Community > Weatherproofing a door- tips needed!

Weatherproofing a door- tips needed!

Please talk to me as if I have no idea at all what I'm doing, because I don't. I don't regularly use power tools or do handy things, but I'm not dumb, so this project feels like it should be in reach.

Does anyone have tips for weatherproofing a door? It's an external door, made of wood & glass, and there's an obvious gap at the bottom (and maybe the top?) that lets in air. I started googling, then fell down an internet hole of door sweeps vs. foam tape vs. strips. How do you know which to pick?

My house is a rental, and it's not new. My landlord fixes anything major but I try not to bug him with the little stuff.
Tori Asked 5 years ago
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Chris (Home Calendar)
5 years ago
There are basically 3 types of weatherstripping for an external door:

The weatherstripping built into the frame. If you open your door, it would be wrapped all the way around the frame of the door. It's the thin gray strip just to the right of the frame.

The door should close tightly against this. If you see any gaps, this exterior weatherstripping is easily replaced.

Foam tape. If your door doesn't close tightly, you can add foam tape to the face of the door frame, to increase the insulation. Just be careful, adding foam tape can keep your door from closing properly, defeating the whole point of weatherstripping.

Door sweep. The door sweep is the part that attaches to the bottom of the door. It can either attach to the inside of the door or under the door, depending on the size of the gap.
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