Even when your doors are closed, dirt, dust, drafts, and insects can enter your home. Doors and doorframes have cracks, seen and unseen. The base is the biggest point of entry. Few household doors can be hermetically sealed, but they can all be rigged to resist intrusion. Installing a door sweep is the swiftest and surest way to block out the great outdoors. Here are three tips for installing door sweeps on any door in your house.

A Selection of Sweeps

Start by picking the best sweep for your door. While sweeps come in a variety of styles and materials, consider what you want the sweep to do. For example, if you’d like the sweep to do its job inconspicuously, fit a concealed version on the bottom of the door. It keeps out the outdoors while staying concealed.

If the threshold and floor aren’t flush with the door frame, a door sweep with a brush attachment can marry the changing levels. It also allows for ventilation without sacrificing protection.

Measure Twice, Install Once

This applies to every do-it-yourself project: make sure your measurements are in order before you cut, saw, buff, or sand anything. You can never uncut a door sweep, so measure your door’s base twice, and jot down the measurements so you won’t forget.

Kerf is the width of the saw blade and accounts for the material it removes, so keep this value in mind. If you want a door sweep to be 36 inches, measure it to 36 inches, then cut “outside” the measurement. Otherwise, you’ll end up with a too-short door sweep!

The Hole Story

Your door sweep has several pre-drilled holes for obvious reasons. This makes it easier to attach the sweep to the door, floor, and threshold. Hold the sweep against the door base, parallel to the floor, so the blade or bristles are at the desired height. If possible, use a lever to ensure the door sweep is even. Use a pencil to mark the holes’ positions at their center. Next, use a power drill to drill through the center of each mark. Make sure you can insert the screws easily. Use a drill bit that’s slightly smaller than the screws so you don’t damage your solid wood interior doors.

These three handy tips can help you install door sweeps on any door in your house! If you have any questions about door sweeps or beautifying and protecting your home with our solid wood doors, contact Nick’s Building Supply, Inc. today!