the exact model roller door you buy - that the door may already feature an integrated rubber weather strip along the bottom.
The point is - double-check the nature of your roller door before purchasing a weather seal.
If, however, you do find that there’s a troublesome gap at the bottom of your roller door, then we highly recommend investing in a garage door weather seal. Just make sure you select the correct size!
4. Round-the-corner garage doors
Offering an elegant, compact and tidy garage door solution, round-the-corner garage doors (also commonly known as slide-to-the-side doors) have long been a popular choice for homes throughout the lower 48.
Round-the-corner garage doors consist of a series of vertical slats (made of metal or timber), which hang from a rail track which is located at the top of the garage opening. This track runs the length of the garage opening and then bends round into the garage at one side. Once fully open, the garage ‘door’ is facing the inside wall of the garage.
At the same time, a round-the-corner garage door also has a bottom running track, which helps to steer the garage door as it opens and closes. This bottom running track often takes the form of a surface-mounted channel.
Round-the-corner garage door characteristics
Round-the-corner garage doors can be made from a variety of materials, including aluminum and steel, timbers such as pine and oak, as well as artificial materials such as fiberglass and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS).
In terms of additional features, round-the-corner garage doors are typically available with automation, allowing you to open and close the door using a remote control.
Depending on the model you purchase, it can be possible to have round-the-corner doors that are insulated with a double skin.
Can you use weather stripping on a round-the-corner garage door?
In general, no. Because round-the-corner doors require the use of a bottom channel to help guide the door when it’s moving, there isn’t space to add a garage door weather seal.
5. Side hinged garage doors
If you own an older home with a garage, then it’s likely the garage will have what are known as side hinged garage doors.
Operating in a similar fashion to the doors you find around your home, side hinged garage doors hang from hinges that are located on either side of the garage opening.
This means they open outward in the same way as a household door does. As a result, it’s not possible to park directly in front of the garage and be able to open the garage doors at the same time.
Having said that, given that they allow you to keep one half of the garage door open, and the other closed, they are the perfect option for people who spend all day popping in and out of their garage.
Side hinged garage door characteristics
Given they are the ‘traditional’ option, side hinged garage doors are typically manufactured from timber such as pine or oak.
Whilst they are normally manually operated, it’s increasingly possible to buy automatic side hinged doors that can be opened and closed remotely.
Typically, you’ll find that side hinged garage doors consist of two doors - each of which will cover 50% of the garage’s opening. This creates a nice symmetry and allows ease of access even when one door is closed.
However, if you want to keep your garage door partially closed throughout the day - whilst also providing a large amount of access - it’s possible to buy side hinged garage doors that create a 70%/30% split across the garage door opening.
Like other types of garage door, depending on the model you select you’ll find that some side hinged garage doors feature insulation which helps to retain heat and dampen noise.
Can you use weather stripping with a side hinged garage door?
Yes, it’s eminently possible to use a garage door weather seal with a side hinged garage door - provided, you guessed it, there is space between the bottom of the garage doors and the garage floor.
You simply need to select a garage door weather seal of the correct height, as well as ensuring it won’t impede the opening/closing of the doors.
Note - many side hinged garage doors feature shooting bolts at the bottom of the doors which slide into holes in the floor. If that’s the case with your garage door, then you may not be able to fit a garage door weather seal.
Weatherproof your garage with GaraDry today
As you can see, it’s possible to use a garage door weather seal with a range of garage door types - including the most popular ones found on U.S. garages.
So, if you want to ensure your garage is free from dirt, resistant to water ingress, better insulated, and more soundproof, add a garage door weather seal from GaraDry today!
Got any questions? Then GaraDry’s friendly experts are here to help. You can speak to them on 866-563-2707 or at: sales@garadry.com.