Door sweeps are installed surface mounted at the bottom of the door to seal the gap between the floor and the bottom of the door. Depending on the undercut of the door, you will need to make sure your door sweep covers the gap completely. Door sweeps are often supplied with thresholds and the sweep will seal the gap between the bottom of the door and the threshold. You usually don’t want to have the sweep drag across the floor as the door swings open and closed.

In this article we will talk about three types of door sweeps available from National Guard Products (NGP).

  1. Neoprene Door Sweeps
  2. Nylon Brush Door Sweeps
  3. Vinyl Door Sweeps

1. Neoprene Sweeps

Neoprene is a flexible black rubber material. Neoprene has very good abrasion resistance and endures temperatures ranging from -20°F to 200°F. Neoprene door sweeps are strips of neoprene material fastened to the door with screws along a strip of aluminum or other metals such as stainless steel or brass. The neoprene door sweeps are sized or cut to match the door width. They extend down anywhere from 7/16″ up to 2″.

A common NGP neoprene door sweep is the 200NA which extends 7/16″. Another neoprene sweep that is slightly longer for larger door gaps at the bottom of the door is the 198NA which extends about 1″ down.

2. Nylon Brush Sweeps

Nylon brush is a synthetic polymer material. It is moisture resistant, retains insecticides well, and endures temperature ranges from -70°F to 425°F. These are not very effective against water penetration as other seals can be. The nylon brush is held in a strip of aluminum or other metal. These can extend anywhere from 7/16″ up to 2-1/2″ in length.

Common nylon brush sweeps from NGP include the 600A, which extends 1/2″, or the C627A, which includes a small drip strip and the nylon brush extends down 9/16″ to seal the gap at the bottom of the door.

3. Vinyl Sweeps

Vinyl is a very economical option when cost is a concern. Vinyl is a flexible polymer material that is flame resistant and moisture resistant. It will withstand temperatures from 0°F to 140°F.

96V is a finned door sweep that extends 7/8″ and the 97V extends a full 1″ down to seal larger gaps at the bottom of the door to the floor/threshold.

Other Types of Door Bottoms

Door sweeps are generally the easiest method to seal a gap under the door. However, there are other types of hardware that can be installed to seal the gap. These include automatic door bottoms and door shoes.

An automatic door bottom can be surface mounted, half-mortised (not recommended), or full-mortised into the bottom of the door. Auto door bottoms match the door width and will have a small button protruding toward the hinge side of the door. When the door is closed, this button is depressed which causes the seal to drop and fill the gap under the door. The extension of the seal is usually adjustable to allow for a tight seal. When the door is opened, the button is extends and the seal is retracted allowing the door to swing without dragging on the floor/threshold.

A typical auto door bottom from NGP is the 220NA or the 420NA.

A door shoe often wraps the bottom of the door or is installed into the bottom of the door. These door bottoms can have fins or bulb type seals made of neoprene, vinyl, nylon brush, or a mix. It is important to note the door material that is used, wood or metal, so that the seal functions properly with the door type. Metal doors often have channels at the bottom of the door while wood doors have a solid flush door core.

 

A common door shoe is the 35EV or the 36VA which are finned vinyl door shoes that wrap the bottom of the door.

Conclusion

Door sweeps are the easiest way to seal the gap at the bottom of commercial doors. Other methods are available that work similarly but look different and can require more coordination to ensure they can be installed properly. Whichever method is used to seal the gap at the bottom of the door, Beacon Commercial Door & Lock has got you covered. If you have questions about products please do not hesitate to contact us to get your doors functioning as they should.