Fit a draught excluder to the bottom of a door

Fit a self-adhesive or screw-fix draught excluder to the bottom of a door to stop cold air and cut heating bills.

DE-01Pick the right excluder for your doorSelf-adhesive brush or foam strips stick straight onto the door and suit any door type. Screw-fix aluminium or brush bars last longer but need screws into the door itself, so check your door type first. Hollow flush doors (light, thin, sound hollow when you knock them) only take short screws; solid wood doors take longer screws; uPVC or composite doors can crack if you screw into them, so use a self-adhesive strip instead.

1 each · Self-adhesive brush draught strip (1m)

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1 each · Screw-fix aluminium draught excluder bar (838mm)

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DE-02Measure the door and the gapClose the door and measure the width across the bottom, from stop to stop. Measure the gap under the door too, and note whether the floor is carpet or hard flooring, since the excluder needs to clear it as the door swings.

1 each · Tape measure

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DE-03Cut the excluder to lengthMark the door width on the excluder, minus 2-3mm so it clears the door frame on each side. Cut aluminium or metal-backed bars with a junior hacksaw, and foam or plain brush strips with scissors or a craft knife. Keep your fingers clear of the cutting line and wear eye protection when sawing metal.

1 each · Junior hacksaw

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1 each · Scissors or craft knife

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DE-04Dry-fit before you commitHold the excluder in position without sticking or screwing it. Open and close the door a few times to check it clears the carpet or threshold and doesn't jam. Trim a little more off the length or height if it drags.

DE-05Mark fixing points to suit your doorFor self-adhesive strips, clean and dry the door bottom with a cloth so the adhesive grips. For screw-fix bars on a solid or panelled wood door, mark screw positions and make a small pilot hole with a bradawl. On a hollow flush door, only use the short screws supplied with the kit; longer screws can punch through into the hollow core and out the other side. Do not screw into uPVC or composite doors — stick to a self-adhesive strip instead.

1 each · Bradawl

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1 each · Cloth and cleaning spray

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DE-06Fix the excluder in placePeel the backing off self-adhesive strips a little at a time and press firmly along the door bottom, working from one end to the other. For screw-fix bars, drive the supplied screws by hand or with a screwdriver — don't overtighten, especially on hollow doors, as this can crush the door skin.

1 each · Screwdriver

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DE-07Test the door works properlyOpen and close the door several times, including over any carpet, to check the excluder doesn't drag, stick or stop the door latching. Adjust or trim slightly if it's too tight against the floor.

DE-08Clear upVacuum up any sawdust or metal filings from cutting, and wipe down the door. Bin the offcuts and packaging, and keep any spare screws in case you need to reposition the excluder later.

1 each · Vacuum cleaner

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