Door Maintenance

	Quick Tips & Easy How-to’s... to get you into the swing of door maintenance.

Loose Hinges ~
     • As mentioned in our April 4th article, the same tips for repairing a loose hinge on a door apply to the doorjamb side of the hinge as well. That’s right. Simply follow the same procedures for repairing loose hinges whether they are attached to the door or its jamb!

Kitchen Cabinet Doors ~
     • Your kitchen cabinet doors are used over and over, every day. To avoid excessive wear to the hinges, it is important to rotate them at least once a year. Take hinges from a less frequently used door and swap them with the set from a door that is used more often.
     • For a quick kitchen makeover, check out the new style of hinges and handles that are coming on the market on a regular basis, replacing these 2 items can be a great, inexpensive way to dress up your kitchen.
     • One other note: never place damp dish cloths over the tops of the base cabinet doors for drying, not only will this warp the door it can also cause rusting of your hinges.

Bulkhead Doors ~
     • Every spring and fall apply a light coat of lubricating oil to the hinge area of your metal bulkhead doors.
     • To keep your doors from rusting, keep the doors freshly painted with paint designed for use on metal.
     • If rust has developed on the door, do the following; thoroughly sand, apply a primer that is made specifically for metal, let dry thoroughly and then apply paint that is recommended for metal application.

Storm Doors ~
     • Storm doors serve many purposes for a home, including added security, increased energy efficiency and aesthetic beauty.
     • There are many styles of storm doors on the market, so before making your decision; here are some things to consider: Full glass storm doors allow a beautiful view of your entry door, and in the warmer months will allow you to have a full screen to allow fresh air inside your home.
     • If you have pets, a storm door with a screen only at the top may be a better option as pets will be less likely to damage the screens.

Dead Bolt Locks ~
     • For the protection of you and your family, all entry doors in your home should be equipped with a dead bolt lock.
     • Dead bolts should also be used as an extra security measure to keep young children out of more dangerous parts of the home, like basements and garages where hazardous materials or tools may be stored.

How to Install:
     • Most dead bolt locks will come with a template that can be taped to the door so you can properly mark the center of the latch bolt in the cylinder holes.
     • After marking the holes, remove the template.
     • Using a hole saw, begin to bore the cylinder hole in the door, when the pilot begins to show through the other side of the door, remove the drill and move to the other side of the door and complete the hole from that side. This will create a cleaner cut.
     • Use a spade bit to create the bolt hole in the end of the door.
     • Insert the latch bolt and mark around the outside of the plate with a pencil.
     • Using a chisel and a hammer, remove just enough wood to allow the latch plate to fit flush with the edge of the door. Keep the beveled side of the chisel toward the mortised area, you may need to use a smaller chisel to get the rounded corners completed.
     • Once the face plate fits securely, drill the pilot holes and secure the bolt to the door with screws.
     • Dry fit the cylinder and thumb plate to be sure they fit together, and then start the assembly by fitting the pieces on the exterior of the door. Checking to make sure any writing is facing upright will help you to be sure you have positioned the piece correctly. Then set the interior piece in place, align the screw holes with the mounting holes and secure the unit in place with screws.
     • Using a dab of paint, mark the end of the bolt, then close the door and turn the handle several times to mark the doorframe. Using a spade bit, drill the hole into the doorframe at the marked area. Going back to your chisel and hammer, mortise the area around the hole to allow the striker plate to fit flush with the doorframe. Drill pilot holes and secure the striker plate with screws.


Weather-stripping ~
     • Weather-stripping is perhaps one of the most do-it-yourself friendly home improvement projects there is; and one that can save you money by effectively reducing your energy consumption.

There are many types of weather-stripping available:
     • Sponge or Foam – very inexpensive, not very durable and shouldn’t be used in applications where there is friction or abrasion. May need to be replaced every year or two.
     • Felt – also inexpensive, and not too durable. Should not be used where it could be exposed to weather or moisture, and as it tears easily you must use great care when installing it and avoid it’s use where there may be friction or abrasion. All wool felt is more durable and costs slightly more. Felts will need to be replaced in a year or two.
     • Tubular rubber and vinyl gaskets – When the door presses against this type of gasket, it forms a tight seal. This product will generally last up to 5 years.


How to Install:
     • Most foams and sponge rubber style weather-stripping are adhesive backed and just need to be cut to length and stuck in place.
     • Felts strips will need to be cut to length and installed by securing with a small brad or staples.
     • Tubes and vinyl gaskets are generally held in place with a small nail or staples.

Door Stops ~
     • Door stops were developed for the sole purpose of protecting the walls by preventing damage done by doors that repeatedly hit the same place.
     • Spending a few minutes to install door stops in your home could save you hours (not to mention lots of dollars) in costly wall repair.

     • Types of Door Stops and Installation:
     • Solid Base & Flexible Spring Base: Comes in different lengths and is usually sold in a brass finish with a rubber tip. This style can be mounted on the door or on the wall – simply screw into place. Caution: the rubber tips can be removed and may not be the best choice for homes with small children as it can pose a choke hazard.

     • Solid One Piece: This piece is considered a safety door stop, sold in white with no removable rubber tip. This one piece unit just screws into place.

     • Hinge Pin: This style works well when there is no option to screw into the door or woodwork, generally a brass finish, this style is installed by simply removing the hinge pin in your door and inserting, finish the install by replacing the hinge pin and adjusting the settings for the appropriate door swing. Caution: This style should not be used with hollow-core doors as it can easily puncture the door.

     • Floor mounted: This brass unit has a fitted rubber tip to protect the door and comes in many styles. This style works well for entry doors and is installed by mounting directly to the floor behind the door.

     • Circular: Installed at door knob height on the wall behind the door, this style has a round metal base with a rubber ring that cushions the blow of the door knob.