This is not an exciting home improvement project, but it is an important one because a door threshold prevents both warm and cool air from escaping or infiltrating inside your home. A door threshold is a simple aluminum strip with a vinyl insert in its center that acts as a gasket to seal the gap between the bottom of the door and the floor. Over time it wears away, and the only way to stop air infiltration is to replace the threshold, a job you can do if you have basic carpentry skills and tools.
You’ll find a selection of aluminum and wood thresholds with vinyl inserts sold online and in home centers, hardware stores and lumber yards. They come packaged with installation hardware, but you’ll need a good quality silicone caulk to bridge the gap between the floor and bottom of the gasket.
If you’re planning to replace the flooring material at the door, that’s a good time to replace the threshold and prevent uneven surfaces after layers of old flooring have been removed. If uneven surfaces are an issue, choose a threshold that is self-adjusting so you can level the surface.
To remove an old threshold and replace it with a new one, a carpenter charges $158, which includes labor and material. But you can buy the threshold and install it for $45. With basic carpentry tools and you know how to use them, you can do the job and save about 72% for your effort.
To find more DIY project costs and to post comments and questions, visit www.diyornot.com and m.diyornot.com on smartphones.
Pro Cost — DIY Cost — Pro time — DIY Time — DIY Savings — Percent Saved
$158 — $45 — 1.8 — 2.5 — $113 — 72 percent
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