weatherstripping materials for doors

There are many and very diverse weatherstripping materials for doors, from the inexpensive and easy to install to the expensive and very difficult... Be aware, anyway: cheap and easy to install weatherstripping materials are often ineffective and have a low lifespan.

Damaged weatherstripping increases unwanted heat or cold transfer around the door by many times.

Before air sealing your doors

It’s a good idea to weather-strip other larger air leaks in your home, namely attic air leaks, before weather-stripping doors (and windows).

The reason is obvious: warm air rises, and if your doors (and windows) are air-sealed first, more heated air will escape through the attic and upper air leaks.

Before beginning air sealing a door it’s also important to examine it and the possible causes of air leakage. Pay attention to the hinges, the strike plate and the door knob; tight their screws, if necessary. The door should operate smoothly and evenly; the hinges shouldn't move when moving the door in the opening position, and should remain tight against its stop when the door is pulled.

Weatherstripping will not work on doors definitively bent or otherwise damaged…

Weather-stripping vs. Caulking
Weather-stripping a door is different from caulking it. Both are intended to prevent air infiltration, but while the weatherstripping goal is to block air infiltration between the movable parts of door (by sealing the gaps between the frames and the door’s moving parts when they are closed), caulking is aimed to block small holes and gaps around the doors (or windows). With weatherstripping both surfaces of a door remain free to move...

Exterior doors should be carefully weather-stripped. But do not forget the doors that lead to non-air-conditioned areas like the attic, garage or basement…

Cheap vs. Expensive Weather-stripping Materials

Weather-strips come in multiple materials and shapes; they can be made from metal, foam, plastic, rubber, vinyl, felt or a combination of materials.

Felt-tape, foam-tape and most plastic self-adhering weatherstripping are very easy to install but they aren't effective or last long.

On the other hand, long-lasting and effective materials like metal V-strips or interlocking channels weatherstripping can be very energy-efficient but are difficult to install and more expensive.

Top and sides vs. bottom door weatherstripping

The materials involved in the top and sides of the doors are different from those used at their bottoms (door sweeps, door thresholds and door bottoms). Even the materials installed to the jambs of the doors are usually different from those mounted to the stop.

See:
Door Bottom and Door Sweep Weatherstripping
Door Threshold Weatherstripping
Stop and Jamb Door Weatherstripping

Choosing the right type of weatherstripping material

Before you buy weatherstripping, inform yourself on the right kind of weather-stripping. It varies with the location of the gap, its size and the amount of expected wear and tear….

Weather-stripping can be bought by the foot or in kits (online and in local hardware and home improvement stores).

Installation difficulty varies from the very simple to the complex. It depends on the type of weatherstripping material: installing magnetic weatherstripping or interlocking channels weatherstripping is extremely difficult to achieve in existing doors. But there are also weatherstripping products very easy or relatively easy to install, namely self-adhesive products. In this case, you just have to first clean the surfaces to which the weather stripping is going to be applied and follow the manufacturer’s directions. Pay also attention to outdoor temperatures: some materials will not stick at low temperatures. Also apply the material in one continuous strip (along the jamb or the stop of the door) and make sure it is tight enough at the corners.