Weather Stripping vs. Bottom Seals: What’s the Difference?
Keeping your garage comfortable and energy efficient starts with choosing the right sealing products. Weather stripping and bottom seals both protect your garage from drafts, moisture, and pests, but they serve different purposes. We’re here to help you understand how each works to help you make the right decision when it’s time for a replacement part for your garage door.
What Do Garage Door Weather Stripping and Bottom Seals Actually Do?
Weather stripping, also known as stop mold, lines the sides and top of your garage door. Its job is to close the perimeter gap, keeping out wind, debris, and insects while helping regulate temperature inside the garage. Bottom seal is attached to the garage door bottom section and sits beneath the garage door and compress against the floor when the garage door is closed. They block water, keep insects and critters out of the garage, prevent light from entering under the door, and help compensate for uneven concrete. Together, both components reduce air leakage and improve overall garage and home comfort and reduce energy bills especially in extreme hot or cold conditions.
Key Differences Between Weather Stripping and Bottom Seals
Weather stripping seals the perimeter. Bottom seals protect the ground-level opening. Weather stripping is typically made of vinyl and is installed around the exterior of the garage, while bottom seals are flexible rubber or vinyl bulb-style materials inserted into a retainer. Weather stripping usually shows wear in the form of cracks, brittleness, or visible gaps. Bottom seals can often shrink over time where you can notice water inside the garage, light under the door, or the material becomes flattened.
Which Seal Does Your Garage Door Need? Choosing the Right Option
Replace weather stripping when you feel drafts or see daylight along the sides or top of the garage door. Replace the bottom seals when water gets in under the garage door, you see light come under the door or the seal no longer compresses well. For maximum performance, both should be in good condition.
Improve Your Garage Efficiency with Quality Replacement Parts
When you purchase replacement parts from Overhead Door Parts Online, you’re getting the confidence of buying from an independently owned and operated Overhead Door distributor with decades of industry expertise. Every part we offer is genuine, high quality, and designed to fit the systems they were made for. No guesswork, no knockoffs, and no confusing substitutions.
Because our team has been working with Overhead Door products since 1947, we understand exactly what homeowners need to keep their garage doors operating smoothly. We provide clear product descriptions, detailed diagrams, and knowledgeable support to ensure you get the right part the first time. With fast shipping and a user-friendly shopping experience, Overhead Door Parts Online makes it easy to maintain, repair, or upgrade your garage door with reliable parts you can trust.