Draughtproof a front door with brush and foam seals
Fit foam and brush seals to a front door to stop draughts, in one short DIY session.
DF-01Gather your tools and materialsYou'll need a tape measure, scissors or a craft knife, a cloth, warm water with a little washing-up liquid, and a pencil. Buy self-adhesive foam strip, a brush pile strip for the door bottom, and a letterbox brush excluder before you start, so you're not stopping halfway through.
DF-02Find where the draughts are coming fromShut the door and run your hand around the frame, the bottom edge, the letterbox and the keyhole on a windy or cold day. You'll feel cold air moving at the gaps that need sealing. Note these down so you buy the right length of each seal.
DF-03Clean the door and frameWipe down the door edges and the frame rebate (the recessed lip the door closes against) with warm water and washing-up liquid. Dry everything fully. Foam and brush strips are self-adhesive and won't stick to dust, grease or damp surfaces.
DF-04Fit foam strip to the frame rebateMeasure the top and both sides of the frame rebate and cut the foam strip to length with scissors. Peel back a short length of backing at a time and press the strip firmly into the rebate, working around the frame so it presses lightly against the closed door. Close the door to check it still shuts without forcing.
1 roll · Self-adhesive foam draught strip (5m roll)
DF-05Fit a brush or foam seal to the door bottomMeasure the width of the door and cut a brush pile strip or a foam-and-brush threshold seal to fit. Most types screw to the bottom of the door on the inside face, so mark screw positions, drill a small pilot hole first, then fix with the short screws provided. Open and close the door to check the brushes touch the floor lightly without dragging or catching on carpet.
DF-06Fit a letterbox brush excluderRemove any existing letterbox flap. Hold the new brush excluder over the opening from inside, mark the fixing holes, drill small pilot holes, and screw it into place. Check the brushes lie flat and post can still go through easily.
DF-07Fit a keyhole cover, if your door has oneIf your front door has an exposed keyhole, screw a small sprung keyhole cover over it. It swings open when the key goes in and drops shut afterwards, cutting draughts through the hole. Skip this step if your door only has a modern cylinder lock with no keyhole.
DF-08Test the door and adjustOpen and close the door several times. It should shut fully without you having to slam it, and the seals should press lightly against the door, not fight it shut. If it's too tight, peel back and reposition the foam strip slightly further into the rebate.
DF-09Tidy upSweep up any offcuts of foam or brush strip and wipe away pencil marks. Keep any leftover strip in a drawer, it's useful for the back door or windows later.
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