The Importance Of Weatherstripping Your Exterior Door

The Importance Of Weatherstripping Your Exterior Door

Weatherstripping your new, unique door is a critical part of keeping your home comfortable and energy efficient. Without it, you’ll have to spend extra money heating and cooling your home, which can add up quickly!

Preventing Leaks

Sealing leaks around your exterior door is crucial for your comfort, energy savings, and health. In addition to reducing energy costs, a properly installed door seal keeps out drafts and water that could cause rotting wood and other problems. To make an effective seal, you need to use weatherstripping that’s appropriate for the area where it’s located. Choosing the right type depends on factors like weather, temperature, and climate. For example, if you live in an area with cold winters, choose rubber or foam weatherstripping for your threshold. The material isn’t as expensive as other options, and it’s easy to install. For high-traffic areas, vinyl is more suitable, as it is durable and resistant to moisture. It can also be cut to fit specific areas. Interlocking metal is another option, but it requires professional installation and costs more.

Appearance

For the sake of aesthetics, you may also want to consider the appearance of your weatherstripping before purchasing. For example, if you want to match the color of your door with your new strip of weatherstripping, you’ll need to make sure it matches up. Whether you choose aluminum, wood or plastic strips, these materials are usually available in many colors to fit in with any other parts of your home.

Moisture

In addition to keeping out rain, snow and other elements, a good exterior door seal can also keep out unwanted moisture. This is particularly important when it comes to wood doors. If moisture can seep into the wood, it can cause damage to the frame and the inside of the door.  Not only can this moisture harm the interior of the door and its woodwork, but it can also lead to mold, mildew and even health issues like allergies and asthma.

Durability

Weatherstripping your exterior door is an affordable and easy way to improve comfort, lower energy costs and extend the life of your doors. However, it’s important to understand that not all doors are created equal and some need more advanced door bottom seals or door corner seals to maximize their effectiveness.  If you’re ever unsure about the proper door seal or how to install it, it is best to call a door professional for assistance!

Categorised in: Exterior Doors, Weatherstripping