Questions You Should Know about Automotive Weatherstrips Manufacturer

For today's blog we are going to discuss an important element that every car needs: weather strips.  Old or damaged weather strips can wreak havoc on your interior, by letting water, air and debris creep in, so you'll want to make sure you know the in&#;s and out&#;s of how weather strips keep the right things inside your car and the wrong things out of it.  We'll go through our top questions about weather strips, starting with what they are.

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What are weather strips?  Weather strips provide a barrier between the inside and outside at the seams of your vehicle to prevent water, air and debris from getting in an area of your vehicle that it shouldn&#;t.  They fill gaps and seams and help separate parts, as well as provide a barrier of protection for noise reduction.  You&#;ll find them mostly at the openings in your car like at the doors, windows, along a convertible top and at the trunk. Most weather seals are not seen unless you have these areas open, like a door ajar.

How are they different from weather seals?  The short answer is that they aren&#;t any different.  Some people will call weather strips by the name weather seals, simply because they are &#;sealing&#; the inside the car from the outside elements.  The seals come in strips, so that is why they are called weather strips; some people will even refer to them as &#;&#;weather stripping&#;.

How do I know I need to replace my weather stripping?   There are a few obvious signs that weather stripping needs replacing.  One, when water is getting in your vehicle when the windows are up and the doors are shut.  It can start with a little moisture or dampness and then escalate from there.  If you know water is getting in, you can use a water hose or spray bottle to help you identify pinpoint where the issue is.  Another sign that your weather stripping needs replacing is increased road and wind noise, meaning that the strips may not be making a tight enough seal to keep out the exterior air and noise.  Sometimes a visual inspection of your weather stripping will show cracks or holes, which is a clue they need replacing.  And last, you can press your finger against the weather stripping and if it doesn&#;t feel cushiony and is not pliable to your touch, then it likely won&#;t do it&#;s job creating a tight seal and it should be replaced.

How are weather strips sold?  Weather strips are sold in one of two ways: 1) by kit and 2) individually.  Types of kits will vary and some will include more than others, so it&#;s important to read through all the locations that are included in any kit you are looking at.  Specialty kits for convertible tops are also sold and can include the strips needed to weatherproof your convertible top where it meets your vehicle, like top frames seals and roof rail seals.  Some kits include the strips for doors and trunks, too.  Individual weather strips are available and sold for lots of different areas of your vehicle.  Popular weather strips that are sold individually include side rails, trunk seals and header bow seals.  You&#;ll note that some strips are sold in pairs, like door frame seals and window post pillar seals since they come in pairs on your vehicle.  Weather stripping kits give you the best value, but if you are not needing to overhaul all of the weather strips on your vehicle, then purchasing them individually can save you some money.

What should I look for when buying replacement weather stripping?  Purchasing quality weather strips is going to help preserve the integrity your vehicle and help prevent undue damage from the elements.  You&#;ll want to look for weather strips that are guaranteed so you know the company stands behind their product and that is it well-made.  You&#;ll also want strips that have a smooth look and feel; free from obvious flaws and inconsistencies in the strips.  Additionally, you&#;ll want to ensure your replacement weather strips have proper 3D contouring and fitment for the area of the vehicle that they will go on, so you don&#;t have gaps, inconsistent coverage and poorly aligned fitment details.  And last you&#;ll want strips that have micro-closed cells, which help provide even compression for long-term durability and wear.  All of the weather strips carried by TopsOnline meet this quality criteria and carry a 15-year replacement warranty.

What supplies will I need to have when installing new weather strips?  When installing new weather strips, you&#;ll need to ensure the old weather strips are completely taken off, including any adhesive residue that is leftover, which may require an adhesive remover. You&#;ll often need to remove cosmetic facing and panels to get to the edges of weather strips and may need to remove screws holding those panels in place.  Some weather stripping will snap into place, but most will require new weatherstripping adhesive to bond it to the weather stripping channel or surface that it will go in. You&#;ll want to make sure the application surface is clean and dry by using a mild cleaner and cloth, then you&#;ll apply a very thin line of weatherstripping adhesive that you&#;ll attach the new weather strips to, moving slowing and insuring it is applied firmly and in line.  Some experts recommend applying a very thin bead of adhesive to both the area needing adhesive and the strips themselves.  Then smear the adhesive along the area, letting it get slightly tacky before putting the two sides together.  The short answer for tools needed when installing weather strips are a screwdriver, adhesive remover, a mild cleaner, cloth and new weather stripping adhesive.

Do weather strips vary by make, model and year?  Weather strips do vary by the make, model and year and are made as factory-style replacements that will match up to the bends, screws, joints and channels that the original weather strips had.  While you can purchase generic, all-purpose weather stripping, you wouldn&#;t want to do so unless you had a clunker that you were not keeping.  

How long should weather stripping last?  Weather strip longevity will depend on what quality strips are purchased.  Some generic stripping, not made for specific areas of your vehicle will not last as long as factory-original replacement weather strips made for your specific make, model and year.  The weather stripping sold by TopsOnline comes with a 15 year replacement warranty and should even last longer than that.

What are moulded weather seals?  Some weather strips will be designated as &#;moulded&#; and are commonly found for doors where they will contour and curve to create a tight seal along the door as it fits to the frame of your vehicle.  They are especially important for creating a complete and tight seal.

What are window gaskets?  Window gaskets seal the glass of your windshield to the body of the vehicle and are applicable to all vehicles.  

Is maintenance required for weather stripping?  Technically no maintenance is required.  However, for freezing cold weather some auto gurus recommend spraying your weather seals with silicone spray yearly so they don&#;t have issues with water freezing around the weather stripping in your door during cold weather, freezing your door shut.  A little silicone spray will keep the water from freezing to your weather stripping, letting you get into your car during icy weather. For very hot and dry weather, auto experts recommend spraying your weather seals with rubber protectant so they don&#;t dry and crack when the temperature heats up.

We hope this answers your questions about weather stripping.  Check out the weather strips and weather stripping kits available from TopsOnline.  If you still need an answer for a question you have, feel free to reach out to the TopsOnline Customer Support team.  

Sound familiar?

As a rubber manufacturer for the Auto, RV and Marine industries, we have technical terms we use to describe our products. This guide is to help beginners and pros alike to decipher the types of parts we offer and their application. In this post, we will explain:

• What is Weatherstripping
• How is Weatherstripping Applied
• What is the Difference Between Auto, RV and Marine Weatherstripping
• Basic Weatherstripping Terminology

What is Weatherstripping?

Defined, weatherstripping is a strip of rubber or other material used to seal the edges of a door or window against the cold; however, weatherstripping has a variety of applications and protects you from more than a chilly breeze.

Weatherstripping is an essential tool that guards your investment from mold, dust, dirt, grime, draft and pests, and keeps your air conditioning/heat inside.

The weatherstripping and rubber parts we produce here at Steele are manufactured from EPDM rubber. EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer) was developed in the s to meet the increasing demand for innovation in manufacturing. EPDM essentially mirrors the physical properties of natural rubber and adds the important function of UV resistance.

Want more information on Automotive Weatherstrips Manufacturer? Feel free to contact us.

Due to its extreme weather, UV, and Ozone resistance, EPDM is the perfect weatherstripping compound to produce all of our parts out of. We also back all of our parts with a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

How is Weatherstripping Applied?

There are multiple ways to apply weatherstripping from glue-on, push-on and adhesive backed strips. Not every application will work for all projects so it&#;s important to consider your project&#;s unique needs before purchasing a weatherstrip.

What is the difference between Auto, RV and Marine Weatherstripping?

• Automotive seals are determined by the make, model & year of your car
• RV & Marine seals are mostly universal, as they have a variety of applications. However, select parts can have specific fitment based on year and make.

To expand a little more on those:

Automotive weatherstripping is determined by your car&#;s unique make, model and year. This is both convenient and inconvenient at times. How so? Depending on the type of car you have, you might not find what you&#;re looking for. This typically means that no one else has asked for that seal, or that there isn&#;t a high enough demand to produce those parts. If you&#;re looking for a kit, or all the seals for your particular make and model car, you can use a parts finder like the one of the Steele Rubber site. For example, say I&#;m looking for the seals for a Camaro Hardtop.

However, if you don&#;t see the parts you&#;re looking for, we recommend looking at our Universal line. If you&#;re doing a custom project like a hot rod or street rod, check out our Street Rod line! If we can&#;t produce what you need, we reach out to other companies in the industry to help you find what you&#;re looking for.

RV weatherstripping is vastly universal because RV manufacturers would often use what seals they had on hand. Which could result in two of the same year, make, and model RVs having different seals on them. Our RV parts are categorized by the seal&#;s location. For example, doors and compartments, A/C gasket, windows, and slide outs. Just because a seal is located in one category, doesn&#;t mean you can&#;t use it in another application.

In our marine line, you will find parts specific for boats like rub rails. As well as a variety of parts also included in our RV line. The main characteristic that distinguishes marine parts from the RV parts is that these seals are tested to withstand fresh and saltwater conditions.

Basic Weatherstripping Terminology

Gasket &#; A shaped piece or ring of rubber that fills the space between 2 or more surfaces, generally to prevent leaks. A gasket typically fills the space between the glass and metal channel of the RV.

Edge Trim &#; Designed to cover rough edges. Used around doors and other applications that require a cover for an edge.

Insert Trim &#; Insert trim rubber is the perfect replacement to the original vinyl seal. Most vinyl tends to crack and let water in the track which causes mildew. Our insert trim is manufactured from dense, 100% EPDM rubber, making it UV and weather resistant. It is designed to fit & lock in the metal track found on many RV and Toy Haulers.

T-Rubber &#; These seals can be used in just about any application where rubber is held in place with a track or channel. Many RV screen doors and shower doors utilize T-rubber seals.

Push-On &#; Push-on seals refer to how they are installed. These seals are designed to stop leaks, drafts, reduce noise and ensure a secure fit. These types of seals mostly consist of a rubber bulb attached to push-on type insert trim that has an integrated steel core. The result is a long lasting seal that is easy to install and requires no glue or adhesive to install.

Peel-N-Stick &#; Another type based on installation. These seals feature a 3M double-sided adhesive backing which offers quick and easy installation. Our Peel-N-Stick seals are superior to other parts with double-sided tape for a few reasons: We exclusively use 3M tape, we heat-apply the backing to our parts in-house during the manufacturing process, and because the heat-applying process permanently bonds the rubber seal and tape together.

Sponge Rubber &#; There are 2 types of sponge rubber, closed cell and open cell. EPDM rubber seals are typically closed cell sponge rubber. These seals are flexible, weather and UV resistant and can withstand pressure for long periods of time without losing their shape. Sponge rubber can be molded or extruded. Closed cell is ideal because it also does not absorb water like open cell designs. Our sponge rubber is closed cell. This is achieved by a salt-bath curing process.

Dense Rubber &#; Dense rubber can be extruded or molded and is cured using intense heat to achieve a solid structure. These seals feature greater resistance to impacts, abrasion and wear. This type of rubber is commonly found in window applications, and as a replacement for vinyl or plastic seals.

Extrusion &#; The extrusion process, as explained on our facility tours, is just like pushing Play-Doh through a toy mold. Dies (the shape we want the extrusion to be) are placed at the beginning of the extruder. Then, the proprietary EPDM rubber compound is forced through that die and &#;cured&#; to keep its shape. Dense rubber cures with dry heat, while sponge rubber extrusions are sent through a molten salt bath that makes the rubber expand into the squishy rubber we all know and love.

Mold &#; Our rubber molds are carefully crafted out of metal by computer controlled cutting machines to very exact dimensions. Each mold requires a specific amount of rubber to form each part. The rubber is either placed or mechanically injected under heated pressure into the mold and placed in a heat press to cure to take and hold shape.

Steele not only offers top-quality products, but top-quality knowledge to help you complete your projects, too. If you have questions regarding weatherstripping for your classic vehicle, street rod, RV, or boat, don&#;t hesitate to contact us! Call us at 800-447-, send us an , or chat with us on our website.

*For additional help check out our How To series on YouTube!

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Contact us to discuss your requirements of Automotive Weatherstrips. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.