When the Weather Outside Is Frightful, Weatherstrip

Ever stand near an unweatherstripped door on a cold night? Chances are you noticed a distinct chill in the air.

And when the wind blows, you can feel the cool air passing around the door directly into the room.

Of course, the passage of cold air into the house is accompanied by warm air leaving the house.

So unless you like the idea of taking the edge off winter in your entire neighborhood, weatherstripping your exterior doors is essential.

Door weatherstripping is normally a two-stage process: First, install a “door sweep” at the bottom to seal between the door and threshold. Second, install “jamb set” weatherstripping to seal around the perimeter of the door.

Both types of weatherstripping are available at most building supply stores.

A door sweep consists of an aluminum strip with a flexible vinyl edge that attaches to the lower portion of the door.

When the door is shut, the vinyl edge contacts the threshold below the door to form a seal (which also helps keep out bugs and rodents).

Door sweeps come in a variety of designs. Most are flat, about 11/2 inches wide, but some are made in an “L” or “U” shape that wraps under the door to help protect the lower edge from moisture.

And some are built with a spring-loaded hinged flap that lifts automatically when the door opens to clear carpeting or a throw rug. It comes in a number of colors.

All of them are designed for fairly easy do-it-yourself installation.

Jamb-set weatherstripping is similar to a door sweep in that it is also an aluminum strip about an inch wide with a soft vinyl edge, but it is attached to the door jamb around the perimeter of the door rather than to the door itself.

It works like a refrigerator door gasket in that it forms a tight seal around the perimeter of the door when the door is shut. Jamb-set stripping also comes in a number of colors and is also designed for do-it-yourself installation.

For double doors that meet in the center, use door sweeps at the bottom and jamb-set weather stripping at the perimeter, but seal the crack between the doors with a product called “open cell foam weatherstrip tape.”

This is a strip of easily compressed foam rubber, about 1/4-inch thick, with a self-adhesive backing. It is easily attached to the “astragal,” the wood strip that covers that gap between the doors, to form a tight seal.

Expect it to last only a year or two before losing its elasticity. Fortunately, its is easily removed and replaced.

Regardless of which type of weatherstripping you install, always check the operation of the door locksets to assure everything is properly adjusted.

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Gary Abrams is a general contractor who has written about home improvement for The Times for 10 years. Comments and questions can be sent to TheHomeDoc@aol.com.