Weatherstripping Installation Prices - Cost Factors, DIY vs Pro, and More
Last Updated: September 27, 2023
Fact Checked By: Ryan Maguire
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The expression "It's the little things that kill" isn't a reference to home energy efficiency, but it well could be. Leaks around windows and doors can account for one-third or more of a home's energy loss, a phenomenon that isn't good for your budget or for the environment. Be a better steward of both by installing weather stripping around your doors and windows. One of the most affordable ways to boost the energy efficiency of your home, this project will quickly pay for itself in lower heating and cooling bills.
Types of Weatherstripping #
Weather stripping comes in a variety of materials including plastic, vinyl, metal, rubber, felt, foam, rubber, and silicone. None of these are particularly expensive, but cheaper materials such as foam and felt don't hold up as well as vinyl and rubber stripping. It's also important to note that some materials are better suited to certain window and door areas. Felt, for instance, should be installed around sashes and in door jambs, while rubber tubing is meant to be placed at the base of windows and doors and along the bottom of a door.
In addition to all-purpose stripping that can be placed in multiple locations, there are also specific types of weather stripping such as V Strip (with a shape designed to conform to gaps) and door sweeps (meant only for the bottom of a door). Finally, weather stripping differs in the way it's applied. Some types are self-adhering and others require you to use staples, finish nails, or screws. To read more about the different type of weather stripping, visit the This Old House website.
Weatherstripping Installation Costs #
Foam tape - $0.20-$0.40 per linear foot. Inexpensive option for doors and windows.
Felt strips - $0.50-$1 per linear foot. Common for doors, can compress over time.
Vinyl strips - $0.70-$1.50 per linear foot. Lasts longer than felt, good for windows.
Rubber seal - $1-$2 per linear foot. Very durable option for high traffic doors.
Replacement seal kits - $10-$30 per door. For sealing exterior doors.
Automatic door bottoms - $15-$50 per door. Self-lowering seals for exterior doors.
Window sealant rope - $3-$8 per window. Expandable wool pile for sealing gaps.
Window weatherstrip kits - $20-$60 per window. Adhesive-backed vinyl strips tools included.
For a typical home, total costs might range from $200 to $500 depending on size and number of doors/windows sealed. Hiring a handyman averages $40-$60 per hour.
- A home energy audit for a 2,000 square foot home costs roughly $300 to $600, but costs canbe double or more for larger homes, especially those in expensive urban areas.
Weatherstripping Cost Calculator #
Weatherstripping Cost Examples #
Here are some real-world weatherstripping cost examples:
A homeowner in Ohio paid a handyman $210 to install new vinyl weatherstripping on all doors and windows in their 2-bedroom house. With 15 windows and 2 doors sealed it took about 5 hours of labor.
A person in Maine purchased foam weatherstrip tape and DIY sealed their leaky front and back doors for $12 in materials. It took about 30 minutes per door.
A couple in Wisconsin hired a window contractor to replace the weatherstripping on 10 double-hung windows in their 1960s home for $375 in labor plus $150 for window weatherstrip kits.
A resident in Arizona had an insulation company install door sweeps, threshold seals, and new weatherstripping on 4 exterior doors for $320 in labor and materials.
A landlord in Vermont bought vinyl door seal kits at the home store for $25 each and installed them herself on 20 rental unit doors over a weekend to improve energy efficiency.
A historic homeowner in California paid $650 to have a specialist replace worn window weatherstripping rope on 40 old wooden sash windows while retaining the original look.
The examples illustrate DIY projects costing under $100 up to professional jobs costing several hundred dollars depending on the house size and number of doors/windows weatherstripped.
Other Ways to Eliminate Drafts #
Although weather stripping can shore up air leaks on your home's interior, exterior cracks and gaps can be equally problematic. To keep them in check, perform a visual inspection of the areas where windows and doors meet siding. Any opening should be filled with a good quality acrylic latex caulking. Once it dries, apply a coat of paint. Paint will not only help the newly-caulked areas to match the rest of the interior, but it will also provide added protection from the elements. If you don't feel like messing around on ladders, it's possible to hire a handyman for this project. Combining weather stripping and caulking services at the same time makes sense.
Another professional you might consider hiring is an energy auditor. A walkthrough on the interior and exterior of your home by one of these pros is the ultimate way of locating spots where energy is being lost. After all, if you don't know where the trouble spots are, how can you properly address them?