Monthly Archives: October 2009
Replacing screen door handles is one of the easiest DIY home improvement projects that we can do. The hard part is either tracking down the same one that you already have or choosing the best looking new one. If you’re looking for replacement screen door handles the best way to find the exact one that you need is to start by looking at the door’s manufacturer. Most screen door companies have a website where you should be able to contact … Continue reading
Patio screen doors are the ultimate summer accessory. They have their uses all year, but the summer is the time that you get to really enjoy it. Each house will have their own particular uses for a patio screen door, but it boils down to being able to leave the sliding glass door open while letting fresh air to come in from outside. There are patio screen doors for pets, retractable ones, or just the simple screen that will keep … Continue reading
Pile weather stripping is an old-school way to keep the elements out of your home. It’s usually used on windows, but also functions great with sweeping and sliding applications. I’ve seen this type of weather stripping on storm door and windows more than other uses since it has some give for when the wind is beating against the window to help keep it from shattering. It’s usually made from a bristle type material, or sometimes wool, that will stop wind … Continue reading
Magnetic weather stripping is a really cool invention that makes weatherizing your doors extremely easy. With as much focus as there has been on protecting the planet and saving money with home improvement, taking steps to weatherize your home or office is one of the easiest things you can do to help out. This is especially true in the workplace where there are people constantly going in and out and operating HVAC most of the day. A simple magnetic weather … Continue reading
Nowadays old equals cool, and this is certainly the case for vintage door knobs. I love going on the hunt for vintage door knobs. There are tons of places you can find them, but I’ll share my secrets with you in this article. When I’m looking for vintage hinges or door knobs or anything old, for that matter, I’ll start at my local antique stores. I honestly don’t have much luck finding them at these stores, but what I do … Continue reading
In all my time on the DIY home improvement scene I’ve noticed that interior door knobs always seem to go unnoticed during decoration and remodeling. Why? I have no clue, but they are one of the easiest and most inexpensive things that you can do to improve the look, feel, and value of your home. Replacing interior door knobs only takes a few minutes, and an average sized house can be completed in about the time it takes to drive … Continue reading
Chrome door knobs are the perfect addition to your home when you want to stop looking like everyone else on your street. I don’t have the facts to back this up, but I would estimate that at least 90% of homes have brass or gold door knobs. That means that almost everyone on your street has the same thing! Break the mold a little bit, take a walk on the wild side, and switch to chrome! These door knobs are … Continue reading
Brass door knobs are what goes onto your home when you want the classic look without standing out too much. I have them on my house, and so do most of my neighbors! The good thing about a brass door knob is that it will last longer than you and your house will. There are also thousands of different designs to choose from. Most door knobs are made from brass, even the ones that have a silver or chrome finish. … Continue reading
Ceramic door knobs are true elegance in the home. They are very much like their porcelain counterparts, but can be created in an infinite number of designs. Ceramic molds allow these knobs to be made in every shape imaginable. This high level of customizability may make it difficult to choose what you want, but the trickiest part is finding someone to make them for you. There aren’t many custom ceramic door knob makers around, but if you find one the … Continue reading
Oil rubbed bronze door knobs add a touch of class to your home without being flashy or over the top. Their dark color adds great contrast to a front door or any other white/light colored door in your home. We’ve all become so accustomed to seeing the brass/chrome door knobs that we perceive something different as high quality. One really cool thing about oil rubbed door knobs is that they come in just about every style that a traditional door … Continue reading
Porcelain door knobs are the perfect classic American look for any home. I, personally, love these door knob in bathrooms. It’s really the perfect fit, and even better when paired with small tiles on the bathroom counter or floor. They don’t only have to be used in the bathroom, they also work very well in every other room of the house. As if finding porcelain door knobs wasn’t already tricky, finding them in a color other than white is even … Continue reading
Western door knobs are the perfect final accessory to any country themed home. These door knobs can make your guests feel like they’re walking into a comfortable home when entering your front door. Western door knobs can vary from a sheriff’s star to a horse them to your family’s brand in cast iron. These door knobs are pretty hard to track down. There are a few retailers online, but for the most part you’re going to have to find someone … Continue reading
If you’re looking for something that will make a dramatic improvement to your home, crystal door knobs are one of the simplest ways to do so. We’ve all become so accustomed to seeing the regular brass or steel door knobs that when we see something like a crystal door knob it has a huge impact on our impressions of a home. Not to mention they are really cool! Crystal door knobs aren’t cheap, but if you look at it like … Continue reading
For a completed look of the exterior of your home, a decorative entry door knob is a must. There are thousands of different ones to choose from, and that number greatly increases when you’re also considering antique entry door knobs. The good news is that they’re easy to find, and aren’t too expensive or difficult to install. How do you choose which entry door knob is right for your house? This really depends on how far you are into designing … Continue reading
Upgrading your cabinet door hinges is one of the easiest DIY home improvement projects. In most cases, it’s just a matter of unscrewing the old ones and installing the new. It really doesn’t get much easier than that, and a full kitchen can usually be finished in a single afternoon. Don’t just limit yourself to kitchen cabinet door hinges, you can swap out the ones in your bathrooms, hallway, or entertainment center. For the beginner, I recommend finding hinges that … Continue reading
Brass hinges add a level of elegance to any cabinet or door. The best part about them is that they can replace just about any existing hinge with a simple installation. You can swap out your old, standard hinges with fancy brass hinges in an afternoon and many times all you need is a screwdriver to do so! Whatever hinge you need, there is a brass counterpart, even brass butt hinges! With so many choices you have the opportunity to … Continue reading
Butt hinges are the King Kong of the hinge world. The most common use of a butt hinge is a truck tailgate, but they have tons of other uses. These hinges are almost always welded on, but there are also some that come with holes for bolts or screws. These are primarily for industrial use, and generally not recommended for home use, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t use them. You have to be ready for a heavy duty … Continue reading
If you’re looking to add a touch of class to a simple cabinet or door oil rubbed bronze hinges are the way to go. They add a classy and rustic feeling to every installation and can usually just be swapped out with the current hinge. Bronze is very strong, so these hinges can take years of abuse and wear and tear. Oil rubbed door hinges tend to be a bit thicker than a standard door hinge, so some extra woodworking … Continue reading
Shutter hinges are the perfect accent to any window. They may seem small and unnoticeable, but a shuttered window with plain hinges will stand out like a sore thumb. Taking the time to find the right ones will give your room a completed feel. Exterior shutter hinges have to be high quality, if not they will rust and break in just a few years of weathering. There are many exterior hinges that are handcrafted by blacksmiths on the East Coast … Continue reading
Cupboard hinges are one of the easiest things you can change to improve the look and functionality of a room. In most cases you only have to remove the old hinges and replace them with new ones. This is especially true with visible kitchen cupboard hinges. If you don’t want to go through the work of refinishing or replacing your cupboard doors changing out the hinges is a good way to make an improvement. Cupboard door hinges come in thousands … Continue reading
Concealed cabinet hinges give a very sleek and finished look to any set of cabinets. It doesn’t matter if it’s in the kitchen, bathroom, or garage they look great! My favorite use for a concealed cabinet hinge is on flat and sharp corned cabinet doors. Visible hinges on these types of cabinets just doesn’t look right! Another major benefit of concealed cabinet door hinges is that they’re usually adjustable hinges so you can dial in their position as your house … Continue reading
Installing hinges is a DIY home improvement job that just about everyone can do, as long as they know how to use a drill and have a semi-steady hand with a chisel. I’m also going to assume that you know right from left… There are right handed doors and left handed doors. The easiest way to tell the difference is the side that the hinge is on when the door opens in is its side. If you open a door … Continue reading
Garage door weather stripping is dual function tool that helps protect your home and save you money. The main purpose of this type of weather stripping is to keep the elements out of your garage. Rain and snow can seep under an unprotected wooden garage doors and get all of your good stuff in the garage wet. This is especially problematic if the door into your house is the same level as your garage floor. Water can easily make its … Continue reading