How to Stop Wind in the Garage
Many garages are not fully insulated or weatherproofed. If you want to convert the garage into an extra living space or add a workshop to it, the best way to stop wind coming into the garage is to install garage door weather stripping around the edge of the garage door. The weather stripping also helps keep your garage clean by leaving the debris, dust and insects outside. Check the existing condition of your garage door's weather stripping because it might need replacement. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Tape measure
- Cat's paw (a claw-type tool)
- Flat bar
- Garage door weather stripping kit
- Pencil
- Utility knife
- Fine toothed saw
- Wide head box nails (as needed)
Instructions
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1
Measure the height and width of the garage door opening with a tape measure. To determine the weather stripping dimension, double the width digit then add it to the height number. Bring the measurements to the hardware store and purchase the kit having the lengths that you will need.
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2
Open the garage door for existing weather stripping that needs replacement.
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3
Use a cat's paw to pull out the nails on the old weather stripping, if it exists. Discard the nails and the old stripping.
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4
Insert the flat bar between the existing weather strip and the door frame. Carefully pry the stripping away from the door frame to prevent damaging the frame.
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5
Close the garage door. You will be working from the outside of the garage. Bring your tools and the new stripping material outside.
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6
Make the "header" piece first. The header piece is the horizontal strip that lies across on top between the garage door and the frame. Unroll the weather stripping.
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Mark the length for the "header" on the weather stripping with a pencil then cut it using a utility knife. Make square ends with a fine toothed saw on the header piece so it will fit tightly atop the garage door.
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8
Install the "header" piece into place using the provided nails. Keep an 8-inch distance between each nail. Some weather stripping comes with premarked nail positions. Use wide head box nails if your weather stripping kit does not include nails.
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9
Mark the lengths for the side pieces on the remaining weather stripping. Position the side pieces to the side edges of the garage door, making sure the top of the side pieces is touching the "header."
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10
Nail the side pieces into the door jamb with the kit nails or use wide head box nails.
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11
Open and close the garage door several times to be sure that it is operating freely.
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Tips & Warnings
To check the old garage door weather stripping condition: Stand outside at night with a flashlight and the garage door closed. Shine the light around the edge of the garage door. Have a person inside the garage to observe the light. Where that person sees the light through the edge is the location where wind can come in.
