Although most home improvement articles stress the value of weatherstripping, certain options are far better for your home. If you seek to lower your heating costs, create finished edges, and eliminate visible gaps, there are specific options for your home. If you are considering using weatherstripping, you may be surprised by the amount of options available to you. Before spending the time to install this product, read this article to make sure you’re picking the right type for the job.
In general, there are two types of weatherstripping, self-stick or nail on. Self stick has the advantage when it comes to convenience. The adhesive is often paired with rubber, foam, or vinyl to produce the product.
Self stick weatherstripping is essential if you are applying weatherstripping around vinyl or metal windows, or anywhere else where nailing would be impossible. You can also use the self stick option if the strip acts in compression, without any other movement. You can cut self stick weatherstripping with scissors or snips, making it very simple to install.
The best self-stick tape is EPDM (ethylene-propylene-diene-monomer). Known for its quality and durability, EPDM will last under regular use for years and years of extreme weather.
If you can’t justify the high cost of EPDM, consider high density foam, which is also fairly durable. Closed cell foam is inexpensive, but it won’t last as long as other options. Open cell foam is even more fragile, use this weatherstripping for indoor use only. Vinyl V-strips are also a suitable option for areas that do not need an incredibly durable product.
Nail on strips should be used for wood windows and any other time when nailing is an option. Because nails are used to secure it instead of adhesive, the weatherstripping should stay in place until you remove it.
For smaller gaps, those no wider than ¼ inch, you can use a spring bronze. This consists of a piece of metal that is put into the gap and nailed into place. Then the metal is expanded and to fill the gap, hence the name “spring bronze”. This type of weatherstripping is best for wood windows.
A vinyl tubular gasket is another type of nail on strip weatherstripping that is less expensive than spring bronze. This should be used for larger gaps. It consists of rubber tubing with an added flap for attaching it with nails. Some are reinforced with metal to prevent any tearing and to add durability.
Felt weatherstripping is another nail on option, but you can only use this type of weatherstripping indoors. If the felt gets wet, it will most certainly rot, so keep it away from areas of high condensation.
Once you have chosen the weatherstripping, follow the manufacturer’s instructions to install it correctly. If you seldom do home improvement projects, work slowly to avoid making mistakes. However, using weatherstripping should be a fairly easy venture that you can complete in an afternoon depending on the size of your home.
