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] X Research source 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] X Research source
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] X Research source 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.
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.
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.
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] X Research source
If you notice cracking, discoloration, unnatural stiffness, looseness, or peeling, it’s probably time for you to replace the weatherproofing material. [11] X Research source
Some tension strips are made from durable material, like heavy-duty plastic or metal. These kinds of strips may require tin snips to cut.
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.
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.
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.
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. [16] X Research source 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.
