Weatherproofing front door

8/7/2012 at 7:09:01 AM

There are some frame shims that are made to stick on the door frame inbehind the door that's helps push the bottom of the door in order to seal this area. The cost is only cents and can be picked up at the hardware store.

If you go see someone at the lumber yard, and explain the situation to someone that has a little experance with exterior doors, they will know what your talking about, and may just give you the part.

Otherwise you could call a framer. Carpenter will know how to do the repair.

8/7/2012 at 9:12:16 PM

Most modern door frames have an adjustable threshold. There will be 3 or 4 circular plugs on the bottom frame that have screws inside that can adjust the height of the threshold ( the part you can stand on).

The other is the weather stripping attached to the bottom of the door. Some are adjustable by loosing the screws and sliding it up or down. The weather stripping might be worn or broken, if that's the case remove it and bring it to any hardware or building supply store, and they can match it.

There are a lot of different styles.

8/7/2012 at 10:46:17 PM

Hi Lora,

The first two suggestions are great.

It's a little unclear if you can see the light though the bottom of the door or the bottom right side? if it is the bottom i'd check the weather stripping and replace it as the other gentleman suggested. If it's just the bottom right i'd say it's either the weather stripping or the door was installed wrong.

Their is a magnetic weather stripping availible at most building supplies which i've used for a similar problem and worked well. The door shim could also work well.

All of these are fairly easy to do, but maybe a handy family member or friend could help you.

8/7/2012 at 11:32:55 PM

Thanks all for your help!

Just to clarify, the light is coming in from the bottom right (not the bottom). The strip of light I can see runs about 6 inches vertically.

8/8/2012 at 7:24:27 AM

Good Morning Lora,

You bet our winters are nasty!!

In the area where the light is showing you may have weather stripping that is adjustable by loosing the screws attaching the weather strip to the frame. loosen these screws and with the door closed move the strip until it is in contact with the door and then tighten the screws.

If not then a magnetic weather strip as suggested works very well.

Also a length of self stick foam weather strip could fix as well. Attached to the door frame where the light is showing. This product comes in various thicknesses.

Thanks

Dave

8/27/2012 at 10:47:31 PM

Hi Lora,

You may want to consider getting a thermal imaging scan done on your house in the winter to look for any insulation/air infiltration related deficiencies. Fixing these deficiencies (if any) will result in reduced utility bills.

Thanks