Aluminium door seals keep wind, dust and rain out, and they are the first thing to check when a door starts letting in a draught or water. How well a door seals depends on the seals themselves and on the threshold, the bottom detail of the frame. This guide explains how aluminium door seals and thresholds work on each Coetz™ door type, which doors are weatherproof and which need cover, and how to look after the seals.
In this guide
What seals a door
- Gaskets hold the glass in the frame and seal around it.
- Brush strips and woolpile seal moving joints, where a sliding or folding panel passes the frame.
- The threshold, or cill, is the bottom of the frame; its shape decides how water is kept out at floor level.
- The perimeter sealant seals the frame to the wall, applied by the installer.
Thresholds by door type
Aluminium door seals and thresholds differ by door type:
| Door | Threshold or cill | Weather |
|---|---|---|
| Sliding (StormSeal) | Choice of low or high threshold | High threshold for exposed doors |
| Folding (Vista Duo, Vistafold) | Standard cill or track options, or a low profile cill | Low profile cill is not weatherproof |
| Hinged | Weather cill, or no cill with a standard 7 mm clearance | No-cill version is not weatherproof |
| Pivot and swing | No cill, standard 7 mm clearance | Not weatherproof; fit under cover |
| Stable | Double woolpile outer frame | Seals the split leaves |
These details come from the manufacturer’s specifications. The threshold is chosen at order stage, so decide before you order.
Which aluminium doors are weatherproof?
A door facing driven rain with little overhang needs a weather-sealing threshold. Choose a StormSeal sliding door with a high threshold, or a hinged door with a weather cill, and open out rather than in. The manufacturer does not recommend open-in doors for weather-facing positions. Pivot and swing doors, Y-Louvre doors and folding doors on a low profile cill should be fitted under a roof or covered entrance. See aluminium patio doors and aluminium back doors.
Low threshold or high threshold?
A low threshold gives an easier step-through, which suits wheelchair users, prams and indoor-outdoor living under a covered patio. A high threshold stops water better on a door that faces the weather. The two pull in opposite directions, so the position of the door decides it.
Signs aluminium door seals need attention
- A draught or whistle around a closed door.
- Dust lines on the floor inside the door.
- Water on the inside of the threshold after rain.
- Brush strips that look flat, frayed or missing.
- Gaskets that have shrunk away from the glass corners.
Caring for door seals
A little care keeps aluminium door seals working for years:
- Vacuum the track and threshold so grit does not wear the brush strips.
- Clear the drainage slots in the frame, so water escapes instead of building up.
- Wipe gaskets with mild soapy water; never use solvents, which harden rubber.
- Check the perimeter sealant every few years and renew it where it has cracked.
- Check the door closes square. A door that has dropped will not seal, however good the seals.
If water is coming in, see aluminium windows leaking, which applies to doors too.
Replacing seals
Aluminium door seals are service parts and wear before the frame does. Brush strips and gaskets can be replaced without replacing the door. Hardware and seals carry a 2-year warranty, and frames, glass and powder coat 5 years. For a replacement, send us photos of the door, the seal and its position.
Draughts and dust on the Highveld
Dry winter winds carry fine dust that finds every gap. On the Highveld, aluminium door seals do most of their work keeping dust out rather than rain. Vacuum tracks more often in winter, keep brush strips clean so they stand upright, and make sure sliding panels close fully against their interlocks.
Ordering
Coetz™ supplies aluminium doors only; your builder or installer fits them and applies the perimeter seal. We deliver across South Africa, or you can collect free from Laser Park. Glazed doors must meet SANS 10400-N, published by the South African Bureau of Standards. See also aluminium door installation and aluminium sliding door rollers.
Aluminium door seals: frequently asked questions
Which aluminium doors are weatherproof?
Doors with a weather-sealing threshold, such as a StormSeal sliding door with a high threshold or a hinged door with a weather cill, opening out.
Are pivot doors weatherproof?
No. Pivot and swing doors have no cill and a 7 mm clearance, so fit them under cover.
Should a weather-facing door open in or out?
Out. The manufacturer does not recommend open-in doors in weather-facing positions.
Can door seals be replaced?
Yes. Brush strips and gaskets are service parts and can be replaced without replacing the door.
What warranty covers seals?
Hardware and seals carry a 2-year warranty.
Coetz™, Unit 2, 84 Ridge Road, Laser Park, Johannesburg. Call 010 412 0062, WhatsApp 076 613 4418 or use our contact page.
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