Sealing your home’s gaps with weather stripping effectively keeps the air inside and outside factors like rain, snow, water, and wind out. It also reduces noise from outside while keeping noise inside at low levels. The products used to seal something are also called “weather-stripping.” These materials are cut and installed orderly to fill gaps that might or might not be there when doors and windows are shut. Click here to learn more.
What Is Foam Weather Stripping?
Foam weather stripping, which is also called foam tape or foam sealant, is used to keep gaps closed and keep heat in around doors and windows. The product is a strip or roll of foam with a sticky back that can be stuck to the edges of doors and windows to make a tight seal. Foam weather stripping is made to keep air, dust, bugs, and water out of a building and to help keep the temperature inside more stable.
What is Vinyl Weather Stripping?
Vinyl is utilized in the manufacture of a variety of weather-stripping products. The items consist of door sweep pieces that are affixed beneath doors that secure doors shut, rolled or reinforced stops for windows and doors, and an assortment of threshold pieces. Additionally, vinyl is used to produce V-strip parts. These folded vinyl portions function as a spring-like mechanism to expand and contract to extend the distance between a doorjamb or a window sash. V-strips are inexpensive and straightforward to implement. They feature an adhesive rear, allowing easy and rapid attachment to the doorjamb or window sash. It ensures that doors and windows remain securely shut.
Vinyl Vs. Foam Weather Stripping Why Use Foam Weather-Stripping?
Foam Comes in a Tape Form and Reinforced Form.
Foam tape is the most popular, least expensive, and easiest-to-use weather-stripping material. Just cut it to the required length and stick it on the surface. It comes in different widths and thicknesses, so it’s perfect for cracks and holes of various sizes. You’ll also be safe and sound for up to five years.
The reinforced kind lasts longer than tape, but tape is easy to use. It is made up of closed-cell foam connected to metal or wood strips. But it lasts longer than tape and is more challenging to install. You have to realize it and install it in place. Even in strong winds, it tends to hold up better because it’s more sturdy. But because of the material, it tends to stick out, so some paint over it.
Pros: Compared to other materials, reinforced foam is more affordable, readily available, and simple to install; it also performs well in harsh conditions.
Cons: It can be challenging to conceal reinforced foam.
Best For: Ideal applications include storm windows and doors, interior door frames, casement window stops, double-hung window rails, windows and doors that do not open, and attic hatches.
Why We Use Vinyl?
Vinyl Comes in Reinforced Form and Tubular Rubber
Tubular rubber is more expensive, lasts longer, isn’t damaged by weather, and is more challenging to install than reinforced vinyl. You need to have a metal or wood stripping in place before you put it, though. It’s easy to unroll and use if you already have that. Since the vinyl can be seen, most people paint over it.
Tube rubber, conversely, is made up of vinyl or rubber tubes that stick together when you press them against a door or window. Although it costs more than strengthened vinyl, rubber is still a good choice because it keeps heat and lasts long.
This kind of weather stripping can only be used on doors, but it will cover the whole door, so you’ll only have to choose and buy one weather strip.
One of the most challenging tasks to install on doors is vinyl weather stripping. With this choice, it usually needs to be nailed into place. A nearby handyperson should be able to put this together for you. Another thing to consider is that the material can be seen once in place, and the adhesive may wear off over time, leaving the material to come off.
Pros: Cost-effective and long-lasting
Cons: Installation might need assistance; the material remains visible after use.
Best for: It works best for base window sashes, window stops, door jambs, and doors.
Vinyl weather stripping is the most durable of all the types of weather stripping material. Vinyl makes a great seal and can last up to five years because it doesn’t absorb water well.
Vinyl Vs. Foam Weather Stripping: What Type of Weather Stripping is Best?
There are so many products out there, and each has pros and cons that it’s easier not to know which one to use. You should still get the right tools even if you hire a professional to do the work.
Felt, tension seal, vinyl, and foam are used most often. Foam and reinforced vinyl are two of the most lasting and cost-effective ways to protect your house at a mild to high level.