Need help finding replacement vinyl weather stripping

Hi All, this is my very first post and I hope you can help me. I am looking to find a replacement exterior door bottom vinyl weather stripping for my front door. Unfortunately, I do not know the door manufacturer, as it is not identified on the door anywhere. I have included some pictures of the bottom of my door and the molding type, etc. If anyone can either help me find the door manufacturer or a website that sells this particular molding, I will be forever grateful. I have searched the web for hours and hours and can't find it. The only thing I know for sure is that it is NOT a Taylor door. Many thanks in advance. Beowing

 

This is the closest I can find right now. You need to measure carefully. Don't worry about the bulbs on the bottom being in different places. Here's another, but no measurements.

 

Thanks XSleeper for your fast and courteuous response. Unfortunately, both of the door sweeps you have identified are for Taylor doors. I have tried this style of sweep and they do not fit. As a matter of fact, I bought several of them thinking they would work, but they do not. The lip that slides onto the bottom metal rail are too narrow and this sweep will not slide on. It will get stuck after about 3 inches. But many thanks for your efforts! Beowing

 

The ones in that link have two tiny fins that stick upward... if that is the same as the ones you already have, I think I would slice those off or grind them down, since they would only make it tighter than it needs to be. Might give it enough clearance to slide on. Might also put dishsoap on it to lubricate both sides. If you got it on 3", doing those 2 things might help get it the rest of the way on.

It's been years since I had to replace one of those, forget where it came from. I could swear it was an old Stanley door. I recall taking the door off the hinges and fighting it, cussing all the way.

I have probably also taken the door off, completely removed the old grooved mounting track that is nailed to the bottom of the door, and then installed a flat bottom staple-on/ nail-on type of door bottom (like this), and ran a bead of silicone between it and the bottom of the door to prevent wicking.

 

XSleeper,

Yes, I am quite familiar and experienced in the cussing part. The ones in the link are the ones I have. Yes, I did slice off those two small fins that stick up with a razor blade. I also used some lubricant. I even cut down the little lips that slide onto the metal rail The fact is the gap on the ones in the link (Taylor door weather strips) are just ever so slightly narrower that the one on my door. The is no amount of fighting that will get them on. Trust me, I fought it for hours.

Taylor does make a screw on slide for the bottom of a door, but on my door, I can't remove the metal slide as it is an integral part of the bottom of the door. If I just mount the new slide over the existing one, then the new weather strip is down too far and the door would never close. So that option is out.

If I can't find an exact replacement, I think I will just go to Home Depot and buy a whole new door bottom with weather strip and screw it on. I was just hoping that someone mayhave seen this style before.

Thanks for your efforts and concern.

Regards,
Beowing

 

I think I would grab a 6 pack and my grinder, and give that metal door bottom slide a piece of me. Once it's gone I think your options to put on a new one are wide open. Sorry I didn't come up with anything. Keep an eye on this thread though... maybe Gunguy or another member will come up with something.

There are a few door bottoms that just nail on, getting the thickness just right will probably be tough.

 

Yes, still thinking of options. If I could figure out an easy way to grind down the metal slide to make it thin enough to slide on the Taylor strip, I would. But I can't think of a small enough grinding wheel. Even a Dremel is too big and it would take forever to do.

Thanks for the advice.
Beowing

 

Beowing,

Have you come up with anything that will work?

I have a similar problem with my back door - I need to replace the bottom sweep, but have no idea who the manufacturer of the door is. I've attempted to reach the previous homeowner to ask, but no luck there.

I've read that you can find out the manufacturer of the door by looking under the hinge-plate - have you tried that yet? I'm thinking of checking that out on my door this weekend.

I'm a bit nervous about taking the sweep off before I have a replacement I know will fit, b/c I don't have much experience with these and would hate to be left with a sweepless door before a rainstorm.

Anyway - good luck with your sweep, and if you have fixed your issue, please post back so I can copy what you did.

Oh - one other question - when you do find a replacement, what parts do you need to caulk/seal? I'm assuming that there's more to this than simply finding the replacement and sliding it in?

Thanks

 

Hello Rock,

Thanks for taking an interest in my door project. No I have not come up with a solution just yet, but still working on it. Still trying to disciver the originak door manufacturer, but it seems like a slim chance I will. I also read on the internet someplace that you might look under the middle hinge to identify the manufacturer, but have not doem this yet. But as a last resort, I will, but not expecting a miracle.

At this point, I am probably going ti investigate a full cover "U"-shaped door bottom that screws into the lower vertical portion of the door. And it must also have a "slide-on/slide-off" replacement sweep. So at the same time, I will buy about 5 replacement sweeps to have as spares in case they quit making them. My front door is in pretty good sahpe and I plan on keeping it for some time, all I need is to fix the bottom of the darn thing. I will remember to post a solution to to my curren tproblem as soon as I come up with it.

I also just tried uploading a file which shows my current door sweep as compared to a Taylor and Stanley Prodigy sweep, but I can't make it small enough to meet the minimum upload requirements. So if anyone out there can help me identify this door, please send me an e-mail at tom.morgan451@gmail .com and I will send you a copy of the file to review. If anyone can help me identify this door, I will be forever in your debt.

Beowing

 

hey beowing,

have you had any luck?

i have the exact same door, and the exact same problems.

my hinges have "winler" stamped on them, but i can't find any information of a door manufacturer w/ that name.

my home is in upstate NY - where is yours?

i'm just wondering where in the hell these doors came from.

-patrick

 

Hi Pat,

I am sorry to say that I still have had no luck in finding the name of the door manufacturer or a replacement door molding. Although I haven't done a very good search, it is now my intent to simply replace the entire door molding with new style molding. My only concern with that is will this new sweep be too low with my threshold since the bottom of my door os not flat, because it has the v-track on it for the existing molding. I will have to do some measuring to see if it will fit. I am attaching a picture of the type of new molding I am considering.

And of course, if I by this new bottom sweep, I am going to buy a lifetime of replacement sweps up front, so I will always have them! Sorry I could not be much more help.




Tom

 

yup.

i'm looking into the same thing.
my concern is if there is enough there for screws to bite into... core is pure styrofoam.
i'm hoping the little self tapping sheet metal screws will work.

i'd hate to have to get a new door just because of this crap.

anyway, good luck.

 

Hi Pat, glad to see you respond again, as I have a question for you. Of course I am assuming you have exactly the same door as me.

As I have indicated in my thread, it is my plan to just install a new bottom sweep, like the one I have in the picture. These are available from Home Depot, Lowe's and others, but unfortunately you have to order them on-line, as they do not carry them in the stores anymore (I think they used to). Anyway, here is my concern.

I am araid by simply installing this new door sweep bracket onto the existing door, there will not be enough clearance between the rubber sweep and the door threshold. I, probably like you, have an adjustable threshold. But even when I screw it down all the way to it's lowest position, I do not think there is enough clearance. I think I need at least a 1/2". The reason there is not enough clearance is because the door still has the v-slide track for accommodating the old (original) molding.

Now here is the tricky part! I am thinking about removing the v-travk from the bottom of the door and then attaching the new door sweep bracket on the bottom of the door. In order to remove this v-track, I think I may have to actually cut it off with a sabre saw. Of course, doing this is very risky, as the way the bottom of the door is manufactured it could impact the structural rigidity of the door. I would hate to ruin the whole door by doing this. Then I would really be screwed. Hopefully, I am being clear in what I am describing. If you have the same door, you should understand what I am talking about. If so, what do you think? I would really like to hear someones thoughts on this before I start amputating the door molding track. Thanks,
Tom

 

Hi All,

Just wanted to follow-up on this this thread I created to let anyone know that I have finally resolved the problem. I never did find an original (or suitable) replacement door gasket. So I found a new replacement bottom for the door and installed it.

In order to install the new door bottom, I had to cut-off the v-shaped slide where the original molding slipped over. I simply used a hand-held jig saw to cut it off. I then slid the new door bottom on and screwed it into place. I also purchased some additional screws so I could mount the new door bottom on the front and back of the door. The door bottom only comes with screws and mounting holes for the front side. I wanted to make sure it stayed on without twisting or flexing, so I screwed in on the door bottom on both front and back.

I am attaching some pictures to show you all how it turned out. I have also purchased a few spare rubber moldings so when I need them I will have them and not have to start this search all over again. Thanks to all who tried to help me with this problem.

Beowing.

 

Glad you got up the courage to cut it off. Door bottoms like that one have the potential to catch and hold water. Am I correct in seeing that a little clear silicone was put inside the door bottom as you slid it on? If so, good job, it looks like it works.

 

Hi XSleeper,

Yes all it took was a little courage on my part and the rest was easy. As for the silicon, you are quite right. When I cut off the metal "door molding v-slide" it exposed the inside core of the door (styrofoam). So I used some silicone caulk to seal up the sides (ends) of the door to prevent water from seeping in. I did not silicone across the face of the door to prevent water from leaking in the top of the ouside part of the door bottom; as someday it may need to come off and I did not want it to be a pain in the neck to get off. Anyway, it took about 3 hours total to do the job from taking the door off to putting it back on, as I did the job very cautiously and meticulously. I am very pleased with the effort. The door looks and functions great and I did not have to buy a new door. At least not yet. Thanks for the support.

Beowing