Winter Checklist for Entry Doors

As another Winter approaches, there are many things that we do annually to prepare our homes for harsher weather. Changing the furnace filter, shutting off exterior water supplies, closing storm windows; there are a lot of things we take into account to avoid issues and higher heat bills. What about entry doors? We have assembled a checklist to help maximize your entry doors’ efficiency and performance throughout the winter months.

ADJUSTMENTS FOR A GOOD SEAL

Adjustable Hinge Plate System

A great benefit of Waudena Millwork exterior doors, built with Taylor Entrance Systems, is the adjustable hinge plate system. This system can be found on all Taylor smooth steel (excluding Valueline), stainable steel, Trugrain™ steel and Timbergrain fiberglass doors. By simply loosening the hinge screws, the adjustable hinge plate system allows the door to be raised and lowered within the jamb to set the margins and ensure a good seal against the sill. The door can also be adjusted “in and out” to ensure a consistent seal against the Q-lon weatherstrip. Review our installation instructions, available at waudenamillwork.com, for more information.

Adjustable Sill

The sill on all inswing doors (excluding ADA sills) is able to be raised and lowered to ensure a tight seal against the sweep. Turn the adjustment screws to the right to raise the t-cap, or left to lower, to attain the perfect amount of contact to keep cold air out of your home.

CAULKING

Waudena Millwork caulks all units where the jamb meets the sill. Over time, the caulk can weather and may require re-caulking. Doing so helps to stop water from infiltrating between the jamb and sill. All entry doors require caulking between the frame and the siding at the time of installation. Over time, this caulk may also weather. Re-caulking helps to stop water infiltration around the door. We recommend the use of DAP® Dynaflex® 920 or a comparable sealant that meets the AAMA 920 spec. DAP color matches to our clad jamb colors are available at waudenamillwork.com and dapspecline.com.

SWEEPS + WEATHERSTRIP

Bottom Door Sweep

Slide on/slide off sweeps are used on all of our entrance systems for easy replacement, if they wear out. To replace them, simply open the door, slide the worn sweep off and slide a new one on. Use of a pliers may help to remove the old sweep as they are friction fit. Versus traditional sweeps that are pressed into a kerf or stapled/glued on, our slide on/slide off sweeps don’t require the door to be removed from the jamb and take only a few moments to replace.

Head/Side Weatherstrip

Q-lon magnetic weatherstrip is used on the head and latch side of all of our exterior doors and compression on the hinge side. While the magnet improves the contact with a steel door, the wide surface area of the magnet also provides for a better seal on a fiberglass door. Inspect your weatherstrip to ensure it is in good condition and making full contact with the face of the door.

Corner Pads

Q-lon corner pads help to seal out air and light at the corners of the door frame. Making sure the pads are in place and in good condition add to a complete seal around the door.

To Order Replacement Parts

Replacement sweeps, weatherstrip and corner pads are available for purchase from your local Waudena Millwork dealer. Choose from our standard beige, or a dark bronze to complement the color of your door.

JAMBS

Wood jambs require a coating of a quality, exterior grade paint. As with any painted wood product, re-coating is recommended to ensure protection of the wood substrate. The time between recoating will vary depending on the paint used and the exposure to the elements. For a low maintenance exterior, ask for Titan Aluminum Clad jambs and garage door frames. Titan is available in 10 powder-coated colors, or choose a color that suits your style in a custom color.

Recent Posts

Start typing and press Enter to search