Different Types of Weatherstripping and How to Weatherstrip Your Home

By Mother Earth News Editors
Published on October 1, 1991

<p>Like caulking, the hardest part of weatherstripping is figuring out which material to use. Types of weatherstripping can range from felt, foam, rubber, vinyl and metal weatherstrips. Using this chart, assess your needs in each part of the house, and figure out how much you want to spend. Then, you just need to follow a few simple weatherstripping rules (in addition to the manufacturer’s directions):</p>
<ul>
<li>To determine the amount of weatherstripping needed, measure the perimeters of all areas to be weather stripped and then add 10 percent to allow for waste.</li>
<li>Before installation, the surface area must be smooth and free of dirt or particles that might prevent the stripping from making a complete seal against the surface.</li>
<li>Apply one continuous strip to each joint, making sure that the stripping is tight at the corners.</li>
<li>After installation, check to see if it makes contact with the fixed and movable sections of the joint; the material should be slightly compressed when the door or window is shut. Take into account the thickness the stripping will add to a frame; in some cases, the frame or movable parts may have to be planed to permit proper closing.</li>

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