Fall and winter is a time when many garages are cold, unwelcoming and unpleasant. Fortunately, this is something you can change! Installing additional insulation, weather stripping and replacing the u-shaped rodent blocker at the bottom of the door can help make your garage a place where you can comfortably work on projects throughout the fall and winter.
Install Insulation
Most garages aren’t finished, so installing insulation is easy. Fiberglass batts are often the easiest to install. Simply measure the space, buy the appropriate amount of insulation and then cut the insulation to fit in the space between the studs. It’s best if the insulation is allowed to rest in the space between the studs without being stapled or compressed into space. Wear a respirator, eye protection and long sleeves when working on this project.
Install Weather Stripping
Anyplace where cold air leaks into the garage is a location that can be weather-stripped. You can either buy a garage weatherstripping kit, or purchase the various types of weather stripping one piece at a time. Garage door weather stripping is designed to fit around the outer edge of the garage door. It is nailed to the garage door frame, with the rubber edge pressed up against the door.
You can tell if the weather stripping is working because a garage door that is not weather stripped is often framed with light leaking in around the edges of the door. Some garage door weather stripping kits will provide reflective insulation for the garage door as well.
You can also weather strip your garage by stretching sheets of plastic over the windows, and by installing rubber stripping around the door frames. Proper weather stripping also prevents rodents from sneaking in, so do this at the end of the summer or beginning of the fall before mice try to move in for the winter.
Replace U-Shaped Rodent Blocker
The u-shaped rodent blocker (also known as an astragal) is a rubber gasket found at the bottom of the garage door. To replace this piece, open the garage door. The gasket is easy to slide in and out of the channel that holds it as long as the channel itself hasn’t been clamped shut. If the channel is crimped closed on the ends, you may have to pry it open with a screwdriver or pry bar. Once the channel is opened, slide the u-shaped rodent blocker out from the side of the garage door, then replace it with a new u-shaped rodent blocker.
Once your garage walls and garage door have been properly insulated and weather-stripped, you can rest assured that your garage will be properly protected over the winter. If you do spend a lot of time in your garage over the winter, consider installing a small portable heater to make it even more comfortable. Once your garage has been weather stripped and insulated, you should be able to run the heater more efficiently.
Contact the Overhead Door Company of Oklahoma City™ to prepare your garage door for those harsh winter months.
