It’s so easy to fix drafts from doors

Published 1:38 pm Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Eliminating drafts is one of the least expensive, most cost-effective improvements you can make to your home.

When weatherstripping a door, consider the top, sides and bottom. Adhesive-backed foam, felt strips, serrated metal/felt, spring metal, interlocking metal and a tubular vinyl gaskets take care of drafts at the top and sides of a door.

The spring “V” metal strip and interlocking metal are the best permanent types of weather-stripping. Polyethylene and dense foam rubber are the best nonmetal materials. Nylon pile can flatten out over time.

A door bottom or “door shoe” can be the real key to remedying a drafty door. An aluminum door shoe is shaped like the letter U, fits snugly over the bottom of the door and has a vinyl gasket that seals to the threshold. The door shoe is attached to the bottom of the door with screws through slotted holes that allow for seasonal adjustment. If the vinyl gasket should become worn out, it can be replaced without having to replace the entire door shoe.

Another means of controlling drafts at the bottom of a door is a door sweep. It is a strip of aluminum that holds a flap of vinyl securely in place. When the door is closed, the flap rests snugly against the threshold. As with the door shoe, the sweep is attached to the bottom of the door with screws.

Folks with one-piece tilt-up garage doors can install a door sweep similar to the type used on swinging doors.

Most overhead doors are manufactured with a vinyl gasket at the bottom of the door. It can be replaced in minutes.

For tips from James and Morris Carey, visit their Web site at www.onthehouse.com or call the 24/7 listener hot line, 800-737-2474. The Careys are also on KRKO (1380-AM) from 6 to 10 a.m. every Saturday.