Weatherstripping
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Weatherstripping is the process of sealing openings such as doors, windows, and trunks from the elements. The goal of weatherstripping is to prevent rain and water from entering by either blocking it outright or by blocking most of it and returning or rerouting it. A secondary goal of weatherstripping is to keep interior air in, thus saving energy with heating and air.
The materials used in weatherstripping are thresholds, a piece of material, either a sweep or a J-hook, to match the door to the threshold, and the actual weathstripping itself.
Every exterior door, or door to an uninsulated room such as an attic, must be weatherstripped as required by code enforcement in various states of U.S. Doors can usually be divided into private homes and commercial properties. Some of these doors receive custom weatherstripping if not weatherstripped at the factory.
[edit] Custom Weatherstripping
Custom weatherstripping, contrary to pre-weatherstripped units, require much more time and is considered to be a specialized skill.
Weatherstrippers install a threshold, cut the door and install a sweep or J-hook to the bottom of the door, and nail spring-steel bronze into the door jamb to seal the gap.
[edit] Pre-Weatherstripped doors
Pre-weatherstripped doors for private homes are usually made of fiberglass or a similar material and are shipped from the factor weatherstripped, hence the “pre-weatherstripped.” The doors have a curf in the door stop so that a foam, rubber, or vinyl strip can be placed inside for the door to rest again when closed. These doors also have the threshold - usually a molded piece of plastic - nailed to the frame in the factory. These units are not difficult to install and require very little skill for a trim carpenter where a weather-stripper is required for custom weatherstripping.
