How to Weather-Seal a Wood Door

During the winter, the two biggest culprits for heat and energy loss in the home are improperly sealed doors and windows. Old wooden doors may have loose hinges or big gaps that leak warm air outside. Sealing the door with weather-stripping and making adjustment to the hinges prevents heat loss and lowers your energy bills. It is best to seal your doors during the summer or fall before the temperature drops below 20 degrees Fahrenheit.

Screwdriver
Drill
3-inch screw
Weatherstripping
Jigsaw
1 1/2-inch nails
Hammer

Instructions

- 1
  Lift up on the doorknob to see if the door moves on the hinges. Open the door and tighten down the hinges, using a screwdriver. Remove the middle screw from the hinge if the hinge will not tighten and insert a 3-inch-long screw, using a drill. This attaches it to the inner framework.
- 2
  Measure the bottom of the door with a tape measure. You'll need a door flange of the same length.
- 3
  Cut the flange for the top of the door to size, using a jigsaw, if it is too large.
- 4
  Nail the top flange to the door frame, using 1 1/2-inch nails. Press it tight against the door for a good seal. Do not hammer the nails all the way into the door.
- 5
  Cut the side pieces to the length of your door sides. Sand the end of the cut portion of the strip so that it sits flush against the top piece. Nail it into the door frame, leaving the nails partially out of the wood.
- 6
  Open and close the door to check that the stripping is properly placed, then finish pounding in the nails.

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