Weatherstripping is the application of a strip of some combination of materials around your door perimeter to improve the air seal. Weatherstripping improves your door’s energy retaining ability. Almost all the heat energy loss associated with doors is not through the surface itself, but through the cracks between the door and the wall, and between the door casing and the wall. In terms of energy conservation, good weatherstripping and caulking are more important than the actual materials that comprise your door.
Do Your Doors Need Weatherstripping? We recommend that you have an energy audit performed to help you discover all of the air leaks in your house before you start retrofitting. In the meantime, here’s a simple pre-test: Try passing a piece of paper between your closed door and the wall or floor—if you can, you’ve got a big air leak. The Department of Energy has an excellent consumer’s guide about the pros and cons of various weatherstripping options.
Finishing Your Weatherstripped Doors Don't compromise the quality of your energy-efficient, recycled-materials door by painting it with toxic enamel or varnish! Choose an environmentally friendly finish with a low- or zero-VOC (volatile organic compounds) emission rating to finish your door with. Some good manufacturers for door finishes include: Bioshield, AFM Safecoat, and the Benjamin Moore Pristine and EcoSpec lines.
Do Your Doors Need Weatherstripping? We recommend that you have an energy audit performed to help you discover all of the air leaks in your house before you start retrofitting. In the meantime, here’s a simple pre-test: Try passing a piece of paper between your closed door and the wall or floor—if you can, you’ve got a big air leak. The Department of Energy has an excellent consumer’s guide about the pros and cons of various weatherstripping options.
Finishing Your Weatherstripped Doors Don't compromise the quality of your energy-efficient, recycled-materials door by painting it with toxic enamel or varnish! Choose an environmentally friendly finish with a low- or zero-VOC (volatile organic compounds) emission rating to finish your door with. Some good manufacturers for door finishes include: Bioshield, AFM Safecoat, and the Benjamin Moore Pristine and EcoSpec lines.
