What the Heck is Gasketing?

Gasketing is another term used for perimeter seals or weatherstripping. But what the heck is it? Gasketing for doors has to do with the seals that are installed around the perimeter of the opening. Doors do not create a perfect seal against the door frame when they are shut. Depending on where the door is located, there may be an unwanted transmission of sound, air, light, and other elements. Gaskets can be placed at the full perimeter (top, sides, and bottom) of the door to seal the opening.

4 Types of Gasketing Materials

Gasketing can be made of many materials but here are the 4 most commonly used in the door industry:

1. Vinyl
2. Neoprene
3. Silicone
4. Brush

The manner in which these materials are be installed at the opening can vary from simple adhesives to screws and other fasteners. Durability and performance are important things to consider when selecting a gasketing material. Vinyl is a popular choice due to economical factors. Neoprene has good tensile strength which means it compresses easily and it can withstand moderately extreme temperatures. Silicone is very flexible and remains so even in severe temperatures. Durability and resistance to aging are also characteristics of silicone gaskets. Gasketing made from brush material is good for resisting pests and holds up well in extreme temperatures but it is not as effective against water penetration.

Typical Applications for Gasketing

Most often gasketing is used at exterior doors to prevent weather from coming through the opening. Energy and money can be saved by adding good weatherstripping which will keep the good air in and the bad air out. Another common application for gaskets is at fire rated openings. In the event of a fire, smoke gaskets help prevent smoke from passing through the door. Finally, gasketing is also installed at an opening to decrease sound transmission. It is amazing how much sound passes through the gaps between the door and the frame when the door is closed. By adding sound seals you can effectively reduce the amount of noise coming through the door.

Sometimes several layers of gaskets are used and this can cause issues with actually using the door when it is not acting as a sound barrier!

Conclusion

We have only scratched the surface when it comes to gasketing. Many other factors will come into play when selecting the type of seals you need at an opening. You don't want to have too many seals when you don't need them because they can restrict the door's function in other ways. You definitely don't want to have too few seals otherwise the opening will not perform as expected! In any case, Beacon CDL can help you choose the correct seals for the right application.