The weather in the UK at the moment (November 2010) and for the last few days has been quite simply horrendous with snow piled up and transport in chaos.
I spent a not so wonderful day yesterday travelling by train from Cambridge to Edinburgh, arriving about an hour and a half late in to my beautiful city.
After arriving late I was aware of huge queues at the taxi rank in Waverley Train Station, the buses were in short supply or non-existent which is unusual as Lothian Buses which runs our buses in Edinburgh are normally first class but the amount of snow put paid to them, there was no option, I had to start walking with a suitcase either in one hand (or being dragged through the snow and slush) and a backpack with books and laptop in the other.
I managed to get home (eventually) and then had to dig the driveway clear of snow, a bit pointless as I had to do it again this morning.
I was genuinely glad I had both wooden doors (front and rear) fitted with good quality weather bars and draught strips, the weather bar is the aluminium trim which is fixed by screws drilled in to the door step and a corresponding "drip" fitted to the bottom edge of the door, these weather bars are available in various styles and normally in aluminium or gold colour aluminium. You will need an electric drill with masonry drill bit, rawl plugs, some mastic to seal the bottom section of weather bar to the step, Philips type star screwdriver and a hacksaw.
The weather strips are made in the same materials/colours and are fitted to the two long edges of the door frame and also at the lintol (the top) of the door, the have a soft neoprene gasket which compresses tight to the door when the door is closed, don't be fooled in to buying the type of weather strip that has a larger black rubber seal, although it is larger it does not seal anything like as well as the one I have linked to above.
You will need a hammer (if the strip is fitted with pins) a Philips type star screw driver and a hacksaw, always fit the lintol section first, then fit the legs up to the lintol, it is always best to crimp/squash the ends of the weather strip legs to prevent the neoprene gasket slipping down under gravity.
Arthurs Seat in Edinburgh is the Mountain in the Distance which is actually an extinct volcano.
I have included some images of Edinburgh and my own doors at home, enjoy them.
Any questions, email info@directdoors.com
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