Doors and Windows - Door threshold weather-striping: excellent wear & seal

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lary999
03-25-06, 07:25 PM
Door threshold weather-striping: excellent wear & seal:

I’d like to retrofit my exterior doors with thresholds that seal to prevent cold-air leaks. I’m looking for a manufactured solution with excellent reliability, over a design life of 10+ years. I’m thinking, for example, of the dimensional stability provided by an extruded-aluminum threshold with mating extruded-aluminum strip attached to the door bottom edge – the gasket material would be attached to the side of this strip where it contacts the threshold. Gasket material would be high quality, similar to refrigerator-door gasket (not the usual weather-stripping foam-rubber crap). Replacement gasket material should be readily available from the mfr., over the 10+ year design life. The door threshold would be designed so that it doesn't trap dirt or gravel, and so that it doesn't trip women wearing high-heeled shoes.

Any leads to sources of high quality door threshold materials, as described, would be much appreciated. Thank you.


chandler
03-28-06, 05:41 PM
Are you an engineer? Only engineers look for untenable life spans of materials. A simpler solution to your draft problem would be to install an extruded aluminum threshold and an extruded aluminum door sweep with a rubber sweep attached to it in a channel. Getting 10 years lifetime from a door part that is flexed and unflexed 20 times a day won't happen. The multiple feathered door bottoms work reasonably well, since there are 5 or 6 lines of defense before the cold air can get inside the house. Good luck with your search.