Author Topic: Best weatherstripping/flashing for exterior doors?  (Read 6767 times)

Sibley

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 7493
  • Location: Northwest Indiana
Best weatherstripping/flashing for exterior doors?
« on: August 14, 2017, 08:22:50 AM »
Hi all, I'm out of my depth here. I have 2 exterior doors in my house, they currently have the same weatherstripping/flashing, and it needs to be replaced.

This stuff looks like what's currently around the door frame, the door closes against it:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/84-in-Platinum-White-Collection-Door-Weatherstrip-Replacement-91890/204252333

Not sure what's on the bottom of the doors, can't see, but I've picked up pieces of rubbery stuff.

Doors are hollow steel I believe. They look exactly like this:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/JELD-WEN-32-in-x-80-in-Fan-Lite-Primed-Steel-Prehung-Left-Hand-Inswing-Front-Door-THDJW184500202/202036479

I'm in the midwest, it gets cold and windy and I would prefer not to freeze this winter.

What's the best to use?

Fishindude

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 3075
Re: Best weatherstripping/flashing for exterior doors?
« Reply #1 on: August 14, 2017, 08:47:45 AM »
I like to use the aluminum / vinyl bulb type weatherstrip on the sides and top, then a brush type sweep on the bottom.
Also need to be sure you don't have a big gap between bottom of door and threshold.

Bracken_Joy

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 8927
  • Location: Oregon
Re: Best weatherstripping/flashing for exterior doors?
« Reply #2 on: August 14, 2017, 08:52:52 AM »
Generally, on the bottom of exterior doors there is a thing called a "door shoe" which contains a replaceable strip of vinyl. Most is made by M-D or Frost King. You need to figure out the dimensions and type of your current vinyl stripping, or replace the shoe entirely (much more work since they're often glued on, screwed on, and painted over). Sometimes the vinyl is "pinched" in, so you may need to take the door off the hinges in order to remove the remaining vinyl and see what you're working with.

We had a 'weird' one, and after looking through their product catalogs and figuring out what matched ours, ended up having to write the company for a replacement. Which we got, for free, but still have *no* idea how to replace it in the future since they only sent up one. SIGH.

Anyway, hopefully having the language and brands around what you need there will help in your quest to find it. Beginning stages, I just showed up with sad vinyl in a baggie at Home Depot. They've seen weirder, and helped as best as they could. They have the most commonly used options there for like $3/ replacement strip. Good luck!

Re: the door weatherstripping. Here's a nice guide online I've used: https://www.familyhandyman.com/doors/weatherstripping-doors/view-all/

paddedhat

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 2228
Re: Best weatherstripping/flashing for exterior doors?
« Reply #3 on: August 14, 2017, 08:54:57 PM »
The weatherstripping on a prehung steel or fiberglass door typically consists of four components. First there are the are the side and head jamb bulb seals. They are like the one you listed the link for. They are often proprietary, and some are clearly marked. Therma-tru brand, for example, molds their name into their bulb seals. If you can find a name on the hinges, bulb seals or other parts, you might be able to find a direct replacement. I have also sucessfully used gewneric ones that fit well. When you do replace them, it's a simple matter of pulling the old piece out of the groove in the jamb and pushing a new one back in. Most need to be trimmed to fit, so cut them a bit long, like a 1/4" or so, on the long legs, so they fit tight. Next there is the sweep on the bottom of the door. This is typically a flat rubber piece with a few short rubber fingers that hang down, making a good seal. The sweep is commonly glued and stapled to the bottom of the door, so you need remove the door, and place it on saw horses to remove and replace that piece. There are also small foam pads that are often placed in the corners of the frame and seal the corners of the bulb strip. These are self-stick and about 1-1/2"X 3". They come with the door and are frequently missing, or even tossed out by whoever is installing the door. If used properly they can make a big difference. Finally, there may be an adjustable sill, that can be raised or lowered, to allow the sill to meet the sweep tightly, and keep air from leaking under the door. If any one of these four components is missing, torn, worn, or mis-adjusted, the door can leak a LOT of air.

Sibley

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 7493
  • Location: Northwest Indiana
Re: Best weatherstripping/flashing for exterior doors?
« Reply #4 on: August 15, 2017, 08:39:19 AM »
Thanks all. It sounds like I can handle the stuff around the door, but I'll need someone to help me get the door off the hinges. I don't want to be flattened by it!

paddedhat

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 2228
Re: Best weatherstripping/flashing for exterior doors?
« Reply #5 on: August 15, 2017, 09:18:36 AM »
Unless you are unusually small, you will have no issues handling a typical "steel" door. They are a bit of a fraud is some respects, as most people think "Steel=solid, tough, heavy".Fact is, they are a very skimpy, frail, wooden(often particle board and cardboard) frame, filled With foam, and covered with a very light gauge sheet metal. Now a commercial steel door as found in a school, or hospital, is another thing entirely, and could leave you flat on your back, under a very heavy door, if you don't know what you are doing.