Hi there,
In most modern homes we use the weatherstripping described by nealtw
and tangelo. It requires that the door jambs are prepared in advance to
accept the kerf style weatherstripping.
I am thinking that your house is a little older and would require the
stripping that we used before kerf style q-lon watherstripping was created.
This product consists of aluminum strips with a bulb attached to the edge
that you screw to the door stop area of the jamb and press gently against
the door in the closed position.
Here is a picture of the product and some of the available finishes:
The important thing to know is that this type of weatherstripping comes
standard with a vinyl bulb installed. The vinyl bulb will stick to latex paint
and peel it off the door even if paint is dry . You will need to special order the
product from the Pemko company or Columbia Aluminum Products and
specifiy that you want the silicone bulb installed. The silicone bulb does not stick to latex paint.
The part numbers are:
Pemko 303, 316 or 297 with the S (for silicone) after the finish letters.
Columbia 334 or 320 with the S after the finish letters.
You can order from a quality hardware store but probably not from
a big box store.
I have used the Columbia product for years on existing installations with
great success...Seals nicely and does not stick to paint. It will also soften
the impact of the door slamming that concerned you.
For the bottom of the door we usually use a door shoe. It fits like a sleeve
on the bottom of the door and has a vinyl seal that brushes on the threshold
to create the seal. You may have to cut the door bottom to allow the
1/2" necessary for the door shoe to fit. If you do this be sure to seal the
bottom of the door before you reinstall to protect against moisture.
I hope that helps!
Richard The Door Guy
thedoorguy.com