How To Replace A Doorknob

Doorknobs may not be on the cutting edge of decoration, but they certainly contribute to the look of your home. Update shabby doors and closets by replacing your old doorknobs.

Acrylic Door Inserts Let Light Into Your Home

Transparent acrylic door inserts let light into your home while maintaining privacy.

How To Hang A Door

VideoJug: How To Hang A Door
In this video, watch an expert hangs a new door onto a new frame.

Fix a Sagging Screen Door

Sagging screen doors are a common annoyance. Don shows you some simple solutions.

How to Fix a Poor Seal on the Bottom of a Door

In this video, learn how to use the adjustment screws to improve the fit on door sills.

How to Remove Hinges

In this video, learn how to remove the hinges from a door.

Tips and Tactics to Finding the Right Exterior Door

“You never get a second chance to make a first impression.” Believe it or not, this sound advice – attributed to American humorist Will Rogers – also applies to your home and the exterior door that welcomes visitors.

A beautiful entryway can make a memorable first impression; it is after all one of the first things people see. It is also essential in boosting the curb appeal of a home when it’s for sale, and can help add value through heating and cooling efficiencies. But when it comes to exterior doors, how do you know which one is the best for your home?

“Not all entry door products are created equal,” says Shirley Wang, CEO of Plastpro, Inc., a producer of fiberglass door products. “Because some are more durable, attractive or insulate better, homeowners need to familiarize themselves with what’s available and choose what best suits their needs.”

More than ever before the perfect door is one that combines optimal insulation, easy maintenance, and great design. Take a closer look at your front door. Does it represent your personal taste, is it low-maintenance, and does it maximize your home’s energy efficiency? If not, it might be time for a change.

Technological advances and evolving designs mean there are more types of exterior doors available than ever before. Here are some tips for finding a door that is right for your home:

Material
Wood doors represent about 30 percent of the total market, according to industry insiders. Metal doors are very durable, but often are less visually pleasing. Fiberglass doors are an alternative option that combines the best of both worlds by offering a look similar to wood and the strength of steel, but with less overall maintenance.

Wood doors have long been favored in older homes for their aesthetic appeal. However, wood is porous and can allow cold to seep into the home. Wood doors also tend to warp, rot, chip, and splinter, and need to be replaced more frequently.

While metal doors are a durable alternative, they tend to hold in the cold. Additionally, they can ding and dent easily, causing the door's exterior paint to chip off, leaving the unattractive metal core exposed.

Fiberglass doors have become a popular alternative to steel and wood because of their aesthetic appeal and easy maintenance. Indeed, new technologies and manufacturing techniques allow fiberglass doors to simulate the warmth and texture of real wood but without its inherent problems such as cracking and warping. They also have many of the same durable qualities as metal, yet are more resistant to damage. Finally, fiberglass doors provide excellent insulation, and expand or contract very little with weather changes.

Glass
Whether you want to protect against solar heat gain, prevent heat loss, or simply create a more decorative effect with your door, there’s a type of glass available to suit every situation. Insulating, tinted, noise-deadening, tempered, distortion-free, impact-resistant, opaque, and translucent glass are just some of the possibilities.

Companies like Plastpro are also manufacturing entry doors with built-in mini-blinds. Sealed between tempered glass, the pre-installed mini-blinds can be tilted as well as raised completely up and down to provide as much or as little light and privacy as desired.

Color and Style
In addition to realistic graining that makes them difficult to distinguish from wood once they’re stained, fiberglass doors also come in a wide range of styles and wood textures including smooth skin, oak, mahogany, or fir grain.

While door styles often vary by region, a basic four or six panel design is generally the most popular style in both Smooth Skin and Woodgrain. Regionally, a Rustic design is very popular in the Southwest and California, while a Craftsman style door is preferred in the Northwest. Plastpro has also developed a True White Oak door which features a completely white skin that hides scrapes and scratches – that are often visible on wood and metal doors – with a color guarantee of 10 years.

Frames
While doors are often blamed for air leakage and related energy losses, it’s often door frames that are in poor condition (or just very old) that are the culprit.

“When replacing an exterior door, homeowners should also consider replacing their frames,” says Shirley Wang. She adds that while door frames are often made with the same materials as the door itself (i.e. wood or metal), companies like Plastpro now manufacture frames made of a fully composite “poly fiber” material that resist moisture, rot, rust and insects. “These frames are more durable, require minimal maintenance and are less expensive than other frames over the lifetime of your home,” said Wang.

No matter what door you choose, remember that it is an important representation of your home . When making an impression, the first one matters most.

For more information on doors, visit www.plastproinc.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Tips To Make Your Home More Energy Efficient

Homeowners everywhere are giving inefficient windows and doors the cold shoulder this year.

According to a recent study commissioned by JELD-WEN, a leading manufacturer of windows and doors, nearly 26 percent of homeowners say what they dislike most about their existing windows and doors is that they are drafty and inefficient. As the temperature outside drops, homeowners notice that these inefficiencies quickly turn into rising utility bills.

As much as half of the energy used in a home goes toward heating and cooling, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. To minimize the energy and dollars spent to heat a home this winter, it’s essential that windows and doors are energy efficient.

“Energy efficient windows and doors are crucial to maintaining a home’s comfort during even the coldest months,” says Brian Hedlund, product marketing manager for JELD-WEN. “Homeowners who replace single-pane glass windows with ENERGY STAR qualified products can save $125 to $450 on energy costs annually, according to ENERGY STAR.”

To maximize a home’s energy efficiency, consider the following tips:

1. Start at the front.

A home’s front door can play a vital role as one of the first lines of defense against the elements. If a door does not close properly or lets in a draft, a homeowner’s utility bills can pay the price. Homeowners should check the weather-stripping and any gaps around the door that can let heat escape. If these features cannot be easily fixed, it may be time to replace the door.


2. Glass matters.

Choosing windows with insulated Low-E glass is an important step in making a room more energy efficient because the special coating helps reflect some of the interior heat back into the home. These double-paned windows also greatly enhance energy efficiency, compared to single-paned windows.

Vinyl windows have become exceedingly popular because of their low maintenance and energy efficient features. For homeowners who prefer wood windows, manufacturers like JELD-WEN have introduced “pocket” replacement windows that come with Low-E glass and are designed for installation into existing window frames, which makes the process simpler, quicker and less damaging to a home’s structure.


3. Drive home efficiency.

The garage is often forgotten when it comes to energy efficiency, but it’s one of the largest entry points of the home. The temperature of a garage greatly affects the overall temperature of the entire home. For energy savings in the garage, find a proper-fitting garage door and make sure that the door leading from the garage to the inside of the home is also energy efficient.


4. Energy efficiency pays off.

Beyond the initial purchase price of a product, consider the long-term value that energy efficient products offer in terms of annual measurable savings. Homeowners who make energy efficient updates to their home, including windows and doors, can qualify for up to $500 in federal tax credits if installed by Dec. 31, 2007.

Specifically, the tax credit for replacing exterior windows is 10 percent the product cost, up to $200. The credit for exterior doors is 10 percent of the product cost, up to $500. The maximum amount of homeowner credit for all improvements is $500.

For more information about energy efficient windows and doors, visit www.jeld-wen.com or call (800) 877-9482.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

How to Fix a Sticking Door

Bob Schmidt shows you the most common repair for a stuck door that is binding because of a hinge problem in your home.

Exterior Door Removal

Removing exterior doors aren't as hard as you might think. Tim Carter of AsktheBuilder.com takes you step-by-step through the process of taking out an exterior door. His tips will help you get the job done quicker and easier, while minimizing possible mistakes so you can install a new exterior door with minimal difficulty.