hi, just looking for tips on how I would seal my new front door. Most weatherstips I have found screw into the back of the door but as the door stop is there it prevents that. And anything on the front of the door won’t properly seal as the grooves go all the way down so the bugs/draft can just bypass the seal below and go in form above it if that makes sense. I was looking for something to hopefully seal it from underneath but it is uneven so there is a bigger gap on one end than to the other. Any help is appreciated!
Hi @jorjmorris,
Weather seals for hinged doors should always be installed on the exterior face of the door. If they’re fitted on the inside, moisture can track underneath the door and onto the internal sill, which is never ideal. In your situation, the easiest and most effective option is to install an automatic drop seal on the exterior side. These seals activate when the door closes and drop a rubber strip down to meet the sill.
The grooves on your door aren’t a problem either. You can simply run a thin bead of silicone along the back of the seal before fixing it in place. Just tape off the area above the mounting point first so you don’t get silicone smearing on the door surface.
When installing the seal, make sure it’s perfectly parallel with the bottom of the door so that, when activated, the rubber gasket makes full and even contact with the sill. This will give you a proper weatherproof barrier and stop drafts, insects, and moisture entering beneath the door, even if the gap is uneven.
Here's a helpful guide: How to seal a door.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Mitchell
