2024 11:10 , മാര്‍ . 12 Back to list

steel file-Gaps at the Bottom of a Door

Weather stripping is a simple and cost-effective way to reduce the amount of unwanted air, dust, moisture, and bugs that enter a home. Additionally, weather stripping also saves money on energy costs, reduces energy usage, increases comfort, and creates a healthy home environment. Weather stripping does so by preventing air leaks, which occur when outside air enters your home and inside air leaves your home through cracks and openings. To prevent these leaks, weather stripping fills the cracks and gaps around doors and windows, reducing the amount of air leaks and eliminating drafts or cold spots.

Homeowners can save an average of 15% on heating and cooling costs by weather stripping their homes and adding insulation. The amount of money spent on weather stripping a home is usually recovered in energy savings in less than a year.

Buying & Installing Weather Stripping

Sealing Windows

Before you buy weather stripping, it's important to do the following:

• Measure the area that needs to be sealed to determine the length of weather stripping needed.
• Measure the width and depth of the gap that needs to be filled. Weather stripping is available in different widths and thicknesses to meet your exact needs.

Tip: When replacing a piece of weather stripping that has become worn, bring in a sample of the current weather stripping. This will make it easier to find a replacement product.

Most weather stripping is easy to install, but keep the following tips in mind:

• When installing self-adhesive weather stripping, make sure the surface receiving the weather stripping is clean and dry.
• When installing weather stripping with fasteners, like nails or screws, most products have pre-punched holes and include all the fasteners necessary for application.

Always follow the manufacturer's instructions on how to install the weather stripping. You will typically find installation instructions and helpful diagrams on the product packaging.

Window tapes are the most common solution for sealing windows. Window tapes are compressible, self-adhesive tapes designed to be applied on window sashes to create a seal against the window frame.

Window tapes are available in three materials and quality levels:

• Foam (Good) tape is made from a closed-cell PVC foam material.
• Sponge (Better) tape is made from a closed-cell PVC sponge material. Sponge tapes provide increased resistance to wear and tear.
• Rubber (Best) tape is made from an EPDM rubber material. Rubber tapes provide superior resistance to wear and tear and maintain flexibility in extreme temperatures.

These products can also be used to seal around doors, although it's a less permanent solution than a top-and-sides door seal. Window tapes are sold in 17-foot lengths, which is enough to seal one regular-size window or door. They are available in two colors—white and brown—as well as small, medium, and large gap sizes.

Sealing Doors

For Gaps at the Top & Sides of a Door

These products install on the door frame to prevent air leaks around the top and sides of a door. Some are available in a kit, which includes two long pieces for the sides of a door and one shorter piece for the top of the door. They are available in two basic installation options:

• Surface Mount is affixed to the door frame with fasteners (screws or nails) or self-adhesive tape. When closed, the door presses against the seal to prevent air leakage.

• Kerf/Channel Fit is installed into a kerf/channel. A kerf is a channel cut into the door frame into which a piece of weather stripping is inserted. When closed, the door presses against the seal and prevents air leakage. Some products contain magnets, which are a good solution for steel doors.

Additionally, top-and-sides door seals are available in two quality levels.

For Surface Mount Applications:

Aluminum Carrier with Vinyl Bulb (Good) is an aluminum carrier with a vinyl bulb seal. This product is a screw-in application.

Aluminum Carrier with Platinum™ Rubber Door Seal (Best) is a premium aluminum carrier with a premium rubber seal. The Platinum™ door seal has extended durability with a puncture- and tear-resistant seal. This product is found exclusively at Menards®.

For Kerf/Channel Fit Applications:

Vinyl Clad Foam (Good) is a foam seal wrapped in vinyl.

Platinum™ Door Seals
Menards® offers a premium product in the top-and-sides category known as Platinum™. Platinum™ is a replacement door seal for doors with a kerf/channel slot. Platinum™ (Best) is an upgrade from the standard vinyl-coated foam replacement door seal (Good). Platinum™ is made from solid rubber that is puncture and tear resistant and includes a lifetime warranty.

Gaps at the Bottom of a Door

There are two types of weather stripping that are designed to seal the gap at the bottom of a door: door sweeps and under-door seals.

Door sweeps install on the interior-bottom of a door and seal against the side of a threshold. Door sweeps are great for sealing uneven and irregular gaps ranging from 1/8 to 1 inch. They are available in screw-on or self-adhesive applications.

Under-door seals install under the door and seal against the top of the threshold. They are available in vinyl or aluminum and contain multiple fins for a tight seal. They seal gaps ranging from 3/8 to 3/4 of an inch between the bottom of the door and the top of the threshold. Installation methods include screw-on, slide-on, or kerf/channel fit. Under-door seals are best when the gap under the door is a consistent size across the entire width of the door.

Door thresholds install on the floor under a door to provide a seal or transition beneath the door. Thresholds are made of wood or aluminum, and most include a strip of vinyl on top to seal against the underside of the door. Thresholds are available in a variety of heights, so it is important to measure the size of the gap between the floor and the bottom of the door.

Specialty Seals

The specialty seals category includes a variety items that perform very specific functions around the home. The most popular items include:

• Expandable foam weatherseal
• Garage door seals
• Air conditioner covers and weather seals
• Multipurpose sponge and rubber tapes
• Foam tape camper seals
• Gap fillers/backer rods
• Storm door and window weather seals

Expandable foam weatherseal is an extremely versatile product. Once unrolled, the foam slowly expands to seal irregular seams and joints, giving you ample time to set and adjust before it reaches full expansion and closes the gap. The weatherseal retains its compression and expansion, so movement in the structure will be less likely to create future air leaks. It provides a waterproof seal when compressed and is excellent for outdoor use.

jute products-How to Seal a Door Gap