The Best & Worst Door Bottoms

[@cargogh]

Good video. Didn't realize how much rot the channel-type caused, but do know I replaced one a couple of years ago with the metal/vinyl sweep. The door skin was delaminating. The last one requiring routing is a sweet way to go.

[@TheCraftsmanBlog]

I’ve seen a lot of delaminating due the U shaped door bottom. It’s so hard on doors.

[@papillon1220]

Great video! We've been struggling with what door sweep to use on an exterior inswing door in our old house that has "wavy" floors. The "mac daddy" version you demonstrated will be just what we need. Never seen it before, but we have the router and the skills to DIY. Very helpful, as always.

[@TheCraftsmanBlog]

Great to hear it!

[@sethhoffman8149]

Good video, but there are also options for retractable sweeps that surface mount. Kind of a hybrid between the last option and the second screw-on sweep you showed. They're a good option if you can't (or don't want to) remove the door and route the slot into the door, but need something better than a static sweep.

[@TheCraftsmanBlog]

Good tip!

[@marykirmo]

Really great tip!

[@kagyu1]

My house is 100 years old and the front door is more than 2 inches thick, solid mahogany, 42" wide. I can't ruin it with nails and so many of these are for modern standardized doors at 36". We've gotten fabric door socks filled with beans and now one with bark off Etsy . Cats have a field day with them but they are a good option. Would love a more durable option that doesn't ruin the door and can be used on a 42" door.

[@mchang70]

Hi Scott thanks for the video. I understand why the U-shaped door sweeps can hold water and cause rot, but what about similar L-shaped door sweeps which only screw onto one side of the door? If it's mounted with a gap between the bottom of the door and the sweep, this would allow water to escape on the open side. I have seen them come with rain drip guards as well. Are there any issues with the L-shaped design?

[@marykirmo]

Really great info!!

[@marccepeci2980]

Would the U-shaped door bottom be good for an INTERIOR door. Would it be good in soundproofing?

[@alext8828]

That bad door bottom? Could you run a bead of clear caulk at the top edge and sides to seal it up?

[@M3GAN3116]

Thanks 👍

[@edmondloo1975]

Mine is the transparent plastic rubber door sweep. Its solid and yet quite flexible though. It's very durable and up till today it's still on my door. The sticker sticks very tightly onto the bottom of my door. It really keep pests into getting into my house. I love it!!

[@smokymountainconcealment5356]

The U shape with all the fins lasted at most 2 months for me and 3 doors 😡.

[@antoinettebrush8605]

Like this sweep

[@caseyxiang]

My four doors (two French doors) are ruined by the U shape door seals which were installed by the previous owner.😢

[@kyleherbert1338]

I'm trying to close a 3/8" gap below the door between my apartment and the building's hallway. Whoever installed the threshold cheated it towards the hallway (the hallway side of the door is centered on the threshold and the apartment side of the door doesn't have any threshold below it). I can't use the standard doorsweep without the vinyl dragging across the floor and likely marring the laminate wood flooring. I probably can't use the u-channel "problem child" door shoe because the fins are likely more substantial than the 3/8" gap I'm trying to close and thus would also drag along the floor. And I'm trying to avoid the hassle of replacing the threshold. What would you suggest? Have you tried those double draft seals that are just fabric covers with two foam inserts? Again, this is an interior door so I'm not worried about moisture, more concerned with soundproofing (and to a lesser extent eliminating draft).

[@haidafella8651]

You could trim that u Chanel.

[@raymondfarmer6853]

Really wish I could have actually seen the examples of each. becaulse in dark color, cant see what theyl look like.

[@urieaaron]

Would the one that rots the bottom of the door be better if there were tens or hundreds of perforations to let the water out?

[@barryallenporter8127]

Then you’d be back to square one, water would be dripping into the house

[@TheCraftsmanBlog]

It would still hold too much water and not allow the airflow necessary to prevent rot.

[@urieaaron]

@@barryallenporter8127 Fair point but cold air flow in winter is why we had these things, not water.

[@SerenoOunce]

@@barryallenporter8127 Door thresholds are (supposed to be) slightly angled. It would only drip out *outside* .

[@lansir26]

How about sealing the U-shaped sweep with caulk to prevent water from entering and collecting inside the channel?

[@SerenoOunce]

Exactly, just caulk around the edges before installing. But also drill some weep holes every few inches just in case.

[@genericdude6551]

I looked at my 2 external doors and neither one has a bottom door sweep. No door sweep at all.

[@mettamorph4523]

Feel the bottom of your door. My 80 yr old home has a metal sweep that fits into the threshold when closed. You can't see it. It got bent when the door was removed to allow a new appliance delivery. So I'm looking for fixes. I used the stick on type a week ago as a test before moving to a screw in. Amazing reduction in cold air. That metal wasn't doing much insulating. My screen door needs a sweep as well,since the original strip is deteriorating. Using the screw in type, but project delayed because I need drill bits for metal.

[@stevenmatthews86]

Add some clear tape then suddenly that door bottom becomes the best..

[@thomaslouisklein5532]

you're kidding me. i've never seen his "little puddles", in 50 years of home ownership, and routing a whole mechanism into a door is a hell of a make-work project. next!

[@osmith5086]

No he's not kidding you. Count yourself lucky if you have no experience with this issue, it is very common. As he says.