How to Install a Temporary Draft Guard on an Apartment Door

All kind of yucky things sneak into apartments under the door. There's the chilly drafts that jack up your energy bill. Then, there's the "exotic" smells coming from neighbors' kitchens and the bright hall light when you're trying to sleep. To top it off, possible pests like cockroaches can march right in. The easiest fix seems to be a draft guard mounted on the bottom of your apartment door. But, if your landlord isn't crazy about permanent fixtures, you'll be left in a bind. Don't fear, there's a simple way to temporarily attach a draft guard that will banish unwanted sights, sounds, smells, and bugs. Follow these steps and you'll be able install a draft guard without power tools that you can remove before move-out.

Things You'll Need

• an all-plastic draft guard in a color that matches your door (can be bought for under $15 at Walmart) and is the right length for the width of your door
• utility knife
• 10-12 (pairs) heavy duty 3-M hanging velcro strips (for at least 1 lb duty)

Instructions

1. 

   Prop the draft guard up so that it is vertical and one end is resting on the ground. It will have 4 flexible plastic flaps running up and down that normally hang down to block under the door. You want to cut in the middle of the four rows to split the draft guard in half vertically.

2. Hold the draft guard in your left hand and the utility knife in your right, right about where the cut should begin. Push down firmly and steadily with the middle of the blade perpendicular to the thin edge of plastic until the knife begins to cut.

3. Cut about 2 inches at a time. Try to keep the knife perpendicular to the ground. Your cut will start to veer to the right or left despite your best efforts. When this happens, stop and reposition the knife. Be patient and take your time to avoid cutting into the flaps on either side. If the plastic forces you to cut through the side, make sure to always do it to the same side so that you maintain one whole half even if the other is in pieces. The edge will be uneven but this will be out of sight on the apartment door.

4. You should end up with two vertical halves or one half plus pieces. The whole half will be your draft guard. Having it rest against the bottom of the apartment door only on one side will let you attach it with adhesives. Furthermore, many apartment doors have sills on the bottom with interfere with 2 of the 4 flaps.

5. 

   Open the apartment door if necessary. Peel the back off of 1 velcro strip and attach it firmly and horizontally to the bottom of the inside of the door. Push hard for 30 seconds. Repeat this with all of the single sides across the bottom of the door. Place them end to end. Do not place them more than 1/2" high or they will show.

6. 

   Now attach the opposite 3-M velcro strip sides to the inside of the draft guard where it will rest against the back of the apartment door. Make sure to hold each one for 3 seconds.

7. 

   Wait for an hour. Open the apartment door. Then, carefully fit the draft guard onto the bottom of the door. When it is in place and flush against the door, push to make the velcro strips attach. Now, you should be able to open and close your apartment door. Most importantly, when it's closed, the door will be much better sealed!

Tips & Warnings

• Take your time when cutting the draft guard

• Make sure to concentrate on leaving one side in tact

• Practice fitting the draft guard onto the apartment door before you attach the strips so that you know how to work it on afterward.