RELIABILT Weatherstripping & Thresholds
RELIABILT weatherstripping and thresholds to seal gaps around exterior doors for energy efficiency and weather protection.
RELIABILT weatherstripping and thresholds seal the gaps around exterior doors to block drafts, rain, insects, and dust. Products include adhesive-backed foam tape, V-strip (tension seal), door sweeps, and adjustable aluminum thresholds. Priced from $4 for foam tape to $25 for adjustable thresholds. Replacing worn weatherstripping is one of the simplest and most cost-effective energy upgrades for any home.
Weatherstripping should be inspected and replaced on every exterior door in the home, including front doors, back doors, and garage-to-house doors. Most weatherstripping materials have a lifespan of 1-10 years depending on the type, so periodic replacement is a normal part of home maintenance.
Weatherstripping Options
| Adhesive Foam Tape | Peel-and-stick closed-cell foam. Cheapest option ($4-6). Lasts 1-3 years. Best for low-use doors. |
| V-Strip / Tension Seal | Bronze or vinyl spring strip that presses against the door. $6-10. Lasts 5+ years. Self-adjusting. |
| Door Sweep | Aluminum or plastic strip with brush or vinyl seal. $8-15. Mounts to bottom of door. Blocks floor gap. |
| Adjustable Threshold | Aluminum sill with vinyl seal. $15-25. Screws to floor under the door. Adjustable height for a tight seal. |
How to Choose RELIABILT Weatherstripping
Identify where the drafts are. Hold a lit candle or incense stick near the door edges and watch for flickering. The top and sides of the door frame need V-strip or foam tape. The bottom gap between the door and threshold needs a door sweep or adjustable threshold.
For the sides and top of the frame, V-strip (tension seal) lasts the longest (5+ years) and self-adjusts as the door shifts seasonally. Adhesive foam tape is cheaper but wears out in 1-3 years and compresses over time. Choose V-strip for primary entry doors and foam tape for secondary doors with low traffic.
Consider replacing weatherstripping on all exterior doors at the same time. This ensures consistent sealing quality throughout the house and lets you buy materials in bulk. A typical home has 2-3 exterior doors, and doing them all at once takes about 90 minutes.
For the bottom gap, measure the gap between the door bottom and the threshold. If the gap is less than 1/2", a door sweep mounted to the interior face of the door is sufficient. For larger gaps or damaged thresholds, replace the entire threshold with an adjustable aluminum model from the RELIABILT line.
For the best results, address all four sides of the door at once. Sealing only the bottom while leaving the sides and top open still allows significant air infiltration. A complete weatherstripping job for one door typically costs $15-30 in materials and takes about 30 minutes.
Key Installation Steps
Clean the door frame thoroughly before applying any weatherstripping. Use rubbing alcohol to remove old adhesive, dust, and grease. Adhesive weatherstripping will not bond to dirty or greasy surfaces and will peel off within weeks.
For adhesive foam tape, start at the top of the frame and work down each side. Press the tape firmly into the frame stop (the ridge the door closes against). Close the door to check compression. The tape should compress about halfway when the door is closed.
For door sweeps, close the door and position the sweep so the vinyl or brush seal just barely touches the threshold. Mark the screw holes, drill pilot holes, and mount the sweep. The seal should brush the threshold when the door moves, not drag hard against it.
Common Problems and Fixes
| Adhesive foam tape peels off | The surface was not clean when the tape was applied. Remove all old adhesive, clean the frame with rubbing alcohol, let it dry completely, then apply new tape. Press firmly along the entire length. |
| Door sweep drags on floor | The sweep is mounted too low. Loosen the mounting screws, raise the sweep so it just barely contacts the threshold when the door is closed, and retighten. It should brush the threshold, not press hard against it. |
| Drafts persist after installing weatherstripping | Check for gaps at the corners where the top seal meets the side seals. Seal these corners with a small piece of foam tape. Also check the door lock side; if the door warps, weatherstripping alone may not close the gap. Adjust the strike plate to pull the door tighter against the frame. |
Long-Term Care for Weatherstripping
Inspect all weatherstripping at the start of each heating and cooling season (twice a year). Look for compression, cracking, peeling, or gaps. Foam tape deteriorates fastest and should be replaced every 1-3 years. V-strip and door sweeps last 5-10 years with normal use.
Clean the door frame contact surfaces before reapplying any adhesive weatherstripping. Built-up paint, dust, and old adhesive residue prevent new tape from bonding properly. Rubbing alcohol on a rag removes most residue.
For adjustable thresholds, check the adjustment screws annually. Seasonal temperature changes cause the door and frame to expand and contract, which can create gaps. Turn the adjustment screws to raise or lower the threshold seal until it contacts the door bottom evenly across the full width.
Keep spare foam tape and a replacement door sweep on hand. When you notice a draft developing, immediate replacement prevents days or weeks of energy waste while you shop for materials. Weatherstripping products are inexpensive enough to stock ahead of time.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much can weatherstripping reduce energy costs?
The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that sealing air leaks around doors and windows can reduce heating and cooling costs by 10-20%. A single exterior door with worn weatherstripping can leak as much air as a 6-inch hole in the wall. At $4-25 per door, weatherstripping pays for itself within one season.
Can I weatherstrip a door that already has weatherstripping?
Yes, but remove the old material first. Layering new weatherstripping over old creates uneven compression and poor sealing. Strip away all old foam, adhesive residue, and fasteners before installing new material.
Does RELIABILT weatherstripping work on garage doors?
The products on this page are designed for standard entry doors. Garage doors use wider, thicker weatherstripping specific to their size and track system. Check the Lowe's garage door section for garage-specific seals.
Weatherstripping is essential after installing new exterior doors. Check your back doors and patio doors too, as these are common draft sources. See installation guides for all product types.
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