Weatherstripping | Department of Energy

Tension seal:

Click here to get more.

Self-stick plastic (vinyl) folded along length in a V-shape or a springy bronze strip (also copper, aluminum, and stainless steel) shaped to bridge a gap. The shape of the material creates a seal by pressing against the sides of a crack to block drafts.

Inside the track of a double-hung or sliding window, top and sides of door.Moderate; varies with material used.Durable, invisible when in place, very effective. Vinyl is fairly easy to install. Look of bronze works well for older homes.Surfaces must be flat and smooth for vinyl. Can be difficult to install, as corners must be snug. Bronze must be nailed in place (every three inches or so) so as not to bend or wrinkle. Can increase resistance in opening/closing doors or windows. Self-adhesive vinyl available. Some manufacturers include extra strip for door striker plate.

Felt:

Plain or reinforced with a flexible metal strip; sold in rolls. Must be stapled, glued, or tacked into place. Seals best if staples are parallel to length of the strip.

Around a door or window (reinforced felt); fitted into a door jamb so the door presses against it.LowEasy to install, inexpensive.Low durability; least effective preventing airflow. Do not use where exposed to moisture or where there is friction or abrasion. All-wool felt is more durable and more expensive. Very visible.

Reinforced foam:

Closed-cell foam attached to wood or metal strips.

Door or window stops; bottom or top of window sash; bottom of door.Moderately lowEffective sealer, scored well in wind tests, rigid.Can be difficult to install; must be sawed, nailed, and painted. Very visible. Manufacturing process produces greenhouse gas emissions.

Tape:

Nonporous, closed-cell foam, open-cell foam, or EDPM (ethylene propylene diene monomer) rubber.

Top and bottom of window sash; door frames; attic hatches and inoperable windows. Good for blocking corners and irregular cracks.Low

Extremely easy to install, works well when compressed, inexpensive. Can be reinforced with staples.

Durability varies with material used, but not especially high for all; use where little wear is expected; visible.

Rolled or reinforced vinyl:

Pliable or rigid strip gasket (attached to wood or metal strips.)

Door or window stops; top or bottom of window sash; bottom of a door (rigid strip only).Low to moderateEasy installation, low to moderate cost. Self-adhesive on pliable vinyl may not adhere to metal; some types of rigid strip gaskets provide slot holes to adjust height, increasing durability. Comes in varying colors to help with visibility.Visible

Door sweep:

Aluminum or stainless steel with brush of plastic, vinyl, sponge, or felt.

Bottom of interior side of in-swinging door; bottom of exterior side of exterior-swinging door.Moderate to highRelatively easy to install; many types are adjustable for uneven threshold. Automatically retracting sweeps also available, which reduce drag on carpet and increase durability.Visible. Can drag on carpet. Automatic sweeps are more expensive and can require a small pause once door is unlatched before retracting.

Magnetic:

Works similarly to refrigerator gaskets.

Top and sides of doors, double-hung and sliding window channels.HighVery effective air sealer.

Tubular rubber and vinyl:

Vinyl or sponge rubber tubes with a flange along length to staple or tack into place. Door or window presses against them to form a seal.

Around a door.Moderate to highEffective air barrier.Self-stick versions challenging to install.

Reinforced silicone:

Tubular gasket attached to a metal strip that resembles reinforced tubular vinyl

On a doorjamb or a window stop.Moderate to highSeals well.Installation can be tricky. Hacksaw required to cut metal; butting corners pose a challenge.

Door shoe:

Aluminum face attachment with vinyl C-shaped insert to protect under the door.

To seal space beneath door.Moderate to high.Sheds rain on the exterior, durable. Can be used with uneven opening. Some door shoes have replaceable vinyl inserts.
Fairly expensive; installation moderately difficult. May require door bottom planing.

Bulb threshold:

Vinyl and aluminum

Link to chimeda

Door thresholds.Moderate to highCombination threshold and weatherstrip; available in different heights.Wears from foot traffic; relatively expensive.

"Frost-brake" threshold:

Aluminum or other metal on exterior, wood on interior, with door-bottom seam and vinyl threshold replacement.

To seal beneath a door.Moderate to highThe use of different materials means less cold transfer. Effective.Moderately difficult to install, involves threshold replacement.

Fin seal:

Pile weatherstrip with plastic Mylar fin centered in pile.

For aluminum sliding windows and sliding glass doors.Moderate to highVery durable.Can be difficult to install.

What is Weatherstripping?

Defined, weatherstripping is a strip of rubber or other material used to seal the edges of a door or window against the cold; however, weatherstripping has a variety of applications and protects you from more than a chilly breeze.

Weatherstripping is an essential tool that guards your investment from mold, dust, dirt, grime, draft and pests, and keeps your air conditioning/heat inside.

The weatherstripping and rubber parts we produce here at Steele are manufactured from EPDM rubber. EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer) was developed in the s to meet the increasing demand for innovation in manufacturing. EPDM essentially mirrors the physical properties of natural rubber and adds the important function of UV resistance.

Due to its extreme weather, UV, and Ozone resistance, EPDM is the perfect weatherstripping compound to produce all of our parts out of. We also back all of our parts with a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

How is Weatherstripping Applied?

There are multiple ways to apply weatherstripping from glue-on, push-on and adhesive backed strips. Not every application will work for all projects so it’s important to consider your project’s unique needs before purchasing a weatherstrip.

What is the difference between Auto, RV and Marine Weatherstripping?

• Automotive seals are determined by the make, model & year of your car
• RV & Marine seals are mostly universal, as they have a variety of applications. However, select parts can have specific fitment based on year and make.

To expand a little more on those:

Automotive weatherstripping is determined by your car’s unique make, model and year. This is both convenient and inconvenient at times. How so? Depending on the type of car you have, you might not find what you’re looking for. This typically means that no one else has asked for that seal, or that there isn’t a high enough demand to produce those parts. If you’re looking for a kit, or all the seals for your particular make and model car, you can use a parts finder like the one of the Steele Rubber site. For example, say I’m looking for the seals for a Camaro Hardtop.

However, if you don’t see the parts you’re looking for, we recommend looking at our Universal line. If you’re doing a custom project like a hot rod or street rod, check out our Street Rod line! If we can’t produce what you need, we reach out to other companies in the industry to help you find what you’re looking for.

RV weatherstripping is vastly universal because RV manufacturers would often use what seals they had on hand. Which could result in two of the same year, make, and model RVs having different seals on them. Our RV parts are categorized by the seal’s location. For example, doors and compartments, A/C gasket, windows, and slide outs. Just because a seal is located in one category, doesn’t mean you can’t use it in another application.

In our marine line, you will find parts specific for boats like rub rails. As well as a variety of parts also included in our RV line. The main characteristic that distinguishes marine parts from the RV parts is that these seals are tested to withstand fresh and saltwater conditions.

Basic Weatherstripping Terminology

Gasket – A shaped piece or ring of rubber that fills the space between 2 or more surfaces, generally to prevent leaks. A gasket typically fills the space between the glass and metal channel of the RV.

Edge Trim – Designed to cover rough edges. Used around doors and other applications that require a cover for an edge.

Insert Trim – Insert trim rubber is the perfect replacement to the original vinyl seal. Most vinyl tends to crack and let water in the track which causes mildew. Our insert trim is manufactured from dense, 100% EPDM rubber, making it UV and weather resistant. It is designed to fit & lock in the metal track found on many RV and Toy Haulers.

T-Rubber – These seals can be used in just about any application where rubber is held in place with a track or channel. Many RV screen doors and shower doors utilize T-rubber seals.

Push-On – Push-on seals refer to how they are installed. These seals are designed to stop leaks, drafts, reduce noise and ensure a secure fit. These types of seals mostly consist of a rubber bulb attached to push-on type insert trim that has an integrated steel core. The result is a long lasting seal that is easy to install and requires no glue or adhesive to install.

Peel-N-Stick – Another type based on installation. These seals feature a 3M double-sided adhesive backing which offers quick and easy installation. Our Peel-N-Stick seals are superior to other parts with double-sided tape for a few reasons: We exclusively use 3M tape, we heat-apply the backing to our parts in-house during the manufacturing process, and because the heat-applying process permanently bonds the rubber seal and tape together.

Sponge Rubber – There are 2 types of sponge rubber, closed cell and open cell. EPDM rubber seals are typically closed cell sponge rubber. These seals are flexible, weather and UV resistant and can withstand pressure for long periods of time without losing their shape. Sponge rubber can be molded or extruded. Closed cell is ideal because it also does not absorb water like open cell designs. Our sponge rubber is closed cell. This is achieved by a salt-bath curing process.

Dense Rubber – Dense rubber can be extruded or molded and is cured using intense heat to achieve a solid structure. These seals feature greater resistance to impacts, abrasion and wear. This type of rubber is commonly found in window applications, and as a replacement for vinyl or plastic seals.

Extrusion – The extrusion process, as explained on our facility tours, is just like pushing Play-Doh through a toy mold. Dies (the shape we want the extrusion to be) are placed at the beginning of the extruder. Then, the proprietary EPDM rubber compound is forced through that die and “cured” to keep its shape. Dense rubber cures with dry heat, while sponge rubber extrusions are sent through a molten salt bath that makes the rubber expand into the squishy rubber we all know and love.

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Weather Strip Manufacturers.