How to Replace Worn Weatherstripping Around Doors

Insulation, Repairs and Installation, Video by Danny Lipford

Replacing worn or damaged weather stripping around exterior doors will save money on your energy bills. Take a piece of the old weather stripping with you to the home improvement store so you can easily match it. The weather stripping in newer doors fits in a groove in the door casing. To remove it, simply pull it out. Then cut a new piece to length, and insert it in the groove. Older doors can be retrofit using rolls of self-adhesive foam weather stripping or rigid strips that are nailed in place.

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10 Comments on “How to Replace Worn Weatherstripping Around Doors”

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  1. Ardell Says:
    October 5th, 2008 at 07:21

    THERE IS OLD ADHESIVE WEATHERSTRIPPING ON MY DOOR FRAME, HOW CAN I REMOVE THE OLD, WORN OUT WEATHERSTRIPPING, SO I CAN REPLACE IT WITH NEW

  2. Randy Says:
    January 31st, 2009 at 13:57

    Best video on the web for replacing compressiong weatherstripping. Fact is, about the only one. Maybe it is so easy no one else talks about it, but for me I wanted confirmation that I could just “yank” the old stuff out.

    Thanks

  3. Michael Says:
    April 9th, 2009 at 18:17

    My brand new Jeld-Wen door was damaged by our cat trying to get back in the house, much like the one shown in the video. I first tried to pull it out, but was not sure if the factory installed stripping could be replaced without ripping the entire door frame apart. This video saved me alot of grief (and money). Now I know it can be pulled out and replaced. Once you have it out (I started at the bottom of the door) the rest comes out easy. I took a short piece of stripping to the store to get a perfect match. Thanks Danny!

  4. Official Comment:

    Ben Erickson Says:
    April 10th, 2009 at 07:05

    Hi Michael,
    Glad to know the video helped. How to take the weatherstripping out is also a good trick to know when you’re painting a new door (which I did recently) or repainting an old one. Not only does it keep you from getting paint on the weatherstripping, but it allows you to close the door while the paint cures without it sticking to the weatherstripping.

  5. Cheryl Talley Says:
    April 25th, 2009 at 18:00

    I have the old foam weather stripping around my door. And I would like to paint the door. Is there an easy way to remove the foam weather stripping? It just seems to be pulling apart in little foam pieces. I dont think that will be good when I go back and replace it after the door is dry.

  6. Don Wensel Says:
    June 14th, 2009 at 14:33

    I have casement crank style windows that have a Viceroy Home stamp (vintage 1985). I’m pretty sure that Viceroy did not manufacture these, but I don’t know who did. The weather strip or gasket that fits in a groove or channel atop the crank section of the window is kind of like a L shape that slides into this groove. Any idea where I might find something like this, or what I might search for?

    Thanks!

  7. Laura Sawyer Says:
    April 26th, 2010 at 12:44

    My daughter has weather stripping on the bottom of her kitchen door which prevents using a small area rug to keep debri from being carried onto her hardwood floors. Is there any way to use a weather stripping that would attach to the bottom door sill on the outside that would not have a sweep on it?

  8. Official Comment:

    Ben Erickson Says:
    April 27th, 2010 at 12:39

    Hi Laura,
    You can buy metal thresholds in differing heights that attach to the floor in the doorway and have a rubber weatherstripping on the top that the door bottom of the door fits against. It would probably require trimming the bottom of the door a bit to make it the right height and some careful adjusting for a snug fit. I have also seen a sweep that attaches to the door that raises up automatically when the door is opened. Good luck with your project!

  9. E. Watson Says:
    May 19th, 2010 at 08:57

    We have 2 Repla garden doors and the air is leaking in all around the perimeter. Are you familiar with these doors and if so, how can I put in new weather stripping? Thanks.

  10. Joan Says:
    August 15th, 2010 at 14:15

    I have weather stripping that fits in the groove in my door casing and can’t find a place to get the same kind of weather stripping that fits like that. Any suggestions where I can get it or who makes it?

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