Doorsweeps - How to keep the cold and rain out of your house

This old doorsweep on the bottom of a steel entry isworn and has lost its vinyl fins and is not sealing properly.

Because of this, rainwater and dirt is getting in on both sides of the door.

It's time to pull this sweep off and replace it with a new one

The sweep on this door was only a few years old, so it was not difficult to find an exact replacement

Some door manufacturers make sweeps that only fit their doors, which forces you to buy the sweeps from them. It's sometimes possible though to adapt an easily available sweep fit.

For this door, I thought a dark brown sweep would look better on the door than the old white one

Take out all the screws holding the old sweepon.  Usually the screws are on the inside to keep them away from the weather.

Dont bother keeping the old screws, they are often rusted and sometimes difficult to remove.

Be careful not to damage the old sweep. You need it inone piece so you can measure it properly. Dont throw it out yet !

Unscrew the old sweep, usually the screws are on the inside to keep them away from the weather.

Dont bother keeping the old screws, they are oftenrusted and sometimes difficult to remove.

Be careful not to damage the old sweep. You need it inone piece so you can measure it properly. Dont throw it out yet !

Use the old sweep as a template for cutting the new one

Here the old sweep is laid on top of the new and its easy to see the  new one needs to be cut about 3/8" to matchthe length of the old.

Notice that the old sweep has notches cut in the ends,you need to remember to cut these notches in the new sweep after you have cut it to length.

The new sweep comes with new screws. These are usuallymade by the lowest bidder from a special grade of steel that isinexpensive to manufacture and has the strength and consistency of hard cheese.

Keep them only long enough to get an identical packet of stainless steel self tapping screws from your local hardware store.

It might cost a few dollars more for stainless fasteners but its much better having screws that wont self destruct as you screw them in or rust out a few months after you install them. 

When you cut the new doorsweep to length use an old piece of lumber to help the sweep hold its shape.

If you dont do this and you try to saw the sweep to length the plastic will vibrate and can crack when it gets stuck in the saw blade.

The piece of lumber also makes it much easier to hold the sweep in the saw and enables you to make a nice clean cut.

Slide the sweep on the bottom of the door and positionit . Try the door several times to make sure it opens easily yet with a good bottom seal.

I'm using self tapping screws with a Robertson head. Seehow they stay on the end of the screwdriver bit without falling off.

That allows me to use my free hand to pull up on the sweep to make sure its not too tight . The self tapping screws also drill their own pilot holes. That way I dont need to drill pilot holes in this steel door. 

The new sweep looks much nicer than the old white one did.

If you are getting a new door installed ask the installer if he will include a couple of replacement sweeps in the contract. If you use the door a lot, it wont be long before you have to change them.

Notice that the old sweep has notches cut in the ends,you need to remember to cut these notches in the new sweep after you have cut it to length.