Unless you have a brand new home, your door may have fallen out of alignment. Take the time necessary to make certain your door fits straight and true before you begin weatherproofing. (This extra step will also save on weatherproofing material!)
Start by evening out the gaps around the door. Reset and shim the hinges (if necessary) to even out the gaps. Keep in mind that if you plan to attach a new door bottom with a drip edge, you may have to plane the bottom of the door slightly. Then, of course, you'll want to make certain the strike plate and latches are in alignment.
Tools and Materials
| Screwdriver | Stapler | Wood chisel |
| Hammer | Putty knife | Pry bar |
| Caulking gun | Wood filler | Sillicone caulk |
| Weather stripping | |
|
Step 1. Adjust the door if it has fallen out of alignment. Reset and shim hinges to even out the gaps around the door, making the door easier to weather strip. Adjust strike plates and latches to keep doors snug in their frames.
Step 2. With tin snips, cut metal tension strips to fit in the door jamb. Tack the strips in place and open them slightly to create a tight seal. If using vinyl Vs, cut them with scissors and fold them lengthwise along the seam. Remove the adhesive backing and stick the weather stripping in place.
Step 3. To create a double seal, put tube gaskets with metal backing on the outside of the door. Cut them to length with tin snips, and screw or tack them in place so that they are snug against the door. 
Step 4-A. Option A: Screw a bristle sweep to the bottom of the door. Sweeps help keep air from leaking under the door, and you can attach one without trimming the door. Sweeps also are available on rollers to compensate for an uneven floor.
Step 4-B. Option B: Attach a new door bottom with an integral sweep on the inside and a drip edge on the outside. This may require you to adjust your threshold height or plane the bottom of the door slightly. If you plane the door, seal the wood by painting it before you attach the sweep.
Step 5. Fix any cracks in door panels or around sidelight panels with wood filler or caulk.
Need expert assistance? Visit your local Home Depot store to ask their associates about products or how-to instructions. The Home Depot expert associates are also available to answer your questions online. Visit them here.
