Question:
I have two wooden garage doors (home is 45 years old and doors seem to be
also). For the most part they work well in the original tracks as far as
going up and down with my Craftsman openers. However they never do (and
never did) seem to fit real well when they are closed shut. I can see light
at the top and at certain areas along each side.
My HVAC guy mentioned that I really should try to have the doors insulated -
meaning the endges, so that it makes a reasonable seal during both winter
and summer seasons to help out a bit with air infiltration. He said this
type of around the door insulation could be gotten from Home Depot.
If the doors don't ever seem to close tightly in the first place will any
side molding insulation really do anything? I'm thinking that if anything
it might further interfere with the travel of the doors and ultimately get
rubbed or torn off anyway. Thoghts on this?
Answer:
It IS possible the tracks are misaligned and they aren't holding the door
close enough to the opening, but it sounds like your guy would have noticed
if that were the problem. It has to be a loose fit in order for the door to
be able to slide up and down without being stuck by pressing against the
frame.
That is the purpose of such insulation. Most any garage door will let
you see light along the sides in places and at the top, too. It's more a
trim than it is an insulation and simply lightly presses against the door
edges (sides and top) to complete the seal.
We've lived here 14 years now. The seals (insulation in your constext
apparently) are just now beginning to show wear. I re-hammered the staples
last year to reseat it, and it still works well. I'm hoping to get around
to replacing it this fall.
It's just sort of a flexible "lip" that nails to the frame and when the door
comes down, it slips up against it and seals the openings.
Heated or not, they're very handy since they keep out dust and dirt and,
if it's an attached garage, it also keeps the cold wind from refilling the
garage as the cold air slowly leaks into the house walls and house itself.
