Home Improvement
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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Related Products

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9 items

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Bates- Caulking Gun, 10:1 Thrust Ratio, Orange, No Drip Sealant Gun
KLRStec Professional Caulk Gun 25:1 Heavy Duty Caulking Gun Smooth Rod 10oz
WORKPRO Caulking Gun, Hand Caulk Gun with Adjustable 9:1&18:1 Thrust Ratio
DAP Alex Plus Acrylic Latex Caulk, White, 10.1 Oz (7079818152) (Pack of 2)
Gorilla Clear Max Waterproof Silicone Sealant Cartridge
GREAT STUFF Pestblock Insulating Foam Sealant (12 oz.)
Red Devil 4-Inch Smooth Tube Caulk Gun
2-Inch Adhesive Foam Weatherstripping Tape
MAGZO Foam Weatherstripping Tape
This page contains affiliate links. If you purchase through them, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Gorilla Clear Max Waterproof Silicone Sealant Cartridge
Consumable
Gorilla

Gorilla Clear Max Waterproof Silicone Sealant Cartridge

Best for: Sealing the fixture against weather

Clear • 100% waterproof silicone

GREAT STUFF Pestblock Insulating Foam Sealant (12 oz.)
Consumable
GREAT STUFF

GREAT STUFF Pestblock Insulating Foam Sealant (12 oz.)

Best for: Filling wide gaps and pest entry points

12 oz • expanding pest-block foam

Red Devil 4-Inch Smooth Tube Caulk Gun
Tool
Red Devil

Red Devil 4-Inch Smooth Tube Caulk Gun

Best for: Running clean caulk beads

Smooth tube • dripless

2-Inch Adhesive Foam Weatherstripping Tape
Consumable
Frost King

2-Inch Adhesive Foam Weatherstripping Tape

Best for: Sealing the hatch frame gasket

2 in • self-adhesive foam

MAGZO Foam Weatherstripping Tape
Consumable
MAGZO

MAGZO Foam Weatherstripping Tape

Best for: Sealing gaps and panels

Adhesive foam • various widths