5 Ways to Weatherproof Your Commercial Doors

When doors aren’t weather-tight, they let in wind and moisture. That leads to uncomfortable spaces and higher utility bills. Fortunately, there are some techniques you can use to better weatherproof the commercial doors on your business. Take a look at five of the most effective.

A sweep is a material installed at the bottom of a door to prevent drafts from entering. Its purpose is to close the gap between the door and the threshold. That stops air and moisture from getting through that space and causing a draft. If your door didn’t come with a sweep, you can easily install one.

Here’s how to properly install a door sweep:

• Measure the width of your door to ensure you buy the correct size sweep.

• Mark and cut the sweep to fit if it’s too long.

• Position the sweep along the bottom edge of the door so it seals the gap evenly.

• Drill pilot holes if required.

• Screw or snap the sweep into place.

• Test the door to make sure it opens and closes smoothly without dragging.

Once you install your sweep, turn off the lights and take a close look at the bottom of the door with a flashlight. If light gets through, air will as well. You may need to replace the sweep if it’s damaged or inadequate. Remember that in a pinch, you can place a rolled-up towel or blanket in front of the door to block the draft.

Weather-stripping is an inexpensive way to seal gaps between your door and the door frame, reducing drafts and maintaining a consistent room temperature. Most weatherstripping is simply peel-and-stick. You may even have to glue those products into place.

Here’s how to properly install weather stripping:

• Measure the height and width of the door frame to determine the amount of material needed.

• Choose the correct type of weather stripping for your door (foam, rubber, or metal).

• Clean the surface of the frame so the adhesive or fasteners will stick securely.

• Cut the weather stripping to size.

• Attach the strips along the sides and top of the frame, pressing firmly or fastening as directed.

• Close the door to check for gaps.

Unfortunately, weather stripping doesn’t last very long. The good news is it’s an easy repair.

If the hinges on your door have begun to loosen or weren’t set properly, your door may not be flush with the frame. That can let the weather in, leading to spaces that are too cold or too hot. Consider hiring a maintenance person to rehang the door and address any spacing issues.

If it’s raining or snowing outside, you may find yourself dealing with a chilly office space when you open the door. Worse, that can create an unsafe condition with wet, slippery floors. In this case, the door may not be your problem. Instead, think a bit higher up. If you install an overhead awning, snow and rain will be directed away from the doorway and won’t be blown in when people enter or leave. You may also want to consider installing a rain gutter.

Sometimes, the issue isn’t the cold, it’s the heat. The sun can shine through the glass and heat retail and office spaces through glass storefront doors. When it gets too hot, your space becomes uncomfortable. Productivity may decrease as a result. Fortunately, there are various permanent and temporary solutions to address this problem. One option is to have window tinting professionally installed. You can also hang blinds or shades to block the worst of the light during the hottest parts of the day. Certain blinds or shades can keep your space cool.

Your customers will spend more time in your store and are more likely to spend money if they feel comfortable. Employees will be better able to focus on their work and remain productive. Additionally, weatherproofing your exterior doors can significantly reduce your utility bills and energy use.

You can take some additional steps to keep your business warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Here are a few things to try:

• Install door closers so employees and customers don’t mistakenly leave doors ajar

• Order weatherization kits when you purchase new doors

• Choose solid core doors

• Keep interior doors closed to prevent the “wind-tunnel” effect

• Hang thick curtains or other barriers in front of doors that are used infrequently

• Encourage customers and employees to use doors that aren’t facing wind or rain

If you are in the process of building or designing a commercial building, take the time to consider the placement of any exterior doors and how the weather might impact them. For example, if you place glass doors and windows facing south without any shade source, you will receive a significant amount of bright, hot sunlight entering that space. Likewise, the weather tends to come from the west to the east. That can impact how wind and other severe weather hit your building.

Contact CDF Distributors to learn more about protecting your store from the elements.