Replace Weather Stripping

Updated: Apr. 15, 2022

Save energy and make your doors look more attractive

Weather strippingFamily Handyman
High-quality silicone rubber weather stripping permanently seals gaps around exterior doors, increases energy efficiency—and looks better than most other types of weather seals.

You might also like: TBD

A new type of weather stripping

Photo 1: Pry off the old weather strip

This old door had damaged brass weather strip held on by hundreds of tiny nails. We used a small pry bar to remove the nails and weather strip. For the best-looking job, fill the nail holes and repaint the jamb before installing the silicone tubing

Photo 2: Use silicone caulk for adhesive

After cleaning the area with toluene, xylene or MEK, apply a thin bead of silicone caulk to the inside corner of the jamb offset. This is where you’ll add the new silicone tubing.

Photo 3: Install the silicone tubing

Press the tubing into the wet silicone caulk. Leave it a little long and trim off the excess with scissors. Butt the tubing at corners. Keep the tubing clean and dust free before installing it to ensure good adhesion.

Damaged weather stripping can allow a lot of air to leak around old entry doors. Several surface-mount solutions work well to seal the cracks, but they’re unattractive. A better-looking alternative is silicone rubber tubing weather stripping, available in several colors and diameters. Call Resource Conservation Technology (800-477-7724) for buying information. For a complete list of products and installation instructions, go to conservationtechnology.com.

Before you order the tubing, close the door and inspect the perimeter to see how large the gap is between the door and the frame. Measure and record the size of the gap at three places along both sides and at the top of the door. Use the chart at conservationtechnology.com to choose the right size tubing based on the size of the gap. Order different diameters for each side and the top if the gap sizes are different. If the gap varies along one edge, order progressively larger sizes and insert the smaller seal about 1/2 in. inside the larger seal where they join. You’ll also need a tube of commercial-grade neutral- cure silicone caulk, which you can get from Conservation Technology. With the new silicone tubing in place, your old door will be as airtight as modern doors at a fraction of the cost of replacing the door and frame.

Video: Garage Door Weatherstripping

Required Tools for this Project

Have the necessary tools for this DIY project lined up before you start—you’ll save time and frustration.

  • Caulk gun
  • Pry bar
  • Rags
  • Safety glasses
  • Tape measure
  • Utility knife
You’ll also need scissors.

Required Materials for this Project

Avoid last-minute shopping trips by having all your materials ready ahead of time. Here’s a list.

  • Silicone caulk
  • Silicone rubber weather stripping
  • Solvent cleaner