Why You Should Weatherstrip Doors - Window Restoration Supply

30 Jun.,2025

 

Why You Should Weatherstrip Doors - Window Restoration Supply

With a typical household spending more than $2,000 a year on energy costs – isn’t it worth it to reduce that energy consumption?!

According to the Department of Energy, consumers can save an average of 7.5% on energy bills by sealing air leaks with weatherstripping. There are MANY advantages to including exterior doors in weatherstripping efforts:

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  • Weatherstripping an entrance door creates a much-improved air seal.
  • The better a building is sealed from air leaks, the more efficient its energy use.
  • More efficient heating and cooling units demand less energy.
  • You can weatherstrip and replace weatherstripping yourself.
  • Reduced energy use lowers energy bills!

On average, weatherstripping pays for itself in 1 – 3 years.

How do you make a door airtight?

With weatherstripping! A variety of materials can be used to seal the top, sides, and/or bottom of a door to create a solid air seal around the door frame. Creating this seal helps to ensure warm or cool air stays inside, and hot or cold air stays outside. Sealing air leaks will keep your home’s temperature more consistent, easier to regulate, and your HVAC equipment running more efficiently all year.

Stop your money from going out the door.

A major contributor to air loss in a home is through exterior door frames (don’t forget interior doors between “cold spaces”!). Even small cracks and gaps can leak substantial amounts of expensive temperature-controlled air over the course of a year. Instead of  watching your dollar bills drift outside – install door weatherstripping!

Preserving original wood doors is important.

Wooden windows that are kept well maintained and that are properly weatherstripped will last far longer than ones that are neglected. Entryways and doors contribute significantly to the historic character of a building.

Metal weatherstripping offers a great solution to drafty doors. Only slight areas of metal show, and the quality of the metal material will still provide a look of quality and “real” materials, versus homely vinyl or stick on strips.

Feel good being environmentally conscious.

Taking steps to reduce a building’s energy consumption by making heating and cooling more efficient does lower your carbon footprint. We all want to do what we can to reduce stress on the planet. Also, Window Restoration Supply's  weatherstripping lasts for years – decades longer than other forms of weatherstrip. This means less waste in the landfills. Lastly, we use no plastics, adhesives, or other damaging VOC’s in the production of our products or installation materials we manufacture.

Weatherstripping is a relatively inexpensive home improvement.

Home improvements are expensive, but sealing air leaks is not only fairly simple, it is less expensive than a lot of other projects. You and your family will feel a lot more comfortable all year when your thermostat is able to maintain a consistent temperature.

BONUS – door weatherstripping does more than stop air leaks!

Beyond comparing the cost what you can save on your energy bills, metal weatherstrip will last for decades. It provides a superior seal, compared to other types of weatherstrip. AND it will also improve the operation of your doors – making them slide open against the door frame more smoothly. Metal weatherstripping provides a highly effective and attractive solution to sealing leaks in older homes.

Window Restoration Supply's Weatherstripping to the rescue!

Our metal interlocking door weatherstrip, is durable and meant to last decades. The door weatherstrip is used at the top and along the sides of a door to create an invisible, interlocking seal that makes air infiltration nearly impossible. We offer brass door saddles to fit the most common size thresholds.

Types of Weatherstripping - Constellation Energy Blog

Improving all weatherstripping types and repairing your existing weatherstripping is an easy and affordable way to make your home more energy efficient. Windows, doors, and other openings around your home with old, damaged or completely absent weatherstripping can leak cool air in the summer and hot air in the winter.

With a little information about types of weatherstripping that are available and tips on how to install weatherstripping, you can make your house up to 20% more efficient. When it comes to winter home improvement projects, this one pays off.

7 types of weatherstripping and their uses

When planning how to weatherize your home, you will want to consider various weatherstripping types. Weatherstripping comes in a wide variety of materials and styles, each with their own specific uses, benefits, and disadvantages. Let’s take a look at the common materials and uses for these readily available types of weatherstripping.

1. Tension-seal weatherstripping

This kind of weatherstripping is made of vinyl, aluminum, or stainless steel. The material is folded into a V-shape that creates spring-like tension when compressed to form a tight seal. Because of its shape, it is also known as V-strip or V-channel weatherstripping. This durable, nearly invisible alternative is good for sealing doors and windows. It does take some skill to install properly, and can make it harder to open and close windows and doors.

2. Felt weatherstripping

Felt weatherstripping is a traditional material that is one of the least expensive ways to seal doors and windows. It is easy to install and comes either plain or reinforced with a pliable metal strip. Unfortunately, it is the least effective and least durable option.

Use it on windows that are not frequently opened and to fill gaps around your home that are not subjected to movement. If you go this route, opt for all-wool felt, as it lasts longer than other types of weatherstripping felt.

3. Rolled-vinyl gasket weatherstripping

Flexible or rigid rolled-vinyl gaskets are a good choice along door jambs, window stops, the bottoms of doors and window sashes. They are a durable and weather-resistant option. When it comes to how to install weatherstripping of this type, the spools are easy to unroll and apply. It is also a moderately priced option.

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Weatherstripping Manufacturers.

One drawback of these weatherstripping types is that the material is visible once in place. And over time, the adhesive can break down and the material can peel away.

4. Foam weatherstripping

Foam weatherstripping is a type of compression weatherstripping that comes in tape form or attached to wood or metal strips for reinforcement. Foam tape is a good choice for irregular-shaped corners and cracks. Reinforced foam weatherstripping is good for frequently-used doors and windows. Tape is easier to apply, but it is not as durable. The reinforced variety is a bit trickier to install, but lasts longer.

5. Door shoe and door sweep weatherstripping

Door shoes and door sweeps are two ways to seal the gap between a door and the floor. A door shoe is made out of U-shaped aluminum that’s fitted with a vinyl insert and attaches around the bottom of the door. A door sweep is a wooden or metal strip fitted with a nylon blade that attaches to the outside of the door.

Both of these options are generally very durable, but they can be difficult to install. You may have to take the door off its hinges and plane it down to have enough space for the weatherstripping to allow the door to open and close smoothly without sticking.

6. Frost-brake threshold weatherstripping

A solid threshold works as a thermal bridge that transfers heat or cold between the outside and inside. Metal thresholds are very durable, however, they are efficient thermal bridges. In this case, efficiency isn’t a good thing. In winter, they can get cold enough that water condenses and freezes on them, which can lead to physical damage and mold.

Frost-brake thresholds divide the solid material with vinyl or silicone inserts that create physical divisions to interrupt the flow of heat or cold. Installation takes expertise, but if you live in a place that experiences temperature extremes, installing them might be worthwhile.

7. Pile weatherstripping

Pile weatherstripping consists of dense fibers attached to a metal strip. They are commonly used in sliding windows and sliding glass doors. They are difficult to install, tend to collect dirt, and can become unstuck over time. When properly installed and maintained, however, they are effective.

How do the materials of weatherstripping compare?

Various materials used in weatherstripping offer pros and cons that you will have to weigh as you consider ways to save energy in your home. Making the right choices can cut your average home power usage.

Vinyl vs. rubber weatherstripping

Vinyl vs. rubber weatherstripping choices are plentiful. In general, vinyl offers more shape and color choices and provides superior strength and durability. Both materials are flexible and easy to install. Vinyl is less expensive, but is a petroleum product. Rubber is an organic renewable resource, which is appealing to some.

Rubber vs. foam weatherstripping

Deciding between rubber vs. foam weatherstripping is a question of trade-offs. Rubber is a natural product, but can be more challenging to install than foam. It is more expensive, too. In extremely cold conditions and in direct sun, rubber can crack and break down. Foam is made from petrochemicals, so if you want only environmentally friendly, green products in your home, foam is not a good choice.

Rubber vs. felt weatherstripping

Rubber weatherstripping is more effective, easier to clean and more durable, than felt weatherstripping. It is also more expensive and harder to install. Felt is renewable and manufacturing it is less damaging to the environment. If you are looking for a green option, felt is a good choice.

How to install weatherstripping

Now that you’ve settled on the types of weatherstripping that work best around your home, the next step is to install it.

Start by doing visual inspection of your doors and windows to see where weatherstripping is damaged, inadequate or missing. Also, check for air leaks around your house to prioritize where to start your project.

You will begin by measuring the perimeters of all of the doors and windows that need weatherproofing. It is a smart idea to add an additional 10 percent to your measurements to account for mistakes. Also consider the thickness and widths of your materials so that you choose the right one for each application.

How do you replace weatherstripping around a window?

Replacing weatherstripping around a window is the same process as replacing weatherstripping around a door.

  1. Start by removing all of the old weatherstripping. New weatherstripping must be applied to a clean, dry, flat surface to properly adhere.
  2. Use a single, continuous strip along each side.
  3. Make sure that the weatherstripping fits snugly together at the corners.
  4. When in place, the window should fit tightly against the weatherstripping without being difficult to open.

The best weatherstripping in the world cannot overcome old, leaking windows. One of the best home improvements for resale value increases in your home is replacing broken and drafty ones with new energy-efficient windows.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website Weatherstrip For Greenhouses.

How do you seal a garage door?

  1. If present, remove any old weatherstripping, making sure that the surface is clean, dry and flat when finished.
  2. Measure the top and the sides of the garage door, and cut pieces of weatherstripping to size.
  3. Starting along the top of the garage door, attach the weatherstripping loosely until the strip is completely in place. Then tighten all the screws.
  4. Complete the same steps on both sides of the garage.
  5. Test your garage door, ensuring that the weatherstripping does not interfere with the garage door’s ability to open and close.