Exterior doors must be properly sealed to prevent air and moisture leaks. Even if a door is closed, conditioned indoor air may leak out through micro-sized gaps around the jamb. Conversely, moisture may enter the home or building through the same gaps.
Weatherstripping and door gaskets are available to seal doors. Once installed, they will form a physical barrier to prevent air and moisture leaks. While often used for similar purposes, however, weatherstripping and door gaskets aren’t the same.
What Is Weatherstripping?
Weatherstripping consists of long “strips” of material that are designed to keep the weather out of a given space. Some weatherstripping is self-adhesive, allowing for quick and easy installation. It’s commonly installed on the top and sides of doors. When the door is closed, it will press against the weatherstripping rather than the jamb itself.
Common materials in which weatherstripping is made include:
- Foam
- Vinyl
- Felt
- Plastic
- Bronze
- Copper
- Aluminum
What Are Door Gaskets?
Door gaskets are elastomeric mechanical seals designed specifically for doors. They are designed to compress when loaded to create a sealed environment. Pushing or pulling the door closed will expose it to a load. This compression action helps to fill any gaps between the door and jamb so that leaks don’t occur.
Common materials in which door gaskets are made include:
- Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM)
- Silicone rubber
- Foam
- Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
- Cork
Differences Between Weatherstripping and Door Gaskets
Weatherstripping and door gaskets differ in several ways. First, they are available in different materials. Door gaskets are almost always made of an elastomeric material, whereas weatherstripping is available in elastomeric and rigid materials.
V-strip weatherstripping, for instance, is typically made of metal. With its rigid construction, V-strip weatherstripping leverages spring tension to create a mechanical seal rather than compression.
You can expect door gaskets to last longer than weatherstripping. Door gaskets are made of dense, long-lasting elastomeric materials. These materials are designed to withstand heavy use. Weatherstripping, in comparison, is made of thinner and lighter materials, resulting in more frequent replacements.
Weatherstripping is a more versatile sealing solution. While it’s often used for doors, weatherstripping is also used to seal windows, access panels, air ducts, and other openings that connect an indoor space to an outdoor space. Door gaskets, on the other hand, are designed specifically for doors. They are made to fit the precise measurements of a given door.