Remodeling the exterior of a home is a lot of work, and I easily forget about all the small, unglamorous details that can make or break the overall look of my house. One detail I often overlook is the area right underneath the bottom of the door threshold.
A door threshold is the strip of wood or metal that separates the inside from the outside of the house, and the floor from the doorstep. What goes under it is a good question that you should ask yourself before you begin any home remodeling.
If you’re wondering what to put under a door threshold to fill the gap, then you can use materials such as grout, cork, rubber, wood or form.
If you have trouble keeping the heat in or the cold out, a drafty door is likely the culprit.
An easy, inexpensive way that I use to fix this problem is to put the door threshold down for a tight seal.
Door threshold is a simple, effective solution that can keep your family warm on the coldest winter nights.
This is a great place that I think you can also use to add some character to your home, and it’s easy to do with just a few materials from your home improvement store as I will show you. Here’s how:
How do I fill the gap under my front door threshold?
When you live in a house with a front door, you’ve probably noticed that the front door threshold is a common tripping hazard.
To avoid accidents, make sure to fill the gap between the floor and the top of the threshold on both sides.
If you don’t, you could risk tripping over the threshold and injuring yourself.
There are a few ways to do this.
- Measure the gap under your door
- Purchase the appropriate door threshold
- Prepare the area so your threshold will fit
- Attach the threshold to your door
Materials to fill threshold gap
1. Grout
Are the gaps under your front door’s threshold causing drafts and preventing your floor from looking finished?
If so, get ready to scoop out some grout!
As long as you have a door that is at least an inch thick, you can fill the gap between your floor and the threshold with grout, which is a dense cement mixture.
Non-compressible grout also adds protection against water leaks and other damage.
2. Foam
If you own a home, there is a good chance that you’ve noticed an expansion gap between the bottom of your front door and the floor.
While most homeowners immediately reach for the tape and caulk, foam with less silicone percentage than 100% is a much better solution.
With the help of a low expansive foam, your door will be perfectly aligned with the floor, effectively eliminating any gaps that could breed bugs and pests.
3. Wood
The gap between your door and the bottom of the door frame is a continuous source of draughts and it looks ugly.
There are several ways to solve the problem, but one of the simplest is to use a wooden filler, made of oak or maple.
Wood is one of the best materials you can use to fill the gap under your front door threshold.
This is because it is affordable.
You can buy such stoppers in the building materials store, but you can also make your own DIY stopper.
4. Rubber
Just like all the other moving parts in your house, your threshold should be checked on a regular basis to ensure that it is working correctly.
This is especially important if you have a front door with a space between the door and the threshold.
To keep the gap from getting even larger, you can install a rubber weather strip to keep the elements out.
Rubber can be used in a variety of ways in the home, and it is one of the most versatile materials you can use in your home.
It is easy to cut, easy to install, and easy to remove, so it is ideal for making DIY projects.
5. Cork
When you live in a historic home, keeping your front door in good shape is a constant battle.
The gap underneath the threshold is a common problem for homes.
These spaces can be filled with a number of materials, but cork is one of the best materials you can use.
It’s not only inexpensive, but it will also help block out dirt and grime from accumulating in the gap.
Cork is a renewable, sustainable, and (yes) beautiful material that’s been used in homes for hundreds of years.
This makes sense, because it’s a great insulator, and highly weather resistant.
You can add cork to your floors as tiles or to your doors as a transition between floors and walls.
Cork under a threshold also helps keep mud, moisture, and cold air out of your house.
Conclusion
All of us have had to deal with the gap that exists between our front door and the threshold.
The front door threshold is meant to protect you and your home from external elements and to keep all other elements outside.
If you have a door that doesn’t close too well, that can be a problem.
The gap can trap moisture, dirt, and debris.
It can even damage your flooring and the door itself.
This is a common problem in homes built before the 1980s, where the front door is raised above the threshold to prevent the ingress of water during heavy rains.
In these homes, you can easily fill the gap that exists between the door and the threshold with a rubber strip, cork, grout, wood or grout.
