Exterior lights should illuminate the entry points of a house, such as sconces above the door, flanking or beside the door, and/or a pendant light if there is a porch with enough ceiling height to accommodate one. The light outside doesn’t need to be on a back-up system in most cases. If the building requires two exits, the exterior lighting at the exit door needs to have emergency power. This is a building code requirement.
For dwelling units, attached lighting is required. Most homes have more outdoor lighting than is required by the National Electrical Code (NEC). The terms “lighting outlet” and “luminaire” used in the NEC and local code texts generally mean that one lighting outlet is required on the exterior side of all exterior doors at grade level (first-floor doors). However, areas provided with illumination are not as extensive as those required for normal egress lighting.
At least one wall-switch-controlled lighting outlet shall be installed to provide illumination on the exterior side of each outdoor egress door having grade level. Every exterior door needs to have a light controlled by a switch from inside the home. Every entrance and exit to any room needs a switch. There must be light to the door but not at the door. Vehicle doors on a garage are not required to have illumination of their vicinity.
The NEC also clarifies that as long as the location is illuminated, it does not have to have a luminaire at each entrance or exit. Motion-sensitive lights should be required for porches in fenced backyards and for well lit up areas. All doors should be protected with a minimum of one lighting outlet providing a minimum of 60 watt lighting (or energy-efficient equivalent). Illuminated pathways and stairs are also important for a safer step in the dark.
📹 What you need to know.Best exterior doors.Why I chose this this door
Pros and cons to selecting an exterior door. What you need to know before you buy.
Does an exterior door need a light?
Exterior egress lighting is mandatory and can be integrated into a building’s lighting system to fulfill obligations to the law and those who move about the property. There are various types of egress lighting fixtures, such as exit signs, egress pathways signs, and temporary or standby lighting fixtures. Area lighting provides guidance to exits or safe spaces outside the building, while building-mounted fixtures can also act as egress lighting.
Wall-mounted sconces or luminaries can be installed around exits, while spotlights and remote lighting heads can be placed on the exterior to shine on specific spaces for safe congregation after evacuation. Flood lighting is ideal for egress lighting because it ensures even coverage over a wide area, and can be installed above large pathways like driveways or walkways to provide maximum coverage.
In summary, implementing a comprehensive system for exterior egress lighting is crucial for compliance with regulations and safety measures. By incorporating various types of egress lighting fixtures, including exit signs, area lighting, building-mounted fixtures, and flood lighting, businesses can ensure a safe and secure environment for their residents.
Where should outside door lights be placed?
In order to guarantee optimal illumination of the lock and handle, it is recommended that one light be positioned on either side of the door, at a distance of one-quarter of the door’s height and 66 inches from the floor or ground.
Should interior doors be light or dark?
In order to achieve an aesthetically pleasing and harmonious interior design scheme, it is essential to select a door shade that aligns with the dominant tone of the house’s furniture. For instance, lighter shades are more suitable for darker furniture. The combination of different colored doors can be an aesthetically pleasing choice for premises with diverse styles and color schemes. These doors deviate from the norm and are therefore more costly, yet they possess a striking visual appeal. The Napoleon 1 door situated in proximity to the furniture represents a closely analogous shade option.
What is the code for exterior door lighting?
All doors must have at least one 60-watt lighting outlet, or energy-efficient equivalent, to protect them. These outlets must be located at least eight feet above grade or on a walking surface accessible from grade, or manufactured to make the light bulb difficult to access. In addition to the lighting outlet requirements in Article IV, exterior lighting must also be provided in accordance with this section.
Do all exterior doors need panic hardware?
Residential, business, and mercantile occupancies typically don’t require panic hardware on doors unless there’s an assembly, educational, or high hazard area with an occupant load of 50 or more (per the IBC) or 100 or more (per NFPA 101). If these buildings have electrical rooms that meet these criteria, panic hardware may be required. The actuating portion of the device must be at least half the width of the door leaf. Current codes require panic hardware to be mounted between 34 and 48 inches above the floor.
Do all exterior doors need a deadbolt?
In order to guarantee optimal security, exterior doors should be equipped with both a deadbolt and a keyed-entry lock or a handle set that incorporates both features. Interior door locks are designed for the purpose of maintaining privacy, while passage sets are non-locking knobs or levers that are utilized in closets and hallways. Privacy locksets are employed in bedrooms and bathrooms with an emergency release mechanism.
Are outdoor lights necessary?
Outdoor lighting enhances security and adds aesthetic value to outdoor spaces, while indoor lighting focuses on creating ambiance and complementing interior design. Outdoor fixtures must be sealed and grounded to protect against water ingress and electrical hazards, while indoor fixtures require careful consideration regarding placement, wiring, and compatibility with home décor. Path lights, exterior lights, and other outdoor lighting fixtures are designed for specific purposes, such as illuminating walkways and highlighting architectural features. Outdoor lighting is crucial for home security and safe navigation in the dark, while indoor lighting focuses on creating ambiance and complementing interior design.
Should you leave your front door light on?
Leaving the porch light on can help deter crime by indicating the presence of someone’s home and preventing intruders. It is also useful for finding keys and unlocking doors at night, especially when expecting a package. However, porch lights alone may not guarantee crime prevention. To enhance the overall security level of your property, integrate porch lights into your home security system. Scaring burglars away can be achieved through various methods, such as using illuminated porch lights, installing security cameras with built-in sirens, or installing burglar alarms. These devices use brightness and sound to alert intruders.
Should you see light around exterior door?
A door system should be installed completely level and flush to your home to ensure proper functionality and prevent future issues. If light or drafts come around the door, it’s likely not level in the frame. This issue can be noticed during installation or when moving into a new home. The main cause of drafts and light coming around the door is if a contractor did not properly install weather stripping around the frame, which seals the frame and creates a flush opening for the door.
Do you need special lights for outside?
Outdoor lighting fixtures are often UL-listed for wet or damp environments, ensuring they are water-resistant and safe for use in various weather conditions. Indoor fixtures are typically UL-listed for dry locations, indicating they are not designed to handle moisture and should not be used outside. Bulb types and energy efficiency are crucial in both indoor and outdoor settings. Outdoor lights often use LED or incandescent bulbs, designed for cold weather and temperature resistance, providing long-lasting illumination without frequent replacements.
Indoor lighting options include LED lights, CFL bulbs, and fluorescent lights, allowing for a balance between energy efficiency and aesthetic preferences in indoor spaces like living rooms and utility rooms.
What is the purpose of a front door light?
Front door lighting is crucial for creating a warm and welcoming entrance for family and guests, while also enhancing safety and security. With numerous styles and finishes to choose from, it’s essential to consider the design of your front door and the architectural style of your home. Choose a metal finish that coordinates with windows, door hardware, or other metal fixtures. Bespoke Lights aims for customer satisfaction with their light fittings, and can be contacted for any queries or doubts.
📹 FIX LIGHT GAPS AROUND DOORS! (Easy Trick For Gaps Bottom Of Door / Corner Seal Pads / Weatherstrip)
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I also want to chime in with this article. My rental property is heavily used. Constant wear and tear. I was just looking at the lower corner where the cold air is pouring through. So frustrated as I could not figure out how to plug the gap even though there is doorway seal in place. I sulked back to my PC and searched. Finally stumbled upon your article and read everybody’s comments. Frankly I never experienced such a rapid change in attitude….for the better. Thanks for posting this article and I’m going to get those guards!
An annoying gap came with our new door. So your article had the info I need at the right time. Your suggestion of adding a spacer was a fast and easy solution. Unfortunately the gap just moved up higher, so I followed your instructions and added a second spacer. Unfortunately the gap just moved up again. So,… now what?
I had no idea that little gap had such an easy solution! I’m no dummy, just an older female that’s not very savvy about these things. And, it’s harder than ever to get a handyman to come and take care of these little issues. I appreciate your website and I look forward to you teaching me more tips for maintaining my home myself!
Great advice. An inexpensive method of eliminating the small gap between the door and the door jamb. I always watch your website. I like your presentation methods that simplify most tasks. I used to be carpenter and most of what I learned about carpentry was it’s mostly common sense. My building trades teacher would always tell us that. My Dad was a carpenter and he would tell me the same thing. I also learned to solve problems to start with simple to complex. For example your most recent article on using weather strips to block out light instead of moving the entire door.
Hello, what about the gap of whole width bottom of the door?.. these pieces are small, is there a wider option?.. Also, my door is brand new at my new place replaced by previous owner & besides the gap @ the bottom, when closing the door I have to push against the door to make sure it stays closed & push against the frame for the lock to lock.. unsure what to do.. any ideas?
Ethan, thanks so very much for sharing that with us! I live in a older house that was built in 1937. The doors are beautiful along with a lot of custom wood work that was done with the use of very few power tools. I don’t want to do anything that will alter the original doors and trim work. This looks like a great solution to my problems and thanks again for sharing!
I figured that out when I was digging through my father-in-law’s tools after he passed. He also had 2 inch wide rolls of doubled sided sticky foam that worked great when ran it pretty much across the whole top and down most of the sides of the door to my garage. I had some big gaps. It worked great. I stuck the one side to the door and then simply did not peel the other side off.
I knew there had to be an easy remedy for this. At a previous house we had a new door installed and I remember seeing the installer slap one of those at the bottom of the door frame but when we moved to a new home I had temporarily forgotten the solution. Thanks for the short-to-the-point article!! Very good and appreciated!
Wow, this is awesome. I just had a feather River door with sidelights installed on my house and I noticed this morning a little light coming in through the corner of the door. I went into panic mode and went directly into You-tube and find your article. Thank you for such a great recommendation. I live in MD and winter is around the corner and the last thing I want is my utility bill to skyrocket. Thank you for being such an honest carpenter.
Please can you let me know if they stop rain if they are tight will stop bugs as well correct. I have a sloping metal strip on outside supposed to stop rain but when winds blow it under the rain gets in please reply to my comment I don’t want to drill a sweep as well I dig buy a rubber bug stopper for underneath metal rain stopper it’s stopped them but the rain is coming I now or can I buy them blocks in a rubber strip to stick to actual metal door stop that meets bottom of door please advise as you seem to know what you are doing on help
@The Honest Carpenter. Thanks Ethan for being very specific and informative in how to use the door corner seals. The instructions included with the seals don’t mention which way the thin or thicker parts of the wedge are to be placed. Common sense would say to place the thicker part towards the door seal and the thinner part allows the door to easily close. Hope you and your family stay safe and well.
THANK YOU!!!!! I have space towards the bottom of my door where there’s a nice gap. These are going to come in handy in fixing that space. The foundation for my house has shifted so the doors are a little off from the frame causing the gap. So this is a great temporary fix for the door gap until I can afford to have the foundation repaired, lol.
These corner seals might help keep light out but…if your exterior door is exposed to rain, that seal is going to get wet and hold water like a sponge. Over time, the wood door edge sealing against that seal is going to mold and decay and so is the wood door jamb the seal is sticking too. Check it out some time after a rain that blows against your door. This happens even with brand new doors with excellent weatherstripped sides and top, the rain just gets by the weatherstripping. So I call these door seals door decayers. Once the door jamb decays behind that seal, your facing replacing the door and frame. Door manufacturers must have invented these things to perpetuate business. The house I’m living in has had this issue and the doors we got replaced had these seals and they got wet from rain. Don’t let anyone tell you there is something wrong with the side weatherstripping that causes this, it’s simply not true. The side weatherstripping is only good for stopping air drafts !! Avoid these seals unless you have storm doors or the door is protected from weather somehow.
Most newer exterior doors also have adjustable thresholds. My neighbor was complaining about the whistling from his front door and back patio door during strong winds. I raised his thresholds by simply turning the screws and no more noise and a tight seal. The best part…next morning I walked out to find two 12 packs of Deep Ellum beers on my porch!
So you’re fixing light gaps? What about the only light that can save you? Where would you go if you were to die today? Seek the Lord and saviour Jesus Christ before it’s too late. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Hell is real and Heaven is also real. You don’t want to spend an eternity in Hell torment without God. The only way to escape Hell is to follow Jesus Christ our Lord and saviour. Study the KJV Bible to know more and pray and seek until you find Jesus. Don’t delay tomorrow might be too late. You are not promised even the next minute. Do it now
I was just about ready to replace all the seals for all of my doors. I have known we had some drafts in a few places and since I’m not at home that much, it’s never been a huge priority. I’m off for the holidays and noticed it felt pretty cold in the house. I started walking around and everywhere I felt cold or a draft, I started running my hand around to find where it was coming from. After finding a handful of places, I came to YT to find solutions. I have seen these before and never really gave them much thought. Well I’m going to either pick some up or order some today. Thanks for what you do! Sounds like we are fairly close to each other also. I didn’t realize you were in NC. I’m in Greensboro/High Point. Anyways, I appreciate your articles and holy cow, I just looked at your subscribers! I’ve watched a ton of your articles and never realized how big your website has grown! Awesome! Congrats!
You are a LIFE SAVER!!! Thank you!!!!!!!! I’m so happy I stumbled upon your article! I live in an apartment and there is a huge light gap at the top of my door, then all around it there is a lot of space for insects to just crawl on in. It is SO FRUSTRATING! There is weather stripping but its ineffective and cheap. THIS, however, is my answer. The Product in this article!!!!!!! THANK YOU!
Just yesterday (5Nov2023) I was sending photos to my brother on what kind of weather-stripping to use on 2 sets of doors in my new house. First I had noticed the light and then discovered the breeze that was coming in. And since I’m not in a warm part of the country, that’s going to be a problem in the coming days. I am gonna be heading to the store to get either those wedges or a roll of adhesive weather-stripping, since I want to ensure the whole gap is blocked. Thanks. Now a subscriber.
Just had a house built in June 2021. Contractor did NOT use these and had been getting little bugs inside the house. Not to mention this is suppose to be a super high efficient home and said to myself, HOW when you can clearly see light which means I am losing energy. Well THANX cause now I will solve my problem.
Bought a building 11 years ago and spent 11K to fix it up cheap. I wanted to change out the front double doors, because they are indoor doors. The cost to replace 11 years ago was $4800 so I kept them. So much spacing and air comes through until I bought a pack of 30 of these for cheap on Amazon. Look for them. I used about 10 of them and what a difference! My main office area is so much cooler during the afternoons now.
Hey buddy ! I had my from door replaced coming on 2 years . We also added a storm door. I notice I have a little gap like you talked about and I also have small gaps with the storm door. My issue here is that the storm door gets sooo frosted during winter time and I get so scared one of these winters it will break. I had asked a different contractor about it since the contractor who did the work came back to “fix” the issue but it never resolved. New contractor said to get little wedges like u talked about but the one thing he said was I need to fix the gap with my main door and not the storm door as it’s the condensation exiting thru to the storm door. Would that be correct? It’s so frustrating!! Thanks !!!
Good Morning, Honest Carpenter! I have been defeated by leaks in the corner of newly installed doors. It seems the U website under the door presses against the vertical foam molding, pinching it. So it seems the U website is cut too long. How to correctly cut/measure the U website? Please Advise- thanks!
I have yet to try the Frost King version of these, but the adhesive protector on the current iteration of the MD brand is defective and impossible to peel off without ruining them. The comments on this product are full of these complaints. I think they are different now than when Ethan made this article.
Thanks had that problem all last winter….light at the bottom of the door.. Note there is a magnetic strip all around the frame so my metal door make a contact with it BUT still that light crack is at the bottom of the door like in your article. I will pick up some of those square corner adhesive pads at my local hardware. NOTE I need to install a new bottom U-shaped door seal too. AND, I noticed the old bottom door deal was cut 1/4 inch shorter on both sides so the door makes contact with the magnetic door strip. Should I CUT the new U bottom door seal like the previous owner did?
I thought this was for bedroom doors for night-owls where that noon sun is creeping under the door. The window is blacked out like London during the blitz. This probably because any plastic-rubber strip will shrink with age and leave that gap. The worst of all is the stripping that runs all the way around on motorhome truck toppers etc. windows that shrinks away at the corner and leaves 2 gaps at the top where rain comes in!
Funny thing is they usually are in a bag stapled to the frame on a new door. They rip off the package and throw it away. Later ” What are these for ? ” 👉😜 For other door sealing issues. And extended reach seal is available or sometimes tucking the appropriate size backer rod behind the strip will tighten things up.
You just got a new subscriber from this article, keep them coming. FYI click on the link when you’re going to make an amazon purchase and he gets a little kick back for everything you buy. So when you have someone that helped you out and you need to make purchases anyway come back to youtube before purchasing and order through the link.
What about those stupid strips that are attached under the door and they eventually drag off because of opening and closing the door. Then you have to either take the door off yourself and try to fix it, or if you’re challenged by two left hands like me, you have to pay someone to do it. Any fix for those things?
Hi replacing my weather striping around exterior door jam . Don’t have storm doors is there any thing to put where door handle latch goes in the plate I have trouble with air coming in there. Would that foam spacer work there? What’s best insulating strip for exterior doors. I know there are different types for different issues.
A Wooden door?…an actual exterior wooden door?…I have not seen an exterior wooden door for about twenty five years, they are just terrible for those gaps and do nothing for your heating bills. I didnt even know they still made them except for special grade one and two listed buildings where you have to have all origional fittings, and then the people dont want them but are forced by law to have them, is there some reason you are using terrible wooden doors? is it the law that you must use them?
I have French doors and I found a small piece of cardboard looking stuff on the floor one day. Having no idea where it came from I threw it away. Now I have a gap between the doors, down at the bottom. Might these things work in a French door situation for a between the doors, down near the floor, gap?
If you have a suggestion and the time that would be very much appreciated. How do i fix light in door between the door handle and top of door I got 2 tiny light spots after installing new weather stripping. The new weather stripping did fix 98% of the gaps the old weather stripping was allowing. If I push on top of door the light goes away.
I have something like this on the hinge side of the door frame butting up to the sill plate, its thin and white. I’m assuming this is the same idea. Whatever this product is it absorbs just enough moisture that when it drops below -20C the door itself freezes to this pad cause the door to stick surprisingly hard. Is there a product like this you can recommend for this part of the door? Do these products absorb moisture?
I had this problem and had to use 3 of them stacked together to get the gap to be filled. My issue now though is that ive realized the entire door has uneven light shining through. It allows lots of dirt to get in. I wish this product came in a strip as now I’ll have to buy a bunch of them and stack the all up on the door
Wow I’m not a carpenter I work with metal but on the other hand I am a jack of all trades a master of none and I can usually fix just about anything but let me tell you this is the one problem that Iv been fighting with for years and Iv fixed the problem before not using this just new weather stripping and stacking that at the bottom but it never was a good fix and has always bothered me because it would let spiders in this tiny crack in the corner so I bought a new bottom weather strip and started putting that on and came across your article because the new weather stripping also didn’t fix it good enough so I was just looking and came across your article and let me tell you thank god I did because this is exactly what I need I have looked Lowe’s up and down and Iv never seen these or maybe just overlooked not knowing what they were for so I’m going first thing In the morning to get some thank god I will be done with this one tiny problem that has kicked my a_ _ and I would like to thank you for showing this quick and simple trick great article I’m a new subscriber now eager to learn whatever somebody has to offer that I might not know to make my life easier so thank you sir and I haven’t even installed them or bought them and I know now you showed me this will for sure fix the problem.
Thank you for your advice the door is upvc the storm guard at bottom is metal I need a twin metal well water proof to fit on bottom of door I think waiting for some one to get back to eBay if not need a new will the rubbers have broke down in it I tried putting new ones in but still no good the bug stopper I put in is all wet underneath just felt it so that no good I found some but very expensive never mind it’s getting a fitter under lock down keep shilling as they say I should have married a builder 😆😆😆😉
Great share 🙂 what about a light strip between the door frame and your door that goes all the way down from your door handle to the floor? We already installed a nice piece of weatherstripping at the bottom of our door in addition to the one that was there on our rental but still air is coming through along the sides