How to Install an Exterior Plastic Window Seal

If the windows in your home are letting in excess air around the seal between the window and the framing wood, this problem can be solved with weatherstripping. Plastic or vinyl weatherstripping can be installed around the cracks to help block out the air and keep the interior temperatures warmer in winter and cooler in summer. Plastic weatherstripping is very easy to work with and is suitable for use with most window types.

Utility knife
Measuring tape
Screwdriver

Instructions

- 1
  Measure the length and width of each window frame with a measuring tape. Write down the measurements. If your home's windows are sized differently, note down which window is which.
- 2
  Trim the weatherstripping to fit with a utility knife. Leave a half-inch extra to give yourself some leeway.
- 3
  Press the weatherstripping into the crack between the window and its frame. The plastic weather seal will have a small lip that will fit into this space. Fit the lip in first and then press the seal firmly into the space.
- 4
  Tighten and trim all of the seals. Once you have sealed all of the windows, go back over the weatherstripping with the edge of a flat-head screwdriver. This will smooth out any spots that you have have missed. Trim the edges of the weatherstripping with the utility knife to clean them up.

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