How to Replace Garage Door Weatherstripping

Weatherstripping is the primary defense against the elements, pests, and energy loss in your home. Over time, the rubber gasket at the bottom of your garage door becomes cracked, brittle, or completely detached, leaving a gap that lets in rain, wind, and critters. A well-installed seal should compress evenly against the floor when the door closes, creating a clean line of contact across the entire width of the opening. Taking the time to replace this seal yourself is a high-reward task that takes less than an hour. A tight seal not only keeps your garage floor dry but also prevents drafts from entering adjacent living spaces or workshops. When done right, you will see an immediate difference in how the garage door settles and how much debris stays out of your workspace.

  1. Lock Down First. Open your garage door fully and secure it by engaging the manual lock or placing a ladder under the door to prevent it from moving. Clear all debris and tools from the floor space underneath the opening.
  2. Pull Out The Old. Locate the ends of the bottom track on your garage door. Grip the edge of the old rubber seal and pull it horizontally out of the track channels; if it is stuck, use a pair of pliers to gain better leverage.
  3. Scrub The Channel. Inspect the aluminum channel on the bottom of the door for rust, dirt, or stuck rubber fragments. Use a stiff wire brush to scrub the tracks clean so the new seal slides in without resistance.
  4. Oil The Rails. Spray a small amount of silicone-based lubricant along the entire length of the tracks. This makes sliding the new, often bulky, rubber seal much easier.
  5. Slide It Through. Feed the edges of the new seal into the tracks at one end of the door. Slide the rubber through the track across the width of the door, keeping even tension as you feed it.
  6. Trim And Lock It. Leave an extra inch of rubber at each end and trim the excess with a utility knife. Fold the ends of the rubber back into the track or use small galvanized screws to pin the ends in place so they don't slide out.