How do I replace my front door weather stripping?

Factual Questions
1

My condo was built 12 - 15 years ago. (I’m in California.) There is black weather stripping on the frame that doesn’t seem to keep out the cold air very well anymore. I’d like to replace it.

The door has a wood frame. The weather stripping doesn’t just peel off. Pulling on it doesn’t work. It is pretty firmly attached. Thinking it was glued to the frame, I tried running a spackling blade between it and the frame. I was able to run this blade between it and the frame without too much trouble. (There was friction, but I didn’t feel like I was breaking a glue seal.) After running the blade between it and the frame, it still seems as tightly attached as before.

At the Home Depot, I found weather stripping that said it was for “kerf” and it looks like it *might *work if I can get the old weather stripping off. This stuff had an edge that is meant to be stuffed into an existing slot on the frame.

So… How do I get the old weather stripping off? Are there any tricks to it? Grabbing the edge and yanking on it feels like I’m just going to tear the weather stripping.

Thanks,
J.

2

< … crickets … >

:slight_smile:

J.

3

If it doesn’t use a metal frame you will will have to tear it off. To add another weatherstrip, you will need to remove the residue of the original weather strip, probably with a putty knife. You can then purchase either glue on weatherstrip, which sounds like what you have, or weatherstrip on a metal strip. If you use the kind you have you will need to glue it on, meaning you will have to guesstimate where it goes and not close your door until it dries completely. If you use a metal backed type they are normally slotted so you can adjust how it fits against the door. If you use metal backed type you can close the door and butt the weatherstrip up against it before you drill the holes for it. The metal backed type is easier to deal with and easier to replace in the future. Obviously, the glue on type will require some prep work whether you replace it with the same type or use the metal type. A fresh coat of paint would be a good idea either way.