Are sneaky drafts finding their way into your home, leaving you with energy bills that make you sweat even in the winter? Do you have uninvited pests welcoming their way in through gaps in your doors? Or perhaps you’re bothered by the infiltration of moisture and dirt. Either way, weatherstripping is the solution you need.
With the weatherstripping, you can leverage 10—20% annual energy savings, which reduce not just your energy bills but also your carbon footprint. In addition, you can effectively prevent insects and moisture from invading your home.
There’s a big variety of weatherstripping available. But which to choose? After all, when it comes to choosing the right type of door weather stripping for a house door, a little consideration can go a long way in keeping your home comfortable and energy—efficient. In this article, we’ll explore the common types of weatherstripping to help you decide on the perfect solution for your home!
6 Common Types of Weather Stripping to Prevent Drafts
Here are the common door weatherstripping types to help you decide. Each type comes with its upsides, downsides, and suitability for specific purposes.
1. Foam Tape
Foam tape, also known as closed—cell tape or adhesive—backed tape, is a common kind of weather stripping due to being affordable and easy to install.
The foam tape is made from EPDM, a type of rubber, with a sticky back that easily adheres to door or window frames. Foam weatherstripping comes in various widths and thicknesses, making it flexible for handling irregular gaps or small cracks.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that foam weatherstripping tends to wear out relatively quickly, especially when compared to other weatherstripping options besides felt weatherstripping. This means it may require more frequent replacements to maintain its effectiveness in sealing gaps and preventing drafts.
Either way, during their lifetime, they’re capable of providing good overall protection for irregular gaps with a low price tag, keeping their place as popular weather stripping for house doors.
2. V—Strip
V—strips, also known as tension seals or tension strips, offer a practical solution for weatherstripping needs. These vinyl or pliable metal strips are folded into a V shape, giving them their name. Installed on the top and sides of the door, they spring open to fill the spaces.
The installation process varies depending on the material used. Metal v—strips require being nailed into the door frame. On the other hand, vinyl strips come with the advantage of an adhesive back, making them quick and easy to stick onto the door. They’re also a more budget—friendly option, depending on the material used.
Whichever material you choose, V—strips boast remarkable durability, providing reliable protection against drafts and ensuring energy efficiency for your space. In addition, they tend to be invisible when in place, which’s an attractive upside if you take the aesthetics into value.
3. Door Sweep
Also called door shoes, door sweeps are flat pieces of wood or metal with vinyl, plastic, or felt brush which has the purpose to fill the gaps between the bottom of the door and the door threshold.
To ensure a proper fit, it’s necessary to carefully measure before attempting to install the door sweep. Otherwise, they can drag on the floor, which wouldn’t just disrupt the door closing or opening but also harm any carpet. Of course, it’s also important to ensure that the gap gets properly filled.
To address this issue, there’re automatic door sweeps available, which are on the pricier side. Their seal gets withdrawn inside the door bottom when the door is opened, preventing the door sweep from grinding against the floor. There’re surface—mounted options available, while others require a mortise to be cut inside of the door.
Some door sweeps come with a convenient adhesive back, making them easy to stick into place, while some need to secure them to the door bottom through screwing. It’s recommended to install them on the outside of the exterior door; otherwise, you can risk elements accumulating under the door.
Overall, it’s an excellent and durable solution for dealing with the gaps found between the floor and the bottom edge of the door.
4. Door Shoe
Similar to the door sweep, the door shoe is another type of door weather stripping for filling the gap between the door and the threshold. It’s a U—shaped aluminum piece with a vinyl insert. It requires being slid into the bottom of a door and then screwed into place.
However, keep in mind that the process may not always be quite straightforward. There may be a need to plane the door to accommodate space for the door sweep, which’s best left to a door services expert.
5. Tubular Gasket
Tubular weather stripping, also known as compression weatherstripping or tubular gasket, is a door seal designed to be applied around doors. It takes the form of rubber or vinyl tubing. It comes in both hollow and filled with a flexible material like foam or sponge, which makes it more effective.
When it comes to installation, there’re a couple of options. You can use adhesive to stick it in place, or it may require screwing or pressing into a channel created with a router. Keep in mind that the installation process tends to be challenging, even with the self—stick approach.
It can’t be painted, so it can dampen the aesthetics. Though tubular weather stripping may have a higher cost compared to other options, it makes up for it with its durability and effectiveness. This sturdy seal is built to last, providing reliable protection.
6. Felt Seal
Felt weatherstripping is available as either plain or reinforced. The plain type can be made from polyester, wool, or cotton, while the reinforced variety includes metal for added strength. Conveniently sold in rolls, felt weatherstripping is a breeze to install. All you need to do is staple it around the door jamb, and you’re good to go.
One of the major perks of felt weatherstripping is its affordability, making it an attractive choice for budget—conscious individuals. However, it’s also essential to consider its limitations.
Felt weatherstripping is not the most robust option out there and tends to wear down relatively easily, especially when exposed to a high amount of moisture and friction. It also doesn’t provide as much prevention of air infiltration as the other options. If you go for a felt seal, then all—wool felt is recommended due to better durability than the other materials, although it’s pricier.
How to Choose the Right Type of Weather Stripping?
Now that you’re familiar with the different types of weather stripping, there comes the question: what type of door weather stripping should you choose?
First and foremost, you’ll want to assess the location and exposure of the door to the elements. If it’s an exterior door that faces harsh weather conditions, opt for durable materials that can withstand moisture and temperature fluctuations. You also need to keep in mind the nature and location of the gaps and determine which type of weather stripping can fill them up efficiently.
Remember that an expert like a professional locksmith can better assist you in choosing the right weatherstripping With extensive knowledge of weather strips, they can’t just help you pick the right type of weather stripping for your house door, they can also help secure the high—quality product and install it for you. Installation can be tricky, especially for certain types of weatherstrips. They can make the process a breeze for you and save you time and effort!
In addition, they can also assist with inspecting windows and doors for air leaks to ensure that the home is adequately safe from drafts.
Looking To Install Weatherstripping? We Can Seal Your House Windows and Doors!
Now that you know about the different types of weatherstripping, you can make your home more comfortable and energy—efficient. Whether you choose a foam tape, V—strip, door sweep, door shoe, tubular gasket, or felt seal, properly installing weatherstripping around doors and windows will help seal your house from the elements.
Remember, if you’re unsure about which type of weatherstripping to use or find the installation process daunting or have suspicions about your home having air leaks, don’t hesitate to seek the assistance of a local locksmith or home improvement expert. They can assist with assessing your needs and applying weatherstripping.
So, are you looking to get your house weatherized in Caledon? Our Caledon locksmiths have you covered! We have extensive experience with weatherstripping solutions that are sure to give you peace of mind and eliminate any gaps around doors and windows that are leaving your energy bills spiking. The process of finding the right type and then installing it can be challenging. We can procure the type of door weather stripping for your house door and install it efficiently, saving you from trouble.
Say goodbye to pesky drafts and high energy bills, and enjoy a more pleasant living environment with our services now!