Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between weatherstripping and weatherseal?
There is no difference between weatherstripping and weatherseal.
How do I know which product to use?
The type of weatherstripping you choose will depend on a number of factors, including cost, where it will be applied, and how comfortable you are with home improvement projects. For more detail about how to select the right product for you, open the free Sealmax Buyer's Guide.
Why do I need weatherstripping?
Weatherstripping seals leaks in your home that allow for too much airflow. While a certain amount of airflow is good for your home, leaks can:
- Contribute to drafts and energy loss.
- Act as entry points for household pests
- Allow noise to travel more freely.
- Contribute to mildew, dust and allergies.
What is weatherstripping made out of?
Weatherstripping is commonly made of foam, plastic, rubber, vinyl or pile made from plastic fibers.
Can I install weatherstripping myself?
Yes. Most weatherstripping can be installed by homeowners. For more information, check out our video library and learn how to install Sealmax weatherstipping products quickly and easily.
Is weatherstripping only for exterior doors?
No. It is excellent for sealing exterior and interior doors as well as windows.
Can I paint weatherstripping?
NO. Push-in seal can be removed for painting, all others should be masked.
Glossary of Frequently Used Terms
Air infiltration
The amount of air leaking into and out of a building through cracks in walls, windows and doors.
Awning window
A window that is hinged at the top and swings outward for ventilation.
Bay window
An angled combination of three windows that project out from the wall of the home. The windows are usually positioned at 30- or 45-degree angles.
Bow window
An angled combination of windows in 3-, 4- or 5-lite configurations. As the windows are joined to each other, they combine to form an arch shape that projects from the wall of the home.
Casement window
A window with a side-hinged sash that opens and closes outward by a crank handle mechanism.
Channel
The area of the accessory trim or corner post where siding or soffit panels are inserted. Channels also refer to the trim itself, and are named for the letters of the alphabet they resemble (e.g., J-channel, F-channel, etc.).
Condensation
The deposit of water vapor from the air on any cold surface whose temperature is below the dew point, such as a cold window glass or frame that is exposed to humid indoor air.
Cushion strips
Seals gaps between door and frame by compression. Made of spring bronze or stainless steel.
Double hung window
A window that has two vertical operating sashes.
'El' strip
90-degree interlocking angle used on door and jamb. Also used for wood casement windows.
ENERGY STAR®
The ENERGY STAR® program began as a joint venture between the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the US Department of Energy (DOE), and has been adopted by Canada, the European Union and many other countries. It is designed to encourage homeowners to purchase energy-efficient products. Using less energy in our homes reduces the amount of CO2 emissions released into the atmosphere from burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas.
Fixed panel
An inoperable panel of a sliding glass door or slider window.
Fixed window
A window with no operating sashes.
Flat strip
Interlocking member applied to head and lock side of a wood door. Also used on wood windows. Interlocks with 'El' or Hook.
French patio doors
A two panel glass door where both panels operate and swing either inward or outward.
Garden Window
Designed much like a bay or bow window, a garden also extends from the wall to the exterior of the home. It is built in a square or rectangular shape at right angles. The two side lights often operate for added ventilation.
Hinged patio doors
A two panel glass door where one panel is stationary or fixed, while the other operates and swings either inward or outward.
Hook Strip
'J' shape interlocking member applied to the jamb head and lock side of a door. Also used at the meeting rail on windows. Interlocks with Flat.
Hopper window
A bottom-hinged sash window that opens inward for ventilation.
Interlocking
Two shapes that fit together forming a draft seal when a door is closed. One shape that engages a slot made on a window or door.
Jamb
A vertical member at the side of a window frame or the horizontal member at the top of the window frame, as in head jamb.
Jamb-Up Seal
A vinyl or neoprene sealing member held in place by a bronze or aluminum housing installed on the door stop. Used for sound and light proofing on interior doors. We do not recommend this type for exterior use.
Kerf
A narrow slot made on the jamb of a door or window to receive one side of the weather strip.
Masterframe
The combination of the head, sill and jamb sections of a window.
Meeting rail
The part of a sliding glass door, a sliding window or a hung window where two panels meet and create a weather barrier.
Miter
To make a diagonal cut, beveled to a specific angle (usually 45°). Sometimes miter cuts are made into an overlapping siding or soffit panel surface, to provide a neater appearance.
Mylar
A weatherstripping material that is present where the sash frame meets the masterframe. Adds increased resistance to air infiltration.
Panel
A major component of a sliding glass door, consisting of a light of glass in a frame installed within the main (or outer) frame of the door. A panel may be sliding or fixed.
Picture window
A picture window that does not move or operate.
Rabbet
The cut made on the edge of a door to create the clearance needed to receive interlocking weather strips.
Receiver Strip
Door bottom hook which interlocks with a threshold.
Rib Strips
Used on double hung windows. Many sizes to fit the jamb width.
Sash
Separate from the masterframe, the portion of the window that contains the glass.
Sill
The horizontal, bottom section of the masterframe.
Sliding patio doors
A combination of fixed and sliding glass door panels that operate solid brass roller trucks. Available in 2-, 3- or 4- lite configurations with the operable panel available in any position.
Sliding Window
A window in which the sashes move horizontally. Available in a 2- or 3-lite configurations.
Square
A measurement of siding. One square equals 100 square feet (10 x 10 wall).
Sweeps
Sealing parts for the bottom of a door. Really not meant to "sweep" but rather seal against a saddle or threshold.
'T' Strip
'T' shape used on the hinge side jamb of a door or casement window. Engages a slot when the opening is closed.
Tongue and Groove Type
Term for weather strips used on double hung windows. The 'tongue' of the weather strip engages a 'groove' or slot in the window sash.
Weep Holes
Openings made in sills or thresholds to allow water seepage.