HOW TO MAXIMIZE THE INSULATION OF EXTERIOR WOOD DOORS

Your front door does not only gives your home a unique character but also serves many functions. It protects you from intruders, insulates you from noise and cold, and keeps insects outside rather than inside your property. While the most effective step in protecting yourself from the elements is to choose a front door with a low heat loss rate, if your current wood entry door has deficiencies in this area, it is possible to insulate it further to improve its efficiency.

WHY INSULATE AN OLD WOOD FRONT DOOR?

 

A wood front door provides security for the occupants of the house it protects because of its solid design. However, the main enemy of a wood door is time. Wood doors are prone to warping, which causes air tightness concerns and can make them less effective at insulating.  

HOW DO YOU INSULATE A WOODEN DOOR?

Most wood entry doors sold today are treated with insecticides, fungicides and are waterproof. This means that the wood in the door has received as many treatments as possible to protect it from deterioration, insects, mold, and water. Despite these treatments, it is important to check every year for possible water leaks or infiltration through the exterior wood doors. It is likely that the wood of the exterior door has warped and that its closure is no longer perfectly airtight. Check to see if water is coming through in certain areas and if so, take the time to replace the weatherstripping or apply a caulking product to insulate your exterior wood doors. 

INSULATING YOUR EXTERIOR WOOD DOORS CAN SAVE YOU MONEY.

Properly installed thermal insulation reduces heat loss and minimizes heating demand. The reduction in your electricity bills should be enough to convince you to insulate your front door properly, especially if it is made of wood. According to various sources, between 15 and 20% of heat loss can be avoided by properly insulating your front wood door, windows, and the entire envelope of your home. 

SPECIFIC CHARACTERISTICS OF WOOD DOOR INSULATION

The insulation of exterior wood doors relies on a variety of components. Significant heat exchange can occur even when the door is tightly closed. Air can escape through the perimeter of a wood door frame, through the door itself, or the door frame. Be sure to choose the following components of your entry wood door to maximize its insulation.

1. The core (the door itself) must be well insulated.

2. The frame of the entrance door. It can be made of wood, vinyl, fiberglass, or even metal. Choosing a low-maintenance material is certainly an option to consider.

3. The weatherstripping should be made of durable, high-performance materials, such as foam or neoprene.

4. Windows should be energy efficient to allow the sun to warm the room and prevent heat loss.

HOW TO INSULATE AN ENTRANCE DOOR FROM OUTSIDE NOISE?

In addition to insulating your exterior wood doors against heat loss, it is a good idea to think about soundproofing them against outside noise. Soundproofing can be improved by applying insulation gaskets to the frame. They must be installed directly on the frame of your wood entry door to ensure a perfect seal and optimal soundproofing. Gaskets can be made of polyurethane, metallic material, adhesive material or even a pvc foam bead, but the most effective gaskets are those made of silicone over 6 mm. 

HOW DO YOU INSULATE A WOODEN FRONT DOOR WITH THE BEST TECHNIQUE?

Insulating a wooden front door requires a few materials that are easy to find at the hardware store:

– 1 tube of quality silicone caulk

– 1 silicone caulking gun

– 1 retractable blade knife

– 1 specialized wooden stick for smoothing

The steps to follow to properly caulk your exterior wood door are as follows:

1. Remove all traces of old caulking from the frame of the exterior wood door you wish to insulate. 

2. Clean the area to be caulked thoroughly with 99% alcohol.

3. If gaps greater than 4 mm have been created around the door, it may be useful to install a support rod to prevent the caulking from sinking into the deeper gaps. 

4. First, apply the silicone sealant with the gun to the inside edge of your door’s outer frame. Be sure to spread it across the entire width and at least 0.5 cm thick. If the silicone sealany tends to overflow, try to direct the overflow to the outside of the frame.

5. Avoid putting silicone caulking in the corner of the wood door frame.

6. Smooth the caulking with a specialized wood tooling stick. 

HOW TO PROTECT AN EXTERIOR WOOD DOOR FROM THE COLD

In addition to applying a silicone sealant to your exterior wood door, there are several other more or less professional techniques that can improve its insulation.

An automatic baseboard or a door sweep with a brush at its base are additions to consider if you wish to obtain even more insulation for your wooden front door.

If the insulation factor of your wood entry door’s glass is low, you may want to consider adding a thermal curtain to your wood entry door window. The thermal lining of the curtain helps combat low temperatures.

The core of your door could also be further insulated by adding an insulating material, such as cork. 

Finally, if there are any openings on the door, such as a mail slot, it is important to add a caulking joint that will prevent the cold from entering your home even if the mailbox is open. 

INSULATING YOUR EXTERIOR WOOD DOOR WILL IMPROVE THE COMFORT OF YOUR MONTREAL SOUTH SHORE HOME

If you’ve been a resident of Montreal’s South Shore for more than a winter, you know the harshness of our climate and you certainly understand the importance of taking into account all the heat loss your home offers and addressing it. The insulation of your exterior wood doors should be a priority to check and improve, especially if it has not been monitored for more than a year. Count on the South Shore caulking experts of Calfeutrage Apex Caulking, to advise you.

PROFESSIONAL CAULKERS WILL ENSURE YOUR EXTERIOR WOOD DOORS ARE OPTIMALLY INSULATED

At Calfeutrage Apex Caulking, our skilled caulkers ensure that the caulking joints applied to doors are straight, smooth, and professional-looking. We offer residential, commercial, and industrial caulking services.

It’s the finish of the caulking job that creates a sense of satisfaction and pride. The experts at Calfeutrage Apex Caulking are skilled and experienced in tooling, smoothing, and shaping caulking joints. They will provide a perfect finish that will enhance the appearance of your wood entry door, whether it is brown, black, or an original color that reflects your personality.  

Before choosing to do your own caulking work, contact us today to explain your project and your expectations. We will prepare a free estimate for you. Our window and door caulking professionals have sealed many projects for a variety of clients, and their caulking jobs maintain their polished appearance for many years. We are the option that offers the assurance of taking pride in your home’s caulking. Feel free to continue reading our blog, or visit our website to discover the extent of our services and expertise.