Home ImprovementUpdated 8/31/2026

How to Weatherproof a Drafty Door

Sealing a drafty door improves comfort and lowers energy bills with inexpensive materials.

Home Improvement
How-To Guides
Difficulty
Beginner
Time
45 minutes
Budget
$
Safety
Low

Tools needed

  • Scissors
  • Tape measure

Materials needed

  • Weatherstripping
  • Door sweep
  • Caulk and gun

Step-by-step

  1. 1

    Find drafts by feel or with a lit incense stick.

  2. 2

    Clean the door frame surfaces.

  3. 3

    Apply foam weatherstripping to the stop.

  4. 4

    Trim and attach a door sweep at the bottom.

  5. 5

    Caulk fixed gaps around the frame.

Common mistakes

  • Applying weatherstripping to a dirty surface
  • Buying a sweep that's too short

Maintenance & next steps

Inspect seals each fall before cold weather.

When to call a professional

For rotted frames or doors that no longer close squarely.

Editor's note: This is instructional content for How to Weatherproof a Drafty Door. Replace with your own firsthand experience and photos before publishing.
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