Thermal and sound insulation of the door block is the most important performance characteristics for a structure installed in a residential area. In addition to protection from intruders, metal doors to the apartment should protect the home from unpleasant odors and noise from the outside. If we are talking about a private house, then the thermal insulation capacity of the entrance block comes to the fore. This is what determines the level of heat loss and, as a consequence, the cost of heating a home.
The best seal for a metal entrance door
The main structural way to ensure good insulation is to install sealing contours around the perimeter of the door leaf and door frame. However, after several years of use, they may become unusable and cease to perform their functions. In order not to experience problems with such a defect, it is advisable to find out in advance how to replace the seal on the input metal door.
First, you need to familiarize yourself with what types of door seals there are. All of them are tapes with an adhesive backing, making it easy to understand how to glue the seal to the front door. The differences between them are in the material and profile shape. The main types of seals are rubber or silicone gaskets of the following sections:
- D-shaped;
- E-shaped;
- P-shaped;
- U-shaped.
In addition, there are polymer seals of complex shapes with magnetic layers that provide the maximum level of heat/sound insulation. They are often installed on three-circuit doors in combination with other types of seals.
Replacing the door seal yourself
The task of replacing sealing contours is solved quite easily if you carry out the necessary sequence of actions step by step. Before removing the door seal, you need to prepare a replacement so as not to leave the entrance block without insulation. For home metal doors, self-adhesive D- and E-shaped gaskets are usually chosen.
To change the sealing contour, you need to do the following: 
- remove the worn seal from the door block;
- clean and degrease the area for gluing the new contour;
- remove the protective film and install the seal, pressing carefully along the entire length.
As you can see, installing a seal on a steel door is not difficult. The main thing is to choose the right profile, focusing on the specifics of the room and design features iron door. After this, restoring or strengthening the insulating qualities of the door structure will not be difficult.
If you start to notice that there is a draft in your apartment, or an unpleasant smell begins to come from the entrance, this is a signal that the door needs to be sealed. This problem will definitely not escape those people who have a metal door installed in their apartment. For this reason, we invite you to consider how you can fix or prevent the problem by sealing the door yourself.
Selection and classification of sealant
Often, metal doors do not cope with their main role, namely maintaining heat in the house. Although these doors are insulated, the result often leaves much to be desired. You can choose a special seal that can solve the problem of drafts and unpleasant odors coming from the entrance. There are a large number of seals that differ in type and method of application. For example, some are glued along the entire perimeter of the door. If the door has a double sash, then the seal is glued to each of them. At the same time, it is recommended to choose insulation in each individual case individually. So, for example, if you buy a very thick seal, it can cause obvious problems. Conversely, very thin material will not give the desired result.
Seals for metal doors are classified according to several technical characteristics.
- Material type. It can be foam rubber, plastic, polyethylene foam, rubber, silicone.
- Design. The seal can be equipped with a metal clamping strip or made from one material.
- Fastening method and system. Seals can be self-adhesive or self-tapping. As for the latter, special strips can only be installed on wooden doors.
If you have a desire, you can make the seal yourself. To do this, you can use foam rubber, having previously wrapped it in artificial leather or leatherette.
For metal doors, seals are sold in rolls. One roll can be up to six meters. If the door is standard, then one roll will be enough to seal. Remember that for metal doors it is best to buy a self-adhesive seal.
Sealant for metal doors
The choice of sealant will directly depend on the size of the gap that needs to be eliminated. For example, if the gap when the door is closed is from one to four millimeters, then you can purchase a rectangular section seal, for example, made of polyethylene foam, PVC, or foam rubber. But in most cases, rubber seals are used for metal doors. They can have different shapes, the cross-section of which resembles the letters of the Latin alphabet:
- C - profile is used for those cracks that are up to three millimeters thick.
- K – profile is similar to the first.
- P and V - profile can eliminate cracks with a thickness of three to five millimeters.
- O and D - the profile is mounted in those doors where the gap is up to seven millimeters thick.
Seals are available in different colors. This allows you to individually select the color for your door. So, the aesthetics of the doors will not deteriorate in any way. The most common colors are white, black and brown.
Note! According to some studies, the dye can reduce the quality of rubber. For this reason, it is best to sacrifice aesthetics and stick on a standard black seal!
The main requirement for all seals is to seal the door. Based on this, the seal must meet high standards. The seal must be waterproof and airtight, and must provide excellent shock absorption for the door leaf when it is closed and slammed. When closing a metal door, a light and soft click should be heard, not rattling or noise. Among other things, the sealant should not freeze or harden in the cold. Regardless of the conditions in which it is operated, the seal must maintain its basic characteristics under all circumstances.
Installation on a metal door
If you have a branded door, then the manufacturer makes a profile that already has a specially designated place for laying the seal. From the point of view of tightness, such metal doors are the most reliable. Therefore, when purchasing them, pay attention to this detail.
In the event that you do not have the funds for such a door, you should purchase and install the seal yourself. Using self-adhesive tape this is very easy to do. The most important thing is to choose the appropriate thickness. We talked about this above. Gluing the seal is quite simple. Wrap the plasticine in polyethylene and place it between the door and frame. Afterwards, close the door tightly and open it. As a result, you will have a finished cast of the required thickness. As for the seal sticker, do not rush to immediately remove the protective layer from the entire tape. As the film peels off, glue the seal to the frame. At the same time, press it tightly.
Note! If the seal comes off after a few days or weeks, then glue it with Moment glue.
Wood door seal
For such doors today it is customary to use a variety of strips. They allow you to prevent drafts or get rid of them altogether. There are several types of them.
- Wedge-shaped plank.
- Plastic tube.
- Plastic or metal strips with brush, etc.
Let's look at how to install them correctly.
Installation of the wedge-shaped strip. The strip must be cut to fit the top of the doorway, as well as the sides of the two sides. At the joints, the planks are cut at an angle of 45°. In the places where the hinges and door lock are located, the strip must be trimmed. Next, it is nailed down. All the work will not take you much time.
Installation of the outer plank. The plank, as in the first case, is cut strictly according to the dimensions of the doorway. But only now the bar is screwed on with screws. After its installation, a sheet of paper should fit between the closed door and the strip.
As for sealing the bottom of the door, a slightly different technology and method of using strips is used here. The strips are fitted to the inner front of the door. It should be noted that there are also several types of planks, each of which has distinctive features.
Flat threshold slats. They are made from a plastic or aluminum base. A rubber band or brush is attached to them, in turn. They can be used for both external and internal doors.
Planks with plastic shield. They prevent moisture from entering the room. In most cases they are used to seal an external door.
Combined slats. They consist of a metal strip and also a nylon brush. The strip is attached to the threshold, and the brush to the door. The bar on the threshold prevents water from entering the room, as it has a special groove.
So, some features of installing such planks.
Installation of a flat threshold strip. The strip is pre-cut to the width of the doorway. It is then screwed to the bottom of the door. This bar should be as close to the threshold as possible. But it should not prevent the doors from opening freely. Some types of such planks are equipped with special holes for screws, which makes them easy to adjust.
Installation of a combination strip. In this case, as in the first, the strip and brush are cut to the width of the threshold. The strip is screwed to the threshold, with the overhanging edge of the strip facing the inside of the door.
As for installing the brush, after installation it should exert slight pressure on the bar. The brush is screwed to the bottom of the door using self-tapping screws.
Installation of the rail on an external door. Similarly, as in all other cases, the plank is cut to size. The strip should be screwed to the door when closed. It is very important not to use screws that can rust - this can cause the doors to rot.
So, we have looked at the main methods of sealing both metal and wooden doors. If you know other methods of sealing doors, then write about it in the comments to this article.
Video
Insulating doors using a seal:
To provide additional sound insulation, any metal doors require the installation of a seal. This article will tell you how to choose and correctly install a high-quality seal for metal doors.
General concept and functions of a seal for a metal door
The seal is a hardware element of a metal door. The main function of the seal is to protect the room from extraneous sounds. Additional functions of the seal:
- protecting the premises from foreign odors;
- thermal protection - preventing the formation of drafts;
- sealing - ensuring a tight fit of the door leaf to the door frame.
Let's consider the basic requirements for a high-quality seal for a metal door:
- the seal must ensure complete tightness, the door protects the room from the entry of extraneous noise, moisture, cold air, small dust particles or strong odors;
- the seal ensures reliable and smooth closing of the door;
- the seal must meet high standards that ensure water and air tightness and excellent shock-absorbing properties of the metal door;
- the seal eliminates the sharp unpleasant sounds that a metal door makes when closing; after installing the seal, the door closes softly and silently;
- the seal for a metal door must be resistant to sudden temperature changes to avoid hardening or peeling off;
- the seal should interact well with the door, there should be no gaps when closing;
- ensuring fire safety: using a rubber contour to trap cold smoke, using a thermally expanding layer to fill cracks and prevent the spread of fire.
Types of seals for metal doors
Depending on the type of material, sealants are divided into:
- rubber,
- silicone,
- polyurethane,
- plastic,
- foam rubber.
The rubber seal for a metal door is characterized by durability and endurance.
Advantages of installing a rubber seal on a metal door:
- high level air and moisture resistance;
- resistance to prolonged exposure to precipitation, temperature changes, and ultraviolet radiation;
- long service life;
- low cost;
- no cracking.
Rubber seals are made from oil-resistant, acid-resistant rubber, which is food grade or high-tech grade.
Silicone seals, which are excellent for metal doors, are not inferior to rubber ones. The advantage of silicone sealant is that silicone does not emit harmful substances and ensures the environmental safety of the home. Silicone does not provoke allergies, which is why such seals are installed on metal doors in children's or medical institutions.
The polyurethane seal is easily attached to the door, as it has a self-adhesive film on one side. Plastic seals are rarely installed on metal doors, just like foam rubber ones. Although the cost of these seals is quite low, the quality characteristics do not allow them to be used on a metal door for a long time.
In relation to the design and type of fastening, seals are divided into:
- magnetic seal for metal doors;
- seal with an additional clamping mechanism;
- The seal for metal doors is self-adhesive.
The magnetic seal appeared not so long ago, but is increasingly used in the manufacture of metal doors from the manufacturer. Magnetic seals are installed on refrigerator doors or freezer. The operating principle of the seal is based on the attraction of permanent magnets using attraction poles. A triple circuit magnetic seal is installed on metal doors. The first two circuits are located directly on the door, and the third - on the door frame. Magnetic seals have a drawback: if there is a strong attraction of magnets, such a door will be difficult to open for a child or an elderly person, and if there are weak magnets, the door will not meet all the requirements for sealing and sound insulation.
It is better to install a magnetic seal on metal doors that do not have decorative elements, but consist of ordinary sheets of metal. The magnetic seal has two components: a soft part and a magnetic insert. The soft part is made of thermoplastic elastomer. Advantages of using thermoplastic elastomer:
- aging resistance;
- operating temperature from -65 to +90 °C;
- After use, this material is recycled.
1. When choosing a self-adhesive seal, be sure to check the expiration date of the adhesive that is applied to one side of the tape.
2. Do not use foam seals on a metal door. After all, as a rule, a metal door is used at the entrance to a room and has the greatest load in terms of the number of openings; in this case, foam rubber will deteriorate very quickly.
3. Before giving preference to a particular seal, carefully study the information about materials, shelf life and technical features seal.
4. To check the sealing properties of the seal, you should press the seal slightly; if the material quickly regains its shape, the seal will provide a good seal.
5. When choosing a seal that requires additional gluing, buy good quality silicone glue.
6. Pay attention to the color of the seal, in most cases it is black, brown or white, but there are exceptions and some companies allow you to choose the color individually to match the color of the door.
7. When choosing a seal for a metal entrance door, you should not focus on the color variety, since paint significantly affects the quality characteristics of the seal; it is better to choose a standard black seal.
8. The rubber seal should be of medium hardness; a material that is too soft will quickly become unusable, and a seal that is too hard will prevent the door from closing.
9. When choosing a self-adhesive sealant, the sticky side should be covered with small particles of fiberglass.
Rules for selecting a seal for a metal door
Before you buy a seal for metal doors, you should decide on the shape and type of seal. The seals are sold in roll form with an average strip length of 600 cm; for a standard door this seal will be sufficient.
To choose the right seal, you need to measure the gaps of the metal door. For this procedure, take plasticine that needs to be wrapped in plastic and insert it into the slot with the door closed. Use a tape measure or ruler to measure the length of the gap.
For a gap that ranges from 1 to 3 mm, use a rectangular foam rubber, polyethylene foam or polyvinyl chloride sealant.
For gaps that exceed 3 mm, rubber seals are used, which are divided into:
- seals with a C-shaped, K-shaped or E-shaped profile - used in three-millimeter gaps;
- A P-shaped or V-shaped seal is used to close a gap with a thickness of 3 to 5 mm;
- in gaps that exceed 5 mm, install an O-shaped or D-shaped seal.
When replacing a seal, you should tear off a piece of the old seal and select a new seal that is as similar in size as possible in the store.
To determine the size of the required seal, decide on the number of layers, and then measure the dimensions of the metal door and determine the perimeter of the door frame, multiply the resulting number by the number of layers. It is better to purchase a seal with a reserve.
Installing a seal on a metal door
1. When replacing the seal, you should thoroughly clean the surface of the doors from the old seal with fine sandpaper and wash the doors well with an acetone or alcohol solution.
2. Metal doors are used at the entrance to a room, so it is advisable to install two or three layers of sealing to ensure a more reliable seal.
3. When installing a seal on the front door of an apartment that does not face the street, install two layers of seal. Place the first layer on the outer door leaf, and install the second layer on the door frame.
4. If the seal is installed on a metal door that opens directly onto the street, it is better to lay three layers of seal. The first and second circuits are installed on the door frame and the inside of the door, and the third - on the outer surface of the door. Requirements for an external seal for a metal door: resistance to temperature changes, ultraviolet radiation, moisture, precipitation, good dimensional stability and tightness.
5. When purchasing branded doors from the manufacturer, a seal is present on such doors. If there is a double door sash, the seal is located on each sash.
6. The rubber seal is installed using silicone glue. To do this, the seal is gradually coated with glue and applied to the surface of the door.
7. When installing a seal on a painted metal door, at least twenty days must pass from the moment of painting.
Installation of self-adhesive seal
Before replacing the seal, you should clean the surface from any remnants of the old seal and wipe the doors with an acetone-containing solution.
A self-adhesive seal is even easier to install than a rubber seal. To install, you need to gradually, removing the tape, glue the seal around the perimeter of the door leaf. If the seal begins to hold poorly over time, use glue or sealant for gluing. When replacing the seal, do not use separate pieces, as there is a risk that the seal will not perform its sealing function properly. Pay attention to the sealing of the corners, as in these places the seal may wrinkle or adhere poorly. After the seal is completely glued, trim off the remaining parts with scissors.
Review of manufacturers of seals for metal doors
1. Deventer (Germany)
Peculiarities:
- use of environmentally friendly materials for the manufacture of seals;
- availability of certificates of compliance with international standards;
- excellent recovery properties after compression of the seal;
- the use of thermoplastic elastomer, which prevents aging of the seal due to exposure to ultraviolet radiation.
2. Stomil Sanok (Poland)
Peculiarities:
- high level of wear resistance;
- additional sealing circuit;
- production of a rubber seal from special microporous rubber;
- resistance to temperature changes from -44 to +66 °C;
- softness and high elasticity of the seal;
- service life from seven to ten years;
- The seal ensures silent closing of the metal door.
3. Akord (Türkiye)
Peculiarities:
- service life from 5 years and above;
- harmlessness and environmental friendliness;
- preventing dust, sound or foreign odors from entering the room;
- affordable price.
4. Welless (Germany)
Peculiarities:
- variety of colors: black, beige, transparent, white, brown, dark brown;
- ensuring maximum density and silent closing of a metal door;
- high performance during temperature changes;
- resistance to chemical influences;
- anti-toxicity, suggests the use of a sealant in medical institutions.
5. Varnamo (Sweden)
Peculiarities:
- the use of porous rubber for the manufacture of self-adhesive seals;
- variety of seal shapes: K-shaped, P-shaped and D-shaped;
- minimum service life of seven years;
- ease and simplicity of installation of the seal;
- rolls are sold in convenient packaging of 6, 16, 24 and 100 meters.
6. Cyclone (Switzerland)
Peculiarities:
- moisture and wind resistance;
- heat resistance from -40 to +60 °C;
- good adhesion of self-adhesive sealant;
- provides excellent tightness and silent closing of the door.
Seals are the most important part of the iron entrance door in every home. If you suddenly notice that cold air has begun to blow in the corridor, and you can clearly hear what the neighbors are doing outside the door, in the entrance, then it’s time to think about seals.
What is a seal?
Seals are a material that serves as a kind of “protection” for the front door. In addition, the material has excellent sound and thermal insulation, the effect of which is enhanced by a special porous filler.
In most cases, metal door seals come with an adhesive base, so gluing them is not difficult. Among the disadvantages, the same reason can be identified: just as quickly as they stick, they can also come off quickly.
However, not all seals are identical in type and installation method. There are also seals interior doors, which have less noticeable qualities of sound and heat insulation, as well as seals for plastic doors.
In this article we are talking about seals entrance doors, and they, in turn, are divided into several types and subtypes, depending on the type of material, installation method or type of product.
What types of seal are there?
So, seals undoubtedly do not have one type and installation method. The seal is selected taking into account the characteristics and requirements of the door.
For example, according to the installation method, the seal is divided into an adhesive-based product (self-adhesive) and a product that must be installed using screws or self-tapping screws. It is noteworthy that the first type is installed specifically on metal entrance doors, and the second - on wooden entrance doors.
The material of the seals also varies. For example, the highest quality seal is made of rubber. It does not let in cold air from the street, and serves its owners for a long time and reliably. Typically, rubber seals are self-adhesive and are installed on metal entrance doors. Silicone seals are less resistant to weather conditions, so they are used mainly in the installation of interior doors, where it serves an excellent purpose. Well, and finally, the most a budget option- foam rubber seal. The negative properties of foam rubber, which affect the quality of the product, are a complete inability to withstand temperature changes, which leads to compression and, subsequently, crumbling of the foam filler already, on average, a year after the start of use.
There are also seals for sliding wardrobe doors - brush or fleecy tapes. They do not have the qualities of heat and sound insulation, as they are unnecessary. The “purpose” of these seals is to prevent dust and dirt from getting into the cabinets.
When installing seals in the cracks of entrance doors, it is worth remembering that the products are divided into unique “profiles”:
1. C-profile - installed in the gap with a gap of no more than 3 mm.
2. Profile type E (K) - helps to seal gaps of a similar size, however, it is a higher quality product due to the double groove, which best protects against drafts and unnecessary noise.
3. P - profile - seals cracks up to 5 mm. It got its name due to the characteristics of the cross section, which in cross-section resembles the letter “P”.
4. V - profile - also “seals” cracks up to 5 mm.
5. D - profile - helps to seal up to 7 mm gaps. It got its name because it has a distinct “D” shape in its cross-sectional shape.
6. O - profile - insulates cracks larger than 7 mm. Due to its cavity, the seal of this profile can be installed in smaller cracks.
Let's focus on profiles type D and E, how to install them?
How to seal iron doors yourself with self-adhesive D and E profiles
As you know, many modern metal doors already come with a seal installed taking into account the design features. When choosing a door, we advise you to focus on these models. But it’s not always possible to choose something suitable, and if you bought a door without a seal, it doesn’t matter. Installation of these self-adhesive seals will not be difficult even for novice “home craftsmen”. However, you need to remember some of the subtleties of these seals before installation.
First, you need to know how much clearance the door has. If this gap is not very large - from 1 to 3 mm - you will need to get by with an E-seal, but if this gap is large - about 7 mm - then you cannot do without a D-seal.
However, these seals are very easy to install as they are self-adhesive.
Approximate algorithm of actions self-installation The seal of any of these profiles looks like this:
1. First you need to glue plasticine of the required thickness between the door and the frame. Then close the door very tightly and immediately open it. It turns out a kind of “cast” of the required thickness. We glue the seal itself directly, taking into account the size and thickness of the gap. Carefully remove the sticker and, as you work, glue the seal along the entire length of the frame. At the bottom of the door, cut off the remaining seal with a knife. Installation can be considered complete. It happens that after some time the seal comes off. You can glue it with strong glue, such as “Moment”.
How to seal iron doors yourself with a magnetic seal and rubber band?
You should start with the fact that it is impossible to install a magnetic seal yourself. This will require a master. So what is the point of magnetic seals?
This type of seal is mainly installed on refrigerator doors. This seal works by attracting magnets using attraction poles. If installed on refrigerators, for the most part, magnetic seals with two circuits, then on an iron door - with three, for the best performance of the structure. Magnetic seals are already included with the door, and are not really that great. The fact is that if the magnet is strongly attracted, difficulties may arise with the operation of the door. A child, and sometimes not even every adult, will be able to cope with such a design, and if the attraction of the magnets is weak, then why install such a seal at all? After all, if you buy it separately, it will cost a considerable amount!
However, there is also the most important advantage in this design: the door will no longer slam when opening, because the attraction of the “poles” operates, so the neighbors will not hear you entering or leaving the apartment. Perhaps this is why it is worth purchasing such a seal.
If you don’t want problems with installing the seal, perhaps we can advise you to purchase special sealing rubber bands. Moreover, this method is the easiest. This thing is glued into a special recess in the door frame. The mechanism for installing rubber bands is as follows:
1. First you need to measure the box by area. That is, how many meters of sealing rubber are needed for a given door.
2. Measure the width of the door frame recess.
3. To measure the thickness of the seal, you need to take plasticine, wrap it in cellophane and press it into the door. The resulting thickness will, in fact, be the thickness of the future seal.
4. Go to the store and buy the necessary rubber seal. There can be no difficulties with the process itself, since this elastic band is self-adhesive.
Video tutorials on seal installation
If you still consider yourself insufficiently competent in installing door seals, you can watch numerous video tutorials.
Here, for example, it is shown how to insulate the front door:
And here’s how to insulate a door or window using rubber sealing:
Installation of rubber seals on metal entrance doors: what is a seal, what types are there, how to seal iron doors yourself with a self-adhesive D and E profile, magnetic seal and rubber band
Sections of the article:
Metal entrance doors are reliable protection against unauthorized entry into your home. However, in winter such structures allow cold to pass through and heat to escape from the room. This is how about 50% of the heat generated is lost heating system. Energy tariffs are quite high and therefore many are trying to somehow solve the problem of heat loss through cracks, as well as the noise problem.
Most people use highly efficient insulation modern materials. But that's only half the story. To minimize heat loss, you should use a seal for metal doors. What is it, how to choose the appropriate option, how many varieties of these products are there? Answers to all questions in our article.
Tasks of door seals
The seal is an element of hardware for metal doors. The main task that such products solve is reliable protection of the room from the penetration of drafts, as well as various foreign odors. In addition, with the help of a seal for the front door, you can achieve high sealing - the door leaf will adhere to the frame with maximum density.
Requirements for sealing parts
There are certain requirements for sealing products.
This part must provide high tightness. A high-quality door system can reliably protect a home from extraneous noise from the entrance or from the street, from humidity, various small debris, and also from odors.
The sealing element must ensure a reliable and smooth closing process. The material from which such fittings are made must fully comply with certain standards for impermeability to moisture, odors, as well as shock-absorbing capabilities.
Such a fitting element completely eliminates the loud and sharp sounds with which a steel door usually closes. With a seal for metal doors, the closing process should be completely silent.
In winter, the part may be subject to significant temperature changes - the material must be able to withstand such loads. The sealant should not change its properties, namely harden or lose elasticity. A high-quality element works well together with the door leaf. During the closing process, even small gaps should not form.
Another requirement is fire safety. The rubber seal should prevent smoke from entering the room.
Types of seals
Products are differentiated depending on the material. Thus, there are rubber seals, products made of silicone, polyurethane, plastic and foam rubber.
Rubber products: advantages and features
The seal for metal doors of this type is highly resistant to various external factors, as well as durability.
Among the advantages of installing these products are a high level of impermeability to moisture and air, high resistance to exposure ultraviolet radiation, prolonged exposure to precipitation, temperature changes. These elements also have a long service life and low price. Even in the worst conditions, the rubber will not crack.
They are made from special oil- and acid-resistant rubber of food or high-tech quality. The composition uses special modifiers that provide the material with high durability even in harsh conditions. Also, these elements can be made of special porous rubber. It retains heat much better than usual. Often, such solutions are self-adhesive, which greatly simplifies installation.
In most cases, such a seal is a hollow and fairly dense profile. Due to the fact that the rubber is thick, a reliable and tight fit of the door leaf to the frame is ensured.
Silicone sealing elements
This material is almost in no way inferior to rubber and is also ideal as a seal for metal doors. Among the advantages of silicone solutions are environmental safety and the absence of any substances harmful to humans. In addition, silicone does not cause allergies.
But in terms of durability, rubber is still better. Even with the help of special additives it is not possible to achieve high levels of material safety over time.
Polyurethane
Such products are easy to install, as they are equipped with a special adhesive layer. These elements are very rarely installed on metal doors - they do not have the necessary characteristics. In addition, the material is too dense and not durable for an entrance door. However, such products are characterized by a low price.
Mounting types
There are sealing elements with self-adhesive tape, with magnetic fastening, and also with an additional clamping mechanism. Let's look at each type in more detail.
Magnetic seals
This new product appeared on our construction markets relatively recently, but has already become quite popular.
A magnetic seal for metal doors is a special frame that exactly follows the contours of the door opening. The product consists of a special magnetic insert, as well as a soft sealing part. The material used is thermoplastic elastomer. It has several advantages - after the product is worn out, it can be sent for recycling. In addition, thermoplastic elastomer is highly resistant to adverse factors and temperature changes.
Magnetic seals are also resistant to ultraviolet radiation and moisture, reliably protecting the room from extraneous noise and drafts, dust and dirt. With these elements, the door will close quietly, and powerful magnets will attract the metal leaf to the door frame, thereby ensuring high tightness and silent closing.
For metal doors, triple seals should be used. The first two are located on the canvas, and the third is on the door frame.
Advantages and disadvantages
The production material used is thermoplastic elastomer, which replicates the properties of vulcanized rubber. Manufacturers assure that the service life of the product can reach up to 10 years, without any loss of quality.
Magnets help hide various defects that could have been made when installing the doors. These are gaps between the canvas and the box, backlashes. This device will help increase the strength characteristics of the door leaf.
There are also disadvantages - if the manufacturer used very powerful magnets, then children may have difficulty opening and closing the door. If the magnets are weak, then the structure will open in much the same way as a refrigerator door. Such products are no better than ordinary sealing fittings.
Another disadvantage is the high price and non-repairability. If there are any problems with sealing, you will not be able to solve the problem yourself. You will need the help of specialists.
Installation of magnetic seals
This process will not take much time and will not require any special skills. Of course, it is better if professionals do this. Such systems are installed on canvases where there are no decorative elements.
Although this seal for metal doors has many advantages, it is not suitable for everyone. The main thing is to choose the right strength of the permanent magnet so that children do not have any difficulties.
Features of the selection and installation of self-adhesive seals
When choosing such an element of fittings, it is necessary to clarify whether the adhesive layer is suitable at the time of purchase. It is also not recommended to use a foam rubber seal on a metal door - these elements have a low price, but they place serious loads on the front door. Foam rubber will quickly become unusable.
When choosing, it is very important to study all the information about the manufacturer and materials. Expiration date and other issues are also important. specifications. To check the tightness, just press on the product - if it quickly regains its shape, then you can buy it.
If the attachment to the adhesive layer seems unreliable, you can additionally glue the product with silicone glue. Color is also important when choosing - there are several different shades.
Installation involves gluing a seal around the perimeter of the door. Anyone can do this - the process is very simple.
How to choose a sealing element for a metal door
Before purchasing and installing any seals, you should select the shape and type of product. These materials are sold in roll form. The average length of one is 600 mm. For an ordinary, standard door, this length will be more than enough.
The shape is selected according to the gaps. They must be measured first. Plasticine will help with this. It should be wrapped in a bag and placed in the gap when the door is closed. Then, using measuring instruments, determine the length of the gap.
For thicknesses from 1 to 3 mm, a rectangular profile made of absolutely any materials is suitable. The best choice for a metal door is rubber. If the gap is more than 3 mm, then rubber with a profile type C, K or E should be used. If the length of the gap is from 3 to 5 mm, a profile type P or V is required. In all gaps larger than 5 mm, type D or type seals are used O.