Your Ultimate Guide to Weatherproofing Doors

Extreme weather always seems to creep up on us—especially in Canada. One day you’re enjoying long days and warm weather, the next it’s snowing!

This year, don’t wait until the last minute to protect your front door in Canada’s extreme cold and wet weather. If you’ve noticed drafty entrances or leaking, learning about weatherproofing doors might be the answer that you are looking for! But what exactly does that entail?

Burano Doors has got you covered! Keep reading to learn more.

The Importance of Weatherproofing Doors

Summer or winter, spring or fall—front door weatherproofing can help keep extreme temperatures out of your home no matter the season. Not only will doing so make sure that you and your family are more comfortable in the vastly differing Canadian climate, but it can actually save you money and upgrade the value of your home.

Did you know that your doors and windows can be a major contributor to your home’s inefficiency? Older or broken units can let air pass through them, causing heated or cooled air to escape to the outdoors. This means that your AC and heating unit is working twice as hard to keep your home’s temperature regulated, costing you more money in the long run. In fact, it’s estimated that you can save between 25-30% of your heating and cooling costs just by properly weatherizing and insulating your home.

If you already have ENERGY STAR rated windows, it just might be your door that’s to blame. Weatherproofing is one of the simplest ways you can improve the energy efficiency of your front door, as well as your home overall. Keep scrolling to learn how this is done.

How Do You Weatherproof a Door?

Here are five easy ways to weatherproof a front door:

1. Weatherproof Door Sweeps

If you have a significant gap between the bottom of your door and the floor, adding a weatherproofing door sweep can keep drafts out of your home.

Typically, newer doors already have a groove on the bottom of the door in place so you can easily insert an unattached door sweep. If your door does not have one, you may feel inclined to attach it with some tape. We would advise against this because tape can ruin the finish of your front door.

2. Adhesive Weatherproofing Strips

You can attach adhesive weatherproofing strips along every edge of your front door in order to prevent heated air from leaking out of your home in the cooler months, and vice versa in the summer. There are grooves in place where you should be able to easily insert the weatherproofing strips.

Before applying the strips, you will want to ensure that the door is thoroughly cleaned to avoid disruptions in how your door opens and closes. Similarly, the fit of your door will affect your ability to use the strips on every edge. If the weatherproofing strips affect your door’s ability to open or close, then it is best to remove it from one side.

3. Door Insulating Felt

Weatherproofing doors doesn’t have to be costly, and door insulating felt is a true testament to that.

While it is a relatively inexpensive front door weatherproofing method, door insulating felt can last for several years. Similar to adhesive weatherproofing strips, you can attach it along each edge of your front door, as long as it does not cause difficulties with opening or closing it.

All you have to do is cut the felt cloth into strips that are long enough to fit each side of the door and then use normal carpentry staples to attach it. For even better durability, you can use more heavy-duty staples. These robust tools are guaranteed to ensure its longevity.

4. Insulating Plastic Film

Adding insulating plastic film to your door’s windows is a great way to combat cold drafts from entering your home. When you attach it, make sure that it extends at least five cm past the window’s frame for maximum effectiveness. If you choose this method for weatherproofing doors in your home, you can even kick its insulating power up a notch by adding a layer of bubble wrap in between the glass and the plastic film. How’s that for a life hack?

5. Professional Front Door Weatherproofing

While these are all great DIY tips for weatherproofing doors, they are only temporary solutions to a bigger problem. You may want to consider hiring a professional to come in and weatherproof your front door. They will be able to save you the time and hassle of doing the job yourself.

When Weatherproofing Isn’t Enough…

Sometimes, simply weatherproofing doors is not enough. With age, natural wear and tear happens to our front doors.

If you’ve tried everything on this list to no avail, you may want to consider getting replacement doors. High-quality, energy-efficient models can help prevent the need for elaborate front door weatherproofing measures. When your front door is made of reliable material, you can trust that weatherproofing comes as part of the deal.

At Burano Doors, we offer an extensive selection of entry doors designed for safety, convenience, style, and comfort. Our premium doors have you (and your home) covered.

Contact us today to book a free consultation with one of our expert team members.