Winterize Your House, Restore Your Car With Rubber Weather Stripping

By Marci Nielsen


These days, consumers are keeping cars rather than turning them in every three years. The same thing goes for houses. It used to be that you could buy a house and sell it quickly if your family got bigger, you changed jobs, or you simply wanted a change. Now, however, it's harder to sell a house, cars cost more every year, and people have less confidence in job security. Enter rubber weather stripping, whether for automobile or home, as a chore you might face when taking care of what you have.

Especially in cold winter areas like Middletown, NY, keeping air, rain, or snow out of sealed spaces is important. In a home, leaky windows and doors are major energy drains. Drafts can make life miserable on windy days when you're trying to relax.

As for your car, you may never pay attention to the weatherstripping around the front and rear windshields or the side windows until it starts giving you trouble. If there's a whistling noise as you drive down the road, if the interior gets wet (or the stuff inside the trunk) when you go through the car wash, or if the sunroof lets rain drip on your head, you have a problem.

Most people can rely on the weatherstripping put on at the factory. However, those who have to leave their cars outside in all weathers, who drive one vehicle long after the shine has worn off, or who are restoring a classic too good to discard may find that the original protection is cracked, pulled away from the frame, or even missing altogether in spots. Cleaning chemicals can damage it, as can a new paint job. Replacing it is a chore that might not have been on your radar screen, but if you go online you'll see a lot of automobile weather-proofing products. Obviously there's a demand for seals and installation tools like adhesive-off and adhesive-on.

For the home, there are rubber foam strips that come in various widths and thicknesses. This kind of protection is sold in rolls and has adhesive on one side. All you have to do is cut it to fit and press it into place around and under doors and anywhere else that cold air can get in. It's easy to remove for the summer, although those with air conditioning might need it year-round.

For your car, you order specific stripping just like any other car part. Even when ordering online, you'll need make and model information for your automobile. Even though this should get you the exact type you need, how-to sites advise closely comparing it with what is already on your car. Be certain they match before removing the old and installing the new.

When the product description says "rubber', it doesn't mean the carbon-based stuff that comes from South American trees. The newer alternative is silicone, A similar material but one with a mineral base. It can stand up to high temperatures, is more resistant to chemicals, and degrades more slowly.

Keep dust, rain, snow, and noise out of your car and your home by making sure the seals around windshields, trunks, doors, and windows are tight. Check out the how-to sites and videos online for detailed instructions on keeping your personal spaces comfortable year round.




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