How to Weatherproof a Door

Co-authored by Ryaan Tuttle

Last Updated: December 14, 2023 References

Doors are frequently a source of drafts in your home, which can end up costing you big bucks in heating and cooling bills. Even if you're not particularly handy, there are some quick and easy fixes you can do, like installing an adhesive weatherproofing strip or a draft-fighting door sweep. For a more permanent fix, you can install tension strips or an integral door sweep to improve insulation.

Things You Should Know

Line the sides of the doorframe and the top jamb with weatherstripping and install a door sweep to seal the door and reduce drafts.
Installing a storm door is a key upgrade if you’re trying to protect your doorway from the elements.
Insulating any glass on your door with plastic film can help keep cold air out.
You can fill in irregularly-shaped gaps or missing chunks of weatherstripping with foam tape, which can be cut to length and stuck to your door or doorframe as needed.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Doing Quick and Easy Fixes

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1
Use adhesive weatherproofing strips. ^{[1]
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- Stores carry a wide variety of adhesive weatherstrip. Buy a few types and see which work best.
- A surface must be very clean and very dry or the strip will fall off before too long. On cold days, the surfaces will be slightly damp from condensation, so dry the surface with a hair drier. Clean it using fine sandpaper or a rough sponge.
- Remove the backing of the adhesive strips a little at a time as you press them into place on the door jambs and along the edges of the doorframe.
- Nail in one tiny nail at each end of every strip you stick on. Use brass "weatherstrip nails".
- Modern doors are usually designed with grooves along the sides and jambs that weatherstripping can be inserted into.^{[2]
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- Sometimes it can be difficult to apply an adhesive strip by yourself. Asking a friend to help you out can make this process quicker and easier.
- Depending on the fit of your door, you may not be able to attach adhesive strips along every edge of the door. If a strip prevents the door from closing properly, it should be removed.
- Adhesive strips are usually sold in different widths and thicknesses, which will allow you to choose the best size for the gaps along the edges of your individual door. Measure gaps with a tape measure or ruler.^{[3]
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Install door insulating felt. One of the benefits of this kind of felt is you can trust it to last for at least a year or two even though it's relatively inexpensive. Cut the felt into strips long enough to stretch along each edge of the door, then use nails or staples to fasten it around the edges.^{[4]
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- The felt should be thick enough that it compresses when the door closes, but it should not interfere with the closing of the door.^{[5]
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- Normal carpentry staples should work for attaching felt to your door, but for improved durability, you may want to use heavy-duty ones.
- When you replace insulating felt, you'll have to take out the staples before reattaching the new piece. This can create unsightly holes where the felt was installed.
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3
Add a weatherproofing door sweep.^{[6]
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Expert Source

Ryaan Tuttle
Home Improvement Specialist

Expert Interview. 13 January 2021.} Unattached door sweeps slide underneath the gap at the bottom of your door, closing it off at either side with where the sweep thickens. Open your door, and at the center of the sweep (where it thins like a trough) insert the sweep under the door.^{[7]
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- On newer doors, there is usually a groove in the bottom of the door for inserting a sweep.
- Some unattached door sweeps can get bunched up and make it difficult to open or close your door. In these cases, use masking tape to hold the sweep in place.
- Some door finishes may be damaged by tape. If you decide to use tape to hold your sweep in place, attach the tape to an out-of-sight part of the door.
- Use a threshold adapter to close any gap between the bottom of the sweep and the threshold.
4
Mount a door sweep to the inside surface of a door
- Almost all door sweeps are 36" long. Buy one of these and cut it to size with a hacksaw or metal shears.
- If the gap under the door is too wide for a standard door sweep, buy an extra wide model.
- If there is no threshold, the door sweep will drag along the floor and wear out soon. Carefully mount the threshold to barely contact the floor.
- If the door is metal, use the screws in the package, but drill a small pilot hole in the door for each screw. You may need to use the drill to drive in the screws.
5
Cover door windows with insulating plastic film. Door windows can also contribute a great deal to draftiness. Apply two layers of double-sided tape side-by-side around the window frame. After about 15 minutes, peel off the backing of the tape and then press the plastic film insulation into place.^{[8]
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Research source} You can also purchase insulating plastic that already has an adhesive strip attached.
- You can improve the insulating power of this plastic by inserting a layer of bubble wrap in the space between the window and the film.
- Most kinds of plastic film insulation require at least an inch or two (2.5 to 5 cm) of film extending beyond all sides of the window.
- Depending on the brand of insulation, you may need to use a hair dryer to bond the film to the adhesive. Always follow the insulation's instructions for the best results.^{[9]
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If you can apply a weatherproofing product on both sides of your door, in many cases this will double its efficiency. A second, outer layer of weatherproofing adhesive strips or insulating film can greatly reduce draftiness for relatively little effort.^{[10]
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Replace weatherproofing products as necessary. Over time, weatherproofing products will wear down and start to lose efficiency. At the start and end of every season, look over the weatherproofing materials used on your doors. Replace any that look old or deteriorated.
- If you notice cracking, discoloration, unnatural stiffness, looseness, or peeling, it's probably time for you to replace the weatherproofing material.^{[11]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Installing Tension Strips

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Your tension strips will need to be as long as the top and bottom of your door. In some situations, your door may only have space for a tension strip along the top or bottom. After measuring the door, mark the strip at the appropriate length.
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Cut the strips and fold them if necessary. Use scissors to cut your tension strips at the mark(s) you've made. For V-seal tension strips, after cutting, you'll need to fold the strip in half lengthwise, usually along some kind of a seam.^{[12]
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- Some tension strips are made from durable material, like heavy-duty plastic or metal. These kinds of strips may require tin snips to cut.
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Fasten the strips into place. Tack-fastened tension strips should be pounded into place with a hammer at the top and/or bottom of the door. These can then be opened slightly with your fingers to make a tighter seal. V-seal weather strips often have an adhesive backing. For these strips, remove the backing and press the strips into place.
- Opening the V-seal will cause the strip to rise off the ground so it touches the bottom of the door when closed, improving the seal.
- Heavy-duty seals may be difficult to open with your hands. In situations like this, use pliers or a prying tool, like a sturdy screwdriver, to spread V-seals open.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Attaching a Door Sweep

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1
Evaluate the gaps around the edges of your door. If your door was installed in its jamb snugly, you may need to purchase an especially thin sweep. The best way to ensure you buy the right sweep for your door is to measure the gaps with a tape measure.^{[13]
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- If you have a sweep already in place that isn't doing the job, you may need to remove this first. In most cases, sweeps can be popped free with a prybar.
2
Attach bristle sweeps to the door bottom. Bristle sweeps usually fit easily underneath most doors. Certain bristle sweeps even have small wheels, which are ideal for uneven floors. Screw bristle sweeps into place along the bottom of your door with a screwdriver.
- Depending on your door, it may be easiest to remove the door by taking the pins out of the hinges before trying to attach a bristle sweep.
3
Use an integral sweep to seal large bottom gaps. Integral sweeps generally add a bit to the height of your door. Because of this, unless there is a large gap along the bottom, you'll need to adjust the height of the door or remove some wood from its bottom. Screw in the integral sweep to the bottom edge of the door, and under door drafts should diminish, if not totally disappear.
- If you end up shaving wood off the bottom of your door to make room for an integral sweep, make sure you seal it to prevent it from weathering or rotting unevenly.
- Integral sweeps are also useful if you want the sweep to be less noticeable or if you want it to appear like the sweep is a natural part of the door.

Expert Q&A

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Question

What kind of weather stripping should I use?

Ryaan Tuttle
Home Improvement Specialist
Ryaan Tuttle is a Home Improvement Specialist and the CEO of Best Handyman, Inc. in Boston, Massachusetts. With over 17 years of experience, he specializes in building home service businesses, focusing on creating scalable and efficient brands. With the help of his global team, the companies have achieved over 10+ million in sales and received recognition through magazine features, and enjoy partnerships with wikiHow and Jobber field service software. Boston Magazine and LocalBest.com have named Best Handyman Boston the Best Handyman in Boston. Ryaan holds Construction Supervisor and Home Improvement Contractor Licenses.

Ryaan Tuttle

Home Improvement Specialist

Expert Answer

There are a lot of different styles of weather stripping that will work. There are some that go on the outside of the door. On the exterior side there would be three pieces of weather stripping, which get cut and fit and screwed in height to the door slab itself. When you open and close the door, it pushes against the strip of insulation that's off the outside of the door frame and makes a tight connection. There's also weather stripping where you use an electric tool to cut a groove all around the door slab and then you push in a rubber gasket all around the door. When you close the door, that makes its own gasket. You can always add a threshold weather stripping as well if you have a draft coming under the door.

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Tips

Most weatherproofing products are widely available at hardware stores and home centers.

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Before putting in weatherproofing, clean doors thoroughly with water and a mild detergent, like dish soap. This is especially important for adhesive products, which can lose strength when contaminated with dust.

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Warnings

Follow the directions that came with your weatherproofing products for best results. Using these incorrectly could result in damage to your door or a poor seal.

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