Weather Stripping Handyman in San Francisco
San Francisco doesn't get extreme cold, but fog, wind and damp air find every gap in an old door or window. Drafts make rooms feel chilly, let in street noise and push up heating use. The Handyman SF sends local handymen to install weather stripping in homes and small commercial spaces across San Francisco and the Bay Area.
What weather stripping work includes
- Exterior doors: replacing worn door jamb seals, foam or V-strip, and compression strips.
- Door sweeps and bottoms: installing a sweep or door bottom to close the gap under a door.
- Thresholds: adjusting or replacing a threshold so the door seals evenly.
- Windows: sealing gaps on double-hung sash, casement and sliding windows with the right strip for each.
- Garage entry doors and back doors: sealing drafts between the garage and living space.
- Small adjustments: tightening hinges and strike plates so a door closes firmly against the new seal.
Drafts in San Francisco's older homes
Many Victorians and Edwardians still have original wood sash windows, often single-pane, and doors that have shifted as the building settled. Gaps are rarely even, so one type of strip doesn't fit everywhere. Wood sash windows usually need a low-profile seal that still lets the window slide, while a warped door may need a thicker compression seal or an adjustment first.
Homes in the Sunset, Richmond and near the ocean take the most wind and fog, and entry doors on those blocks wear seals out faster.
In pre-1978 homes, old window sashes and door trim often have lead paint underneath newer coats. Scraping or sanding them calls for lead-safe work practices, so avoid disturbing old paint before the visit.
How to prepare
- Make a list of the doors and windows that feel drafty or whistle in the wind.
- If you can, hold your hand or a lit incense stick near the edges on a windy day to find the worst spots.
- Clear furniture and curtains away from those doors and windows.
- In a rental or HOA building, check whether exterior doors and windows are yours to modify.
When weather stripping isn't enough
If a window frame is rotted, glass is cracked, or a door is badly out of square, new seals won't fix the draft. Those may need a window or door repair, or replacement by a licensed contractor. California limits unlicensed handyman jobs to under $1,000 including labor and materials.
