Choosing door and window frame Draught Excluders - Easyfix DIY options explained, by tubewaysales on YouTube. 3 min 41 s.
- Video length
- 3 min 41 s
- Time to do it
- 20 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 7
What you need
Steps
Close the door or window and find where the draught comes in. Run your hand slowly around the frame, or hold a strip of paper in the gap and watch it flutter.
Measure the width of the gap in several places with a tape measure. Note the smallest and largest figures so you know whether you have a small, large or variable gap.
Pick the material to match. Foam suits small even gaps, EPDM rubber handles bigger or uneven gaps, water and direct sunlight, and bristle strip works on sliding doors and gaps that change.
Wipe the frame clean with a damp cloth and let it dry completely. If the surface feels greasy, wipe it with methylated spirits so the adhesive can grip.
Cut the strip to length with scissors, allowing a little extra for corners. Hold it in place first without peeling the backing to check the fit.
Peel back a short section of the self-adhesive backing and press the strip into the frame, starting at a corner. Work along the frame, peeling and pressing as you go.
Press firmly along the whole strip for about 30 seconds. Close the door or window and check the seal is tight but the catch still closes easily.
Tips and common mistakes
Do not stretch the strip as you apply it, or it will pull away from the frame later.
Use EPDM rubber rather than foam on frames in direct sunlight or where rain hits.
If the gap changes width along the frame, fit a bristle strip instead of forcing a foam one in.
Stand on a stable step ladder for high windows and keep both feet on the same rung.
Questions
Which draught excluder is best for a window frame?
Foam strip is fine for small, even gaps on frames that stay dry. For larger gaps, uneven frames or windows in direct sunlight and rain, use EPDM rubber.
How long does self-adhesive draught strip last?
Usually a few years. It lasts longer if you clean the frame properly first and keep the strip out of constant rubbing or standing water.
Can I use the same strip on a sliding door?
Bristle strip is the better choice there, because it flexes as the door slides and copes with a gap that changes width.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
