Weatherstripping and Caulking

Keep the Cool In and the Desert Out

In Arizona the AC runs most of the year, and the sun bakes rubber weatherstripping and caulk until it cracks, shrinks and pulls away. Every gap lets cooled air out and lets heat, dust and bugs in. You can usually see it: daylight under or around a closed door, dust lines on the windowsill, a draft by the patio door or caulk that has split along the window trim.

On doors we replace the weatherstripping on front, back, garage-entry and patio doors, add or replace door sweeps and thresholds, replace garage door bottom seals, and adjust the strike plate so the door actually closes tight against the seal.

For caulking, we cut out the old, cracked caulk instead of caulking over it, then seal the gaps around exterior windows and door trim, where stucco meets trim, along baseboards and trim inside, and at kitchen backsplashes and countertops, with a quality, paintable caulk suited to each spot. Doing it before monsoon season also keeps blowing rain and dust out.