There are many different ways to heat your home, but they could all be in vain if you don’t have good weather stripping on your doors. The average door without weather stripping has a 1/8th inch gap the entire way around which works out to be about 6 square inches of open space, which is 6 square inches too much when the winter wind is blowing. Installing your own weather stripping is quite easy as long as you’ve got the weather stripping and some time. Throughout our years working in community association management, we’ve seen the benefits of weather stripping on doors and want to make sure you know how to keep your home warm this winter.
There are many different types of weather stripping and each has a certain way to attach it to your door frame. In every case you want to make sure that the stripping doesn’t stop the door from swinging open or shut. Too much stripping can jam the door open while too little stripping won’t stop cold drafts. Below are four of the most common types of weather stripping and instructions on how to install them. Each of these types of weather stripping are placed on the inside of the door frame, between the frame and the door.
- Felt: Hard packed fabric that comes in a long thin roll. This material is usually cheaper, but can become soiled after a season of muddy foot traffic. Simply measure the gap you need to fill and find felt the width of the gap. Measure out the length you will need around all sides of the door and attach to the door frame with finishing nails or staples.
- Foam tape: This foam has an adhesive side that will stick to just about any surface. The foam will compact and compress so it will fill in most gaps without jamming the door open. Measure the lengths you need around the door frame and cut them off the roll. Wash the door frame down with warm soapy water and thoroughly dry it. Peel the protective paper off the adhesive side and firmly press the foam tape to the door frame.
- Door sweep: This is a metal frame holding a rubber squeegee that is screwed in along the base of the door. The metal frame can also hold a nylon brush or a sponge instead of a squeegee. Cut the door sweep to the length of your door base and use screws in the screw holes to attach the door sweep to the inside of the door.
- Tubular rubber, vinyl, or silicone: This is the most versatile type. Tubes tend to have a milled grove in the door frame they are attached to, but they can be put onto any door frame. The tubular rubber, or other similar material, expands where it needs to and can compress to a very small size. It’s very versatile and can be placed on any area around the door frame. Cut it to length and attach with finishing nails, staples, or an adhesive strip if it’s provided.
This is one simple way to keep your heat inside your home this winter. Weather stripping does wear down over the years, so be sure to check it before every winter.
