How to Apply Weather Stripping

Weather stripping is available for entry doors, windows, thresholds, garage doors and any other point in a home where air can enter or escape. There are several types of weather stripping, including gaskets, tape or door sweeps. Weather stripping seals a home from the elements, insects and rodents. Weather stripping will also help to decrease utility costs by blocking heat or cold air loss. The installation method depends on the gap that requires weather stripping.

Things You'll Need

• Mild detergent
• Weather sealing tape
• Utility knife
• Threshold gasket
• Needle-nose pliers
• Vacuum
• Broom
• Block of wood
• Door sweep
• Tape measure
• Pull saw
• Power drill
• Power screwdriver
• Compression weather stripping
• Flat chisel
• Flat-head screwdriver
• Brads
• Mallet
• Astragal
• Pry bar
• Spray lubricant

Instructions

Weather Sealing Tape

1. Clean the surface of the window, door or exterior dryer vent with mild detergent. Rinse and dry well.

2. Peel off the protective covering that sits over the adhesive surface of the tape. Begin at the end of the tape and peel the covering back 2 to 3 inches at a time when applying.

3. Line the end of the tape up to the corner of the door, exterior dryer vent or window. Press the tape into the seam or gap. Continue to remove the protective covering while pressing the weather sealing tape in place until the tape covers the gap. Apply tape in straight lines; do not attempt to turn a corner.

4. Cut the tape when you reach the end of the gap or seam with a utility knife.

Threshold Gaskets

1. Remove the old threshold gasket. Threshold gaskets sit in the groove in a doorway. Grip the gasket with needle-nose pliers and lift it out of the groove. Bring the old gasket to the store to exact a match.

2. Sweep or vacuum dirt, debris and dust out of the threshold groove.

3. Press the new gasket into the threshold groove. Cut off excess gasket material with a utility knife.

4. Place a block of wood over the new gasket. Press the wood into the gasket to seat the gasket completely in the groove. Move the wood along the length of the gasket until the gasket sits in the threshold.

Door Sweeps

1. Measure the width of the door and cut a door sweep to the same size as the door with a pull saw. Many door sweeps come in standard sizes to match standard size doors so cutting is not always necessary.

2. Place the door sweep up against the door from the inside of the house. Have the vinyl or rubber flap lightly touching the threshold.

3. Mark the screw holes onto the door. Door sweeps typically come with pre-drilled screw holes. Drill pilot holes with a power drill on the marks.

4. Line the door sweep up to the pilot holes and sink screws through the pre-drilled door sweep holes and into the door with a power screwdriver. Continue to sink screws until you secure the door sweep to the bottom of the door.

Compression Weather Stripping

1. Remove the door from its hinges and set aside.

2. Pull old weather stripping out of the channel. Generally, brads hold compression weather stripping in place. Pull the weather stripping through the brad. Place a small flat chisel or flat-head screwdriver under the edge of the brad to remove old brads.

3. Line up the new compression weather stripping to the channel and tap new brads in place with a light mallet. Repeat on both sides of the door and across the top.

Astragal

1. Open the garage door to gain access to the bottom of the door. U-shaped astragals, generally found on the bottom of a metal garage door require replacement when they wear.

2. Pry the old astragal out of the channel with a small flat pry bar.

3. Clean the dirt and dust out of the channel with a flat-head screwdriver.

4. Spray a lubricant into the channel. Choose a lubricant that is compatible with the astragal material. Some lubricants will degrade the astragal material.

5. Line the astragal up to the channel and push in place. Cut off excess with a utility knife.

Tips & Warnings

• Choose replacement weather stripping to match old weather stripping.

References

• "Windows and Doors"; Time Life Editors; 1997
• "Home Heating & Cooling"; Time Life Editors; 1994