When it comes to weatherstripping doors in your home, there are a variety of types and materials to choose from. Often, homeowners will use a combination of two or three different types of weatherstripping in order to get the most efficient seal and insulation from their door.
For the most part, the two main areas to focus on are your door's threshold and its sides and top. Each of these different areas of your exterior door usually requires different weatherstripping. Read on to learn more about weatherstripping doors.
Types of Weatherstripping
1. Tension seal weatherstripping is moderately priced and is usually made for the tops and sides of an exterior door. Tensions seals are available in the less expensive vinyl. They are also available in bronze, copper, aluminum, and stainless steel to better suit older homes. Weatherstripping doors with this V-shaped design provides an invisible and durable seal along the door as the strip springs outward to press against the doorframe, blocking drafts. Vinyl tensions seals come in self-adhesive strips for ease of installation. The metal varieties must be attached using screws or nails.
2. Felt weatherstripping is an easy and inexpensive option for boosting your energy efficiency. Fitted to create the best seal for your doorframe, felt weatherstripping is installed using either glue, tacks, or staples to hold it in place. While felt can be a budget-saver, homeowners should still note its poor durability—especially when exposed to moisture and humidity—in addition to the fact that felt weatherstripping can look unappealing.
3. Tubular vinyl and rubber weatherstripping is another option for weatherstripping doors' tops and edges. Although slightly more expensive than other options, is very effective for creating a tight air seal around doors. Most tubular weatherstripping is held in place using either tacks or staples, although some self-adhesive varieties are available.
4. Threshold weatherstripping creates a seal beneath your exterior door. It is commonly made using metals like aluminum and stainless steel, with a small brush of plastic, vinyl, or felt attached. Although moderate to higher in price, door sweep threshold weatherstripping is both durable and easy to install, making it a good value. Additionally, an aluminum door shoe can be installed along the bottom edge of the door, strengthening the seal beneath your exterior doors.
5. Vinyl bulb threshold weatherstripping is more expensive as well. This seal combines tubular and aluminum weatherstripping to offer a hybrid seal option. It features a tubular vinyl design to create a seal at the door's bottom and an additional strip of aluminum weatherstripping to reinforce the seal.
Weatherstripping Doors in Need of Replacement or Repair
Weatherstripping doors that are old and worn down may offer some slight improvement to your home's energy efficiency. However, since many old doors are still made with inefficient wood, you may want to consider installing a new door. Exterior doors made with modern, high-performance weatherstripping and materials like fiberglass far outmatch wood and other older materials in terms of efficiency. They can also be finished to resemble traditional woods, offering homeowners a chance to upgrade their energy efficiency and maintain an elegant curb appeal.
