Weatherstripping Entry Door to Home
#1
12-14-07, 09:47 AM
Weatherstripping Entry Door to Home
Hi,
The front door to my home (which by the way is a double door) is leaking quite a bit of air. THis is only one of the double doors. The other is fit perfectly. It seems that there is a gap in between the hinges. The door is also slanted downward. This downward slant causes a gap the bottom portion of the double doors and a gap on the top of one of the doors. My question is can hinges be squeezed tighter? Also the wetherstripping below the door consisted of a metal base with a rubber strip in it. This rubber strip became abused and destroyed. I have been searching for a replacement rubber strip but there is not much choice and the ones to choose from are not the ight size. Does this mean I have to replace the whole metal piece as well? Thanks.
William
The front door to my home (which by the way is a double door) is leaking quite a bit of air. THis is only one of the double doors. The other is fit perfectly. It seems that there is a gap in between the hinges. The door is also slanted downward. This downward slant causes a gap the bottom portion of the double doors and a gap on the top of one of the doors. My question is can hinges be squeezed tighter? Also the wetherstripping below the door consisted of a metal base with a rubber strip in it. This rubber strip became abused and destroyed. I have been searching for a replacement rubber strip but there is not much choice and the ones to choose from are not the ight size. Does this mean I have to replace the whole metal piece as well? Thanks.
William
#2
12-14-07, 10:21 AM
Super Moderator
Double Doors
Hi William,
Theres no way to "squeeze" the hinges, but it may be as simple as tightening the screws on all the hinges. Check that first and see if it helps. Also, you can put a long (3") screw in the holes of the hinge nearest the middle of the frame. These will reach back to the studs behind the door frame and really help with any sagging. Finally, you can shim the bottom and middle hinges out a little (playing cards work great). This will effectively push the bottom of the door out and raise the top. The gap would be barely noticable after shimming.
As to the bottom weatherstrip, thats a very common problem. Sometimes you do have to replace the whole bottom piece. But keep searching and you may find a replacement. Try Blaine Hardware (?) online.
BTW is this a wood or steel door?
Theres no way to "squeeze" the hinges, but it may be as simple as tightening the screws on all the hinges. Check that first and see if it helps. Also, you can put a long (3") screw in the holes of the hinge nearest the middle of the frame. These will reach back to the studs behind the door frame and really help with any sagging. Finally, you can shim the bottom and middle hinges out a little (playing cards work great). This will effectively push the bottom of the door out and raise the top. The gap would be barely noticable after shimming.
As to the bottom weatherstrip, thats a very common problem. Sometimes you do have to replace the whole bottom piece. But keep searching and you may find a replacement. Try Blaine Hardware (?) online.
BTW is this a wood or steel door?
#3
12-17-07, 08:43 AM
In most cases, the door is out of plumb. Open the door until it is at least perpendicular to the opening. Take a popsicle stick or something similar and tack or tape it to the very top corner of the door having the stick extend outward at least 2 inches on the latch side of the door. Tie a string the length of the door to the end of the stick and a small weight to the end of the string. Once the string stops moving, it is straight up and down, or plumb if you prefer.
To determine if the door is plumb, you measure the distance from the top of the door to the string. Then measure at several other places. If the measurement at the other places are equal to the measurement that you got at the top of the door, then the door is plumb. If not, this one is fairly easy.
To plumb the door once you know the measurement with the plumb bob is to take a door stop or similar type wedge and slide it under the knob side of the door with the door open at least half way. With the plumb bob still in place slide the wedge in or out from under the door till the measurements between the string of the plumb bob and door are equal at several points. What this means is if the string is straight up and down, then so is the door.
Then get some tooth picks and wood carpenter's glue. Remove one screw from a hinge. Dip two tooth picks in the wood carpenter's glue and insert it into the screw hole. Trim off the ends of the tooth picks so it does not protrude outside the hinge. Then re-insert the screw. Repeat this process with all the screws on the hinges on both the door and the door jamb. It is also prudent to check for plumb by taking measurements between the string and door after each screw is done.
This sounds harder than it really is.
To determine if the door is plumb, you measure the distance from the top of the door to the string. Then measure at several other places. If the measurement at the other places are equal to the measurement that you got at the top of the door, then the door is plumb. If not, this one is fairly easy.
To plumb the door once you know the measurement with the plumb bob is to take a door stop or similar type wedge and slide it under the knob side of the door with the door open at least half way. With the plumb bob still in place slide the wedge in or out from under the door till the measurements between the string of the plumb bob and door are equal at several points. What this means is if the string is straight up and down, then so is the door.
Then get some tooth picks and wood carpenter's glue. Remove one screw from a hinge. Dip two tooth picks in the wood carpenter's glue and insert it into the screw hole. Trim off the ends of the tooth picks so it does not protrude outside the hinge. Then re-insert the screw. Repeat this process with all the screws on the hinges on both the door and the door jamb. It is also prudent to check for plumb by taking measurements between the string and door after each screw is done.
This sounds harder than it really is.
