A garage door seal is a simple piece of kit usually made from a combination of aluminium and thermoplastic, rubber or vinyl.
If you're in a rush check out the best garage door bottom seals below:
..and the best garage door side seals here:
Garage seals are designed to stop things from entering (or leaving your garage). They can prevent dust, dirt, water, snow, rodents, air and even sound getting into your garage.
If you plan on using your garage as a gym, music room or just want to keep it clean and securely closed then a garage seal is essential.
To seal your garage door completely you will need a bottom seal and side seals.
Contents
Garage door bottom seals (also known as garage floor seals) seal the space between the threshold of your garage door and the door bottom itself. They create a seal between the door and the floor when the door is closed against them.
There are a number of different types of garage door bottom seals:
They are particularly useful if your garage entrance is at the bottom of a slope where water collects as they create a watertight (and airtight) seal which prevents water leaking under your garage door.
Read our guide for information on how to install a seal.
Not all garage door bottom seals are created equal, this may surprise you given that they all look more or less the same but there is a huge difference between a cheap seal and a good quality one.
A good seal does not allow water to leak under it, is non-slip, is eco-friendly and will not perish or fade when exposed to the weather.
Here are three of the very best garage door bottom seal products available to suit a range of budgets:
Weather Defender are a UK based company with over 40 years experiences in the garage door industry. It's safe to say they know what they're doing.
Their door seal is 16.7mm high and is specially designed to create an impenetrable barrier between the floor and the seal meaning no water will get under it (as can happen with low-quality seals).
It works seamlessly with all garage door types including side hinged doors, up and over doors, sectional doors and roller doors (read our article on quiet garage door rollers for tips on making these types of door quieter). It has a few features which help it stand out from the crowd making it worthy of our top spot, these are:
Garadry threshold seals are made with a special high-strength polyvinyl chloride which, when sealed to the floor with the Garadry floor sealant creates a 100% watertight garage door threshold.
PVC is much better than rubber in this instance because it is UV resistant and therefore does not perish as quickly as rubber would so you can be confident you will get many years of service out of it.
They can also be recycled, do not have that horrible rubbery smell and will not lose color or rot as rubber often does.
The Universal Garage Door Defender is a solid budget option.
Be aware that this product is made from EDPM rubber which tends to be less durable than PVC sealants, that said it will last a long time as EDPM is a synthetic rubber designed to be extremely durable for use outdoors.
It can withstand extreme heat (both hot and cold) without cracking or splitting.
Side seals close up any haps between your door frame and garage door.
They should be fitted on your door frame in a way which allows the seal to be in contact with the garage door when closed.
Side seals are particularly good at preventing damp and wind from getting through, they can also contribute (slightly) towards soundproofing your garage.
If you're looking for good quality, reliable garage door seals at a reasonable price then below are three of the best products.
Be aware that a door seal is only effective when it is installed correctly, a poor installation job will render even the very best of seals useless, so if you're not confident in your D.I.Y skills please hire a professional to fit it.
The Cloud Buyer garage door side seal is made from heavy extruded vinyl.
Extruded vinyl is a great material to seal your doors with because it is strong, UV resistant (so the colors won't fade) and it is cheap to produce - it certainly won't break the bank.
This particular product comes in a 33 feet roll which is more than enough for even the biggest of garage doors.
It is very easy to install, simply nail or screw it into your garage door frame ensuring that the lip is overhanging your garage door.
It comes with a 3-year warranty and if you're not happy with it just contact them and they will issue a full refund.
The M-D seal is made from flexible vinyl which will help create a seal around the sides of your garage door preventing air, leaves, dust, moisture and most importantly noise (we are a soundproofing blog after all) from getting through.
Vinyl door seals such as this one help extend the life of your garage door and make your garage door quieter because they cushion your door when it closes, rather than it noisily banging against the door frame the vinyl seal provides a softer surface to close against which reduces door noise.
Made in China, this seal comes in white. It also includes the necessary fasteners to attach it to your door frame.
A lot of side seals aren't conducive to being painted on as the vinyl they are made from doesn't hold paint very well.
Not so with the Auto Care Top & Side Seal. If you want to paint it to match the interior of your garage or your garage door you can!