Reasons Your Garage Door Needs to Be Properly Sealed

Reasons Your Garage Door Needs to Be Properly Sealed

The weather seal is an important part of your garage door. It is a simple strip of vinyl. Seals fit on the bottom, top, and sides of the garage door and eliminate any gaps. While strong and sturdy, the vinyl strips wear out over time and it’s a good idea to replace them when they’re not sticking, are cracked, or sagging. These are some reasons why your garage door needs proper sealing.

To Keep Cold Air Out

Without a seal, cold air will blow in through cracks around the garage door. This makes it unpleasantly cold in the garage and can cause your furnace to burn more energy to try to warm things up. The same goes for your air conditioner in the summer, as cold air will escape through any gaps, making it extremely hot inside. Garage door sealing helps control temperatures in the garage and your home and can help lower your energy bills.

To Prevent Things from Getting Inside

A weathertight seal keeps out the rain and snow. It is also effective at blocking leaves and debris that can blow or track in at any time. Squirrels, rats, mice, and other creatures that can slip through tight spaces also cannot get through weatherproofing. Bugs, whether they crawl or fly, can’t as well.

To Protect Your Garage Door

Acting as a bumper, the seal cushions the blow if the edge of the door hits something on the way down, such as a car. It also protects the door as it comes to a stop on the concrete floor. If the garage door strikes the concrete every time it’s lowered, this increases wear and tear. It won’t last as long and will need to be replaced sooner. A seal, therefore, saves quite a bit of money over the long run.

To Protect Your Valuables

Temperature extremes, dirt, and water can damage furniture, tools, storage boxes, clothes, electronics, or any other belongings you have in the garage. If water can get in or moisture can build up, mold and bacteria can grow. A garage door seal provides a controlled environment where you don’t have to worry about these things.

To Make Your Garage Livable

The garage is often used as a living space, whether as a media center, home theater, workshop, playroom, studio, home gym, or man cave. A weather seal is a must if you’re going to make the space livable. It allows for comfortable temperatures, prevents water entry, and reduces noise from outside while preventing sounds from the garage from being heard in the neighborhood.

How Do I Know My Garage Door Seal Is Working?

If you don’t have moisture or temperature problems in your garage, chances are the seal is just fine. You can also check its integrity by seeing if light is visible at the bottom of the door. Either look for sunlight from inside your garage during the day or turn an interior light on at night, go outside, and see if any light is visible from underneath the door.

Another way to test the seal is to splash water against the bottom of the garage door (when it’s closed). Go to the other side and see if any water has seeped through. After heavy rain, check for water entry as well. Drafts can also help determine if the seal needs to be repaired/replaced. With the door closed, hold a piece of paper against its perimeter; if the paper moves, a draft is getting through the seal.

Inspect the seal visually as well. If it’s discolored, the coloring is inconsistent, or the seal cracks when you push on it, feels stiff or is higher or lower in places, it should be replaced. Fortunately, removing an old seal and installing a new one is simple, but you should call a professional because installation mistakes can throw the door out of alignment.

Contact Mesa Garage Doors

We provide installation and repair of garage doors in Los Angeles and Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Ventura Counties. Customers have trusted us for superior quality service since 1989. Whether you need a new garage door seal or a garage door replaced, you can count on us. Request your free estimate online or call 714-989-7421 to schedule a visit.

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Should I Build a Detached Garage?

If you’re remodeling your home, adding to it, or constructing a new residence, “Should I build a detached garage?” may be among the most pressing questions. Depending on your needs, a detached garage can have many advantages over an attached one. But there can also be downsides. We’ll explore both and the potential cost of building a detached unit.

Benefits of a Detached Garage

Attaching a garage structure to the home became a widespread phenomenon by the late 1940s. By the 2000s, about 80% of all homes had attached garages.1 But more and more homeowners are rediscovering the beauty and convenience of having a detached garage and seeing benefits such as:

Design Flexibility

The façade of most homes, especially in suburban areas, is dominated by the garage. Building a detached garage can avoid overwhelming a small house. It can also be arranged any way you like. The garage can be set back, designed like its own little house, or placed at an angle. You can even hide it somewhere in the backyard.

As far as design options, there’s much to consider. You can choose different styles of doors and windows. There’s practically a limitless choice of colors and sizes. Insulation, ventilation, electricity, lighting, plumbing, and other amenities can be added if necessary.

Free Up Space

Not only does a detached garage give you more room for living and vehicle/tool storage. It also frees up room outside your home. A usable area can be created that can accommodate a deck or patio. Perhaps you might want to expand your landscaping, plant a garden, add a pool or pond, or install a gazebo or pergola to boost the charm of your outdoor space.

Safety and Security

If you store fuel, oil, paints, cleaners, insecticides, weed killers, and other flammable and/or chemical-based products in the garage, these can emit fumes that can reach living areas. Storing these items in a separate building eliminates such risks.

In addition, access points to your home are limited. Once an intruder finds their way into an attached garage, they can break into or simply step through an unlocked interior door. With a detached garage, even if the door is left unlocked, the security of your home isn’t compromised.

Less Noise

Sounds from a detached garage won’t disrupt people in the house, whether a car is leaving or entering, you’re operating power tools, or playing an instrument. Some people use a detached garage as a getaway. In that case, they’re cut off from noise from the house.

Privacy

Not everyone uses a garage to store cars and tools. If you choose to use it as a man cave or retreat for kids to play, there’s a high degree of privacy. You can use a detached garage to practice playing instruments. Or, you can use it for woodworking or other projects that require power tools. It’s also an ideal space for a home office away from home where you can get work done without being interrupted.

Disadvantages of a Detached Garage

Detached garages aren’t as convenient for everybody. Installing one can be a burden if:

  • Winter in your area is harsh and walking to the unit requires bundling up and being uncomfortable.
  • You forget a tool or other item you need and must walk back to the house to get it.
  • There’s limited yard space and you enjoy having an open area for kids and pets.
  • Building an entirely new structure is more work than you bargained for.
  • The cost of installing/using extra utilities will strain your budget.

How Much Does It Cost to Build?

When many homeowners ask, “Should I build a detached garage?” the first consideration is often cost. HomeAdvisor puts the typical price range in 2022 at anywhere from $19,200 to $45,000. However, a 3-car detached garage can cost up to $65,700 to build, but you could spend as little as $12,600 for a 1-car, 12- x 24-foot unit. On average, a detached garage costs from $40 to $70 per square foot. Materials account for half the total cost and labor accounts for the other half. Generally, you’ll spend up to 15% more to build a detached unit than an attached garage.

The cost factors during the project include building a concrete foundation, hiring an electrician, and installing siding and roofing. Insulation, painting, and installing a driveway add to the cost too. The longer a driveway, the more you’ll spend for it. Then the cost of garage door installation is a factor, so there’s more to think about than initial construction.

Contact Mesa Garage Doors

We offer numerous collections and styles of garage doors. These include our steel frame Bronze Series, insulated Gold Series, and three-layer, low-profile Platinum Series as well as our carriage house, modern aluminum, and wood doors. Request a new door estimate or book an appointment online. For immediate assistance, call us at (844) 473-2866 today.

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