DIY Home Improvement Guide

Vintage Door Knobs

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 is talk to the ladies that work there to see if they have any leads that can help me out.  Nine times out of ten they can point me to an estate sale or a salvage sale that will have exactly what I’m looking for.  Not only do I get what I need, I get it cheap.  Double win!

On the odd chance I can’t find vintage door knobs that way I’ll cruise to my local salvage yard to see what they have.  It’s a dirty and difficult job to look through all the crap that they have, but if you do find what a vintage knob you can get it for nearly free.

If all else fails, I’ll turn to the internet.  eBay has tons of vintage door knobs from all periods, and there are stores set up that do the hunting for you.  You’re going to pay much more this way, but if that’s what it takes to get the perfect vintage door knob, that’s what it takes!

Porcelain Door Knobs

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 harder.  There are more companies making these right now than there have been in the last 50 years, but the only real benefit of that is lower prices and different color bases for the door knobs.  I recommend starting your search online for porcelain door knobs, and if you can’t find what you want there look to the specialty interior design stores in your area.

Another option is antique porcelain door knobs.  There are plenty of these door knobs around, but expect to have a hard time finding more than a few of the same style knob.  If you plan on redoing all of the door knobs in your house you may be better off finding new ones that all match.

Butt Hinges

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 installation and have the tools necessary.  They are absolutely overkill for just about every home use you can imagine, but would be the perfect look for an industrial themed home.  They come in bronze, brass, black, and a slew of other colors.

When looking for these hinges the best places to start are the hardware store or online.  If you’re looking at the hardware store they probably won’t be with the rest of the hinges and door accessories, they will probably be with the construction materials.  You can find most butt hinge styles online, but the shipping is going to be quite high due to their massive size and weight.

Most butt hinges are untreated steel, which means that they’re going to rust very easily.  If you’re using these in your home I recommend finding some that are painted or are made from something that won’t rust.

Shutter Hinges

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 that will last longer than you and your home.  These hinges are more expensive than your hardware store variety, but that price will also cover you never having to worry about them.

Interior shutters hinges are grounded in decoration.  I recommend spending a good amount of time finding the ones that will best suit your home.  It’s very important that you find ones that will make your room look better and do their job properly, especially with wooden shutters.  Most interior shutter hinges are directional, so you will have to buy a right and left hinge for each window.

Installation is different for each set of shutter hinges.  Some will require being flush mounted into the wall or window sill, others are simply drilled right in.  Consider the amount of work that installation will take when purchasing your shutter hinges.  If you’re a DIY homeowner the difficulty of installation will make or break this project.

Garage Door Weather Stripping

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 way into your home!

The secondary benefit of this minor garage door repair is that it helps to keep hot and cold air out of your garage.  You might not think that your garage will affect the temperature of the inside of your home, but when left unprotected it’s one more exposed entry way that leaks air in and out all the time.

Garage door weather stripping usually comes in ten and thirty foot measurements, and you can use the ten foot size to cover any odd measurements you may have.  When it’s time to install garage door weather stripping it’s as easy as laying out your materials and nailing it in to the bottom of the garage door.  Most kits will come with everything you need, but if they don’t be sure to have a hammer and some roofing nails on hand.

Be sure that you don’t cut the stripping that’s hanging off until you’re finished.  You may want to adjust it before you’re done and that can be difficult if you’re missing a few inches off of one side!!