Methods For Changing The Seal On Metal External Doors?

To replace a weather stripping on a steel exterior door, follow these steps:

1. Clean up the bottom edge with sandpaper. Measure the width of the door and cut the new door seal to length. Orient the seal so the more decorative side faces the outside of the door. Fit the seal onto the door and tap it lightly with a hammer until it’s fully seated.

2. Use magnetic weather stripping, which is preferable for steel doors because it results in a more efficient seal.

3. Tighten the hinges on your door by lifting it by the doorknob. If you can move it upward, then the hinges are likely loose. Use a screwdriver to tighten the screws holding the hinges in place.

4. The weatherstrip needs to be snug against the door threshold for a good seal. It wears out over time when the door is opened and closed. The new part costs about $9.00 from Home Depot.

5. Check the seal for any gaps. A wide, thin, putty knife slid carefully along the jamb gives more consistent results than trying to pry up one part at a time.

6. Determine which door bottom is needed. Remove the existing door bottom and cut the new sweep to length if needed. If the door sweep fits too tightly, replace it with spring steel seals.

In summary, replacing a weather strip on a steel exterior door requires careful preparation and proper installation.