Garage Door Perimeter Weatherstrip: getting ready

A length of weatherstrip along the right jamb has pulled away, nails and all, and it slaps against the trim every time the wind picks up. The wood behind it is dark and soft where it meets the floor.

Worth answering before the call

Has the door recently been replaced or adjusted? Have mice, leaves or water been getting in? Is your garage attached to the house, and is it heated?

Should I choose a fin on the wood stop or a one-piece vinyl stop?

If the wood stop is sound, straight and not buried in paint, a new fin nailed to its face is the simpler choice and keeps the look of the trim. If the stop is cracked, soft or has been painted many times, a one-piece vinyl stop replaces it entirely, needs no paint and cannot rot. The technician checks the stop and recommends one or the other on site.

Why should the seal only touch the door lightly?

The fin is meant to bend against the door with a small, even deflection. That is enough to seal, and it lets the fin spring clear as the door lifts. Pressed hard, it drags on the door face, folds under on the way down, squeals and wears through well before its time, and it adds load to the opener. Set too far off, it leaves a standing gap. The light touch is the setting that lasts.