Side and top garage door weatherstripping is a strip of PVC stop molding with a soft flap, nailed to the outside of the door frame so the closed door presses against it. To replace it, remove the old strip, fit the top piece first, then the two sides, with the flaps facing outside. It is a job most homeowners can do with basic hand tools.
What side and top weatherstripping does
The bottom seal gets the attention, but the door also has to meet the frame on both sides and across the top. That gap is closed by stop molding: a rigid strip of PVC, usually with a flexible flap, fastened to the jamb. The closed door rests against it.
When the strip is cracked, shrunk or missing, you get daylight at the edges, dust and leaves in the garage, and drafts in winter. DDM Garage Doors notes that gaps let wind push the door back and cause drafts, so any gap you find is worth closing. If the gap is under the door instead, read daylight under the garage door and bottom seal replacement.
What you need
- New PVC stop molding, solid rather than hollow
- Trim nails and a hammer
- A tape measure and a pencil
- A razor blade for shaving a piece that is slightly long
- A straightedge for a clean, square cut
- A pry bar for removing the old strip
How to replace it, step by step
Check the gap first
With the door closed, push in on it and look at the gap between door and frame at the top and sides. A gap that changes a lot from one place to another points to a door or track problem, not just worn seals. See garage door repair.
Take off the old strip
Pry the old molding off the jamb and pull the nails. Keep the first piece as a pattern for length.
Fit the top piece first
Hold the new top strip flush against the frame, mark the far end, and cut it square. Drive nails only part way, about six inches apart, so you can still adjust it.
Fit the side pieces
Open the door. Cut each side strip to length, shaving it with the razor if it is too long. A strip that is too long will bubble and not seal. Nail the sides part way, six to twelve inches apart.
Mind the flaps
DDM recommends the top-flap style, with flaps on the outside and the top flap behind the side flaps, so the door pushes them all outward as it closes. Follow your product's instructions if they differ.
Close the door and test
Close the door, push on it and look for any gap. Adjust the strips, then open the door and drive the nails home. Do not hammer PVC while it is bent, because it is brittle and can break.
Driving nails all the way in while the strip is held against the closed door makes it hard to adjust. Part-way nails let you move a strip a little, then finish once the fit is right.
What to avoid
- Do not nail through the door itself, only into the frame.
- Do not buy hollow molding if solid is available. DDM recommends solid.
- Do not force a strip that is too long. Trim it.
- Do not leave the opener live while your hands are near the track. Make sure nobody can press the wall control or a remote during the job.
Quick answers
What is side and top garage door weatherstripping called?
It is usually called stop molding, door stop or jamb seal. It is a strip of PVC fastened to the frame, with a flap that the closed door presses against.
Can I replace garage door weatherstripping myself?
Yes, for the sides and top it is a hand-tool job: pry off the old strip, cut the new one to length and nail it to the frame. Leave springs and cables to a technician.
Which goes on first, the top or the sides?
DDM Garage Doors fits the top piece first and then the two sides, with the flaps facing outside and the top flap behind the side flaps.
Why is there still a gap after I put in new weatherstripping?
The door may have shifted or the track may be out of line. New stop molding only fixes a worn seal, so have a technician look at an uneven gap.
How to tell the seal is working
Close the door in the afternoon and look from inside for light around the edges. Then run your hand along the strips for drafts. A good fit leaves the flap lightly pressed against the door along its whole length, with no daylight at the corners where the top and side pieces meet.
Look at the seals again in spring and fall when you check the rest of the door. For a full list, see the garage door maintenance checklist.
When to call a technician
Call if the door does not close evenly against the frame, if a wide gap appears on one side, or if the door rubs hard on the strip. Those are signs of a door that has shifted or a track that is out of line, and they are not fixed by new weatherstripping. Never adjust springs or cables yourself. A tune-up of rollers or sensors typically costs $150 to $350 with us, confirmed after we see the door.
Where we come in
Emil Garage Doors repairs garage doors, openers and gates in Southern California, and the city pages cover California, including Elk Grove, Cypress and El Cajon. If your weather seals are only part of the problem, call (213) 340-4232 or send the estimate form.
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