Weather stripping is a simple way to keep your home insulated and comfortable all year long.
But what is weather stripping? What does it do? And how can you tell if your home needs it?
In this blog post, we will answer all of these questions and more. We’ll discuss the different types of weather stripping and why it’s such an important part of your home insulation plan.
What Is Weather Stripping?
Weather stripping is a thin layer of material that creates an airtight seal between itself and your home’s windows, doors, or other openings. It comes in many different forms, but all weather stripping does the same job: It keeps your home comfortable and insulated.
There are many different types of weather stripping, but they all serve the same purpose. Some weather stripping is installed on the window or door itself, while other types of weather stripping is applied to the frame around the window or door.
No matter what type you choose, weather stripping is needed to keep your house as comfortable to live in as possible.
What Is Weather Stripping For?
Weather stripping is used to prevent air from entering or leaving your home. It works by creating an airtight seal between itself and the weather stripping surface area (your door, window, etc.). This prevents warm air from escaping in the winter months and cool air from escaping during the summer months.
Properly installed weather stripping can do wonders for your home. It can help you save on energy costs, make your home more comfortable, and even increase the lifespan of your windows and doors.
Different Types of Weather Stripping
There are 5 main types of weatherstripping:
- Foam Tape
- V Strip
- Felt
- Vinyl
- Silicone
Each one has its own purpose, but they all do the same thing — block air from leaking into or out of your home on cold and hot days. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some specifics about each type so you can decide which option is best for you!
Foam Tape Weather Stripping
This weather strip comes with a tape backing that allows it to be easily attached anywhere along the edge of an opening, such as windowsill or door jamb where there might potentially be drafts coming through due to gaps between sash frames and jambs. It’s also a good insulator against noise and weather.
Foam tape weather stripping is one of the most common types because it’s affordable, easy to install, and does the job well.
V Strip Weather Stripping
This type of weather stripping is similar to foam tape but has a v-shaped groove that allows it to be more flexible and conformable than flat weather stripping. It comes with adhesive backing so you can easily stick the weatherstrip on any surface that needs sealing, whether it’s a window frame, door jamb, or sash channelling.
V strip weather stripping is relatively affordable, easy to install and does an excellent job at sealing out drafts and weather.
Felt Weather Stripping
This weather stripping is made of compressed wool fibres, which makes it a great insulator against both weather and sound. It’s also durable and can last up to 15 years when properly installed. Felt weather stripping is most commonly used on door thresholds where there is high traffic because it conforms well in these areas and doesn’t wear out quickly.
Felt weather stripping is a great option if you want something that will last longer than other types of weather stripping but don’t need anything too heavy-duty or thick like silicone weather stripping.
Vinyl Weather Stripping
This weather stripping material is made from a vinyl core that has an adhesive backing. It’s most commonly used for sealing large gaps around windows and doors because it expands when compressed, which means the weather stripping will conform to uneven surfaces much better than other weather strips do. Vinyl weather strips come in different sizes so you can get one that perfectly fits the width of your opening.
Vinyl weather stripping is a good option if you have large gaps around your windows and doors that need to be sealed. It’s also affordable, easy to install, and does a great job at blocking drafts.
Silicone Weather Stripping
This weather stripping is made of silicone rubber and is commonly used on weather stripping for doors, windows, and other openings where there may be a need to seal out weather, drafts, or sound. It’s also commonly found in vehicles because it can withstand high temperatures without losing its shape; this makes silicone weather stripping ideal for sealing gaps around ovens, refrigerators, and freezers too!
Silicone weather stripping is a great option if you need weatherproofing for high-temperature areas or gaps that are bigger than what vinyl weatherstripping can cover.
It’s also more expensive than most other types of weather stripping, but it’s worth the investment if you want the best possible protection against drafts and weather.
Simpson Windows & Doors Can Make Sure Your House Is Always Comfortable
Whether you want weather stripping or a new set of windows or doors installed in your home, we’ve got what it takes to make sure that it’s done right.
Simpson Windows & Doors has the experts that help you from start to finish. We can sort through the different types of weather stripping and recommend the best one for your needs.
From your existing windows and doors to brand new ones, we help you make the right choice that will keep your home comfortable all year round.Get a free quote from our team today or visit our product page to learn more about everything Simpson Windows & Doors sells and the services we provide.