Home Projects Forum

Guest · Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2005 1:38 am Post subject: Weatherproofing Your Entry Door

Unless you have a brand new home, your door has fallen out of alignment. Make certain your door fits straight and true before you begin weatherproofing. This will also save on weatherproofing material. Start by evening out the gaps around the door. Reset and shim the hinges if necessary to even out the gaps. If you plan to attach a new door bottom with a drip edge, you may need to plane the bottom of the door slightly. Of course, you'll want to make certain the strike plate and latches are in alignment.

(1) Install metal tension strips next to the door stops at the point where your door contacts the stops when closed. Use a putty knife to pry out the tension strips far enough so that it creates a good seal when the door is closed.

(2) Add an aluminum or vinyl door jamb weather-strip to the edge of the door stop on the external side

(3) Attach a new bristle sweep to the bottom of the door. You may prefer to attach a new door bottom with an integral sweep on the inside and drip edge on the outside. This may require that you adjust your threshold height, and/or slightly plane the bottom of your door. If you plane the door, make sure to seal the wood.

(4) Fix any cracks in door panels or around light panels with wood filler or caulk.