Is your home feeling drafty? Are your energy bills creeping up? The culprit could be your exterior doors. Even the tiniest gap can let in a surprising amount of cold air, making your space uncomfortable and wasting precious heat.
But don’t worry! With a little know-how and elbow grease, you can seal those pesky gaps and keep the chill where it belongs—outside. In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know how to seal exterior doors like a pro.
Why Seal Your Doors?
Before we dive into the nitty-gritty, let’s talk about why sealing your doors matters:
- Energy Efficiency: Drafty doors can account for a significant portion of heat loss in your home. Sealing gaps can help lower your heating and cooling costs.
- Comfort: No one likes sitting in a chilly room! Weatherproofing helps maintain a consistent, comfortable temperature throughout your home.
- Pest Prevention: Gaps aren’t just an open invitation for cold air—they can also let in insects, spiders, and even mice. A well-sealed door keeps critters out.
- Moisture Control: Drafts can let in damp air, potentially leading to mold, mildew, and rot around your door frame. Sealing helps control moisture.
Assessing Your Doors
Spotting the Gaps
The first step is playing detective. You need to find where those sneaky drafts are coming from. Here’s how:
- Visual Inspection: Check for visible light shining through the edges of your closed doors. Pay special attention to the top, sides, and bottom.
- The Candle Test: Light a candle and slowly move it around the perimeter of your closed doors. If the flame flickers or goes out, you’ve found an air leak.
- The Paper Test: Shut your door on a piece of paper. If you can pull the paper out without resistance, your weatherstripping needs work.
- The Flashlight Trick: At night, have a partner shine a flashlight around your door from the outside. If you see light coming through, you’ve got gaps.
Identifying Your Door Type
Not all doors are created equal. Weatherstripping techniques can vary depending on your door style:
- Wood Doors: Prone to warping and changing size with temperature fluctuations. May require adjustable weatherstripping.
- Metal Doors: Less prone to warping but can still develop gaps over time. Magnetic weatherstripping is a good option.
- Double Doors: Pay extra attention to the space where the doors meet in the middle. Weatherstripping for one door should overlap the other.
- Sliding Patio Doors: These doors typically have built-in weatherstripping, but it can wear out over time. Replace as needed.
Choosing Your Weatherstripping
Walk into any hardware store and you’ll find a dizzying array of weatherstripping options. Here’s a quick rundown of the most common types:
- Compression Weatherstripping: Made of open-cell foam, rubber, or vinyl. Presses between the door and frame to create a seal. Best for uniform gaps.
- V-Strip/Tension Seal: Fits into a grooved slot in the doorstop. The “V” shape presses against the door. Good for irregular gaps.
- Door Sweeps: Attaches to the bottom of the door and has a flexible flap that presses against the threshold. Effective at blocking drafts.
- Foam Tape: Inexpensive peel-and-stick foam. Works well for small gaps and oddly shaped spaces. Compresses to fill voids.
- Silicone Rubber: Slides into pre-cut grooves in the doorstop. Very durable and invisible when the door is closed. Can be tricky to install.
Most doors will require a combination of weatherstripping types. Measure your door carefully and choose products designed for exterior use.
Installation Tips & Tricks
Compression & V-Strip Weatherstripping
- Measure your door frame and cut strips to length, erring on the side of slightly too long. You can always trim later.
- For V-strips, cut a groove into your doorstop with a utility knife if one doesn’t exist. It should be about 1/8″ deep.
- Start at the top corner and work your way down each side, pressing the weatherstripping into place. Use finish nails for nail-on types.
- Butt the side strips up against the top strip for a snug fit. Trim any excess with a sharp utility knife.
- Open and close the door to check for a consistent seal. Adjust as needed.
Door Sweeps
- Cut your door sweep to match the width of your door using a hacksaw. For a cleaner look, trim the rain drip overhang too.
- Close the door and position the sweep so the flexible flap just barely touches the threshold. Mark your screw holes.
- Drill pilot holes to prevent splitting, then attach the sweep with the provided screws. Take care not to overtighten.
- Test the door’s action. The sweep should glide smoothly over the threshold without dragging or catching.
Weatherstripping & Insulation Tricks
- For large or uneven gaps, layer weatherstripping. Use a thicker strip for the bulk of the gap and a thinner one to fill in any remaining space.
- Seal the tops and sides of your weatherstripping with a bead of clear, exterior-grade caulk for added protection against drafts and moisture.
- For large voids behind the door frame, use minimal expanding spray foam insulation. A little goes a long way, so apply sparingly!
- Don’t forget your storm doors! Adding weatherstripping to these can provide an extra buffer against wind and cold.
Maintaining Your Hard Work
Weatherstripping doesn’t last forever. Regular wear and tear, temperature changes, and moisture can all cause it to break down over time. Here’s how to keep yours in tip-top shape:
- Inspection: Take a peek at your weatherstripping every season. Look for cracks, brittleness, or compression loss. Replace worn out sections ASAP.
- Cleaning: Wipe down your weatherstripping with a damp cloth periodically to remove dirt and debris. This will help extend its life.
- Lubrication: If your weatherstripping seems to be sticking or catching, try rubbing it with a bar of soap or spritzing it with silicone lubricant.
The Big Benefits
So you’ve put in the work and your doors are sealed up tight. What can you expect? Here are just a few of the perks:
- Lower heating and cooling bills. No more paying to heat the great outdoors!
- A more comfortable home. Say goodbye to chilly drafts and hello to cozy, consistent temperatures.
- Fewer pests. Mice and bugs will have to find another way in (or preferably, stay outside where they belong).
- Reduced risk of moisture damage. Drafts can let in humid air, leading to mold and rot. Sealing helps keep things dry.
- Peace and quiet. Weatherstripping can help block outside noise for a more serene indoor environment.
You’ve Got This!
Sealing your exterior doors is a simple yet powerful way to boost your home’s comfort and efficiency. By following these steps and choosing the right materials, you can lock out drafts, pests, and high energy bills.
So grab your tools, channel your inner handyperson, and get sealing! Your wallet (and your toes) will thank you.
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