About Weather Stripping
Weather stripping is a pliable foam or rubber material used to seal gaps around doors and windows. It is sold in various lengths and types to fit most household needs and is generally quite inexpensive. Properly used weather stripping can reduce heating and cooling bills, prevent rain from leaking into a house and can keep insects and other pests out. Does this Spark an idea?
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Types
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Weather stripping comes in two basic types: foam and rubber. Foam weather stripping is typically backed by an adhesive surface for easy installation. Rubber weather stripping can be glued in place, but is usually designed to fit in a groove machined in the door or window. For installations where the groove is unavailable, rubber weather stripping is available pre-mounted to an aluminum strip that can be screwed or nailed to the surface. Felt weather stripping is also available, but less commonly used.
Function
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All weather stripping performs the same function: keeping cooled and heated air indoors, while protecting the interior of the house from the elements. Foam and most rubber weather stripping is meant to be crushed in the gap when the window or door is closed, thus providing a weather-tight seal. "Door sweeps" that are fastened to the surface of the door cover a gap from the outside rather than internally filling it.
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History
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Weather stripping has been in use for as long as doors and windows have existed. Log cabin doors typically had fur or another flexible material tacked around the edge to create a pliable, weather-tight seal that kept out wind, rain and insects. Before synthetic foam and rubber weather stripping became readily available, most mass produced weather stripping was made from felt. Felt weather stripping is still sold, but is less popular than that made from other materials because it is less durable.
Considerations
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Select the proper type of weather stripping for the job. Most packaging for weather stripping indicates the intended function of the product. Some weather stripping, such as that made from felt, is unsuitable for areas with direct exposure to the elements. A clean surface is required for adhesive-backed weather stripping to stick properly and remain effective.
Expert Insight
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Few areas of the home are more neglected when winterizing than repairing or installing weather stripping. A general rule of thumb is, if you can see daylight through the crack, it needs to be weather stripped. Weather stripping can greatly reduce your heating and cooling bill. It is very inexpensive and easy for the average homeowner to install.
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