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How Doors Can Change Your Interior

Article by NYCZ

Like most homeowners, you’ve probably given serious consideration to renovating your home. That’s not to say your home isn’t already beautiful. It’s very common for people to simply have an itch to change up the look of their house from time to time. Chances are you know what we’re talking about.

However, if you’re like most people, you’re also not considering all your options when it comes to modifying the look of your home. This is understandable, of course. These days, you have more possibilities than ever before. Most people focus on their kitchen or bathrooms. They might paint the walls too.

But you should really be thinking about your doors. You read that right. Every home needs doors. So why not search through all the exterior and interior door styles currently available and look for one that perfectly matches the look you’re going for.

Whether you’re thinking about prehung interior French doors or something more modern, it has never been easier to get a custom choice that will set your home apart in a big way.

Furthermore, affordability is now a given. You can get the most regal look possible and not have to worry about what it will do to your budget. Of course, your friends and neighbors never have to know how much you spent.

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Professional Installation or Do It Yourself?

Article by Healthy Landscapes

Professional installers can charge several hundred dollars to put a door front door up in your home. For some people who aren’t handy with tools, it’s a small price to pay for the knowledge that the door will be installed correctly the first time. But for DIY homeowners, installing their own doors is a task that they relish taking on. Whether it’s the right choice for you will depend on a few items:

• Do you have the right tools for the job? Some of the basic tools you’ll need are likely tools that any homeowner will have, like a hammer, screwdriver and tape measure. But not everyone has other tools like a reciprocating saw or wood shims handy that might be needed to finish the job.
• Think about the type of door that you have. If it’s a basic interior door that’s made out of wood, it will likely be very easy to install and only require a minimal amount of time and skill. However, exterior doors that are very ornate, heavy or custom built will likely require more work and time.
• What are the true costs of the job? Having to buy specialized equipment that you won’t use again can quickly add up to as more — or even more — than the cost of hiring a professional installer. Your time is also valuable, so make sure you keep that in mind when you consider the costs of doing it yourself.

At the end of the day, the decision to install your new door yourself or to hire a professional is a personal preference. If you are the type of person who enjoys a challenge and loves the feeling of pride you get when completing a DIY home improvement project, putting in your own door is a perfect project.

 

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Three Climate Considerations When Selecting A Door

Article submitted by: Home Furniture Trends

1. You Live in a Desert. Hot days, cold nights. Lots of direct sunlight. These conditions can create mayhem for wooden doors.  If you insist upon using natural wood (which is entirely understandable), be sure to remember the following things:  (a) seal and finish your door, and restain annually.  It seems excessive, but the natural wood of your door is in a perpetual state of expansion and contraction when you live in a desert climate.  To ensure your door keeps its shape, the seal and finish are integral.  If you’re open to other options, you can look towards fiberglass doors as a beautiful alternative.  Many manufacturers are creating improved versions of the wood grain that will nearly mimic the look and feel of natural wood.  For the most part, you will also be able to stain or paint the door to your liking, making it even easier to create the entryway of your dreams.
2. You live in the PNW (Pacific Northwest).  Ahh, the Pacific Northwest, land of the trees.  And we know why they grow so well, many of the major cities are in technical rainforest conditions.  And if it isn’t rainy, it is often moist enough to feel like it could start raining at any moment.  For exterior doors in cities like Seattle and Portland, coverage is probably the first consideration.  Your awning or roof should cover the door, so as to prevent direct rainfall from the door’s surface.  Like your desert friends above, you’ll be all the better for re-staining or sealing your natural wood door each year.  Since the temperatures remain moderate for most of the year, an aluminum door is a great way to keep up with your cities modern eclectic vibe, without sacrificing an insulation factor.
3. You in the Midwest or East Coast (northern).  You have all four seasons, you lucky people you! But on the other hand, this means your home has to be prepared for four distinct climates, often changing at the drop of a hand.  Not to fear, your homes do well with all types of doors, but the rules as discussed in the other two climates will apply, just in less drastic measure.  For example, you should keep your wood door under a covering, reseal each year, and also consider a fiberglass door if you’re concerned about the ongoing maintenance of a wood door.  Aluminum or steel doors are also incredibly functional in your world, but since your winters are proper snowy ones, make sure your metal doors are manufactured with a thermal break to keep the cold (or heat) outside of your home.

 

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Common Mistakes People Make To Improve Energy Efficiency

Summers can be hot and winters can be cold. We cannot control the weather outside, but indoors, we can maintain a constant temperature. Your A/C or furnace unit, while extremely handy, can take a big chunk out of your pocket if left on. In an attempt to save money and energy, here are some common misconceptions that people still make today.

Closing Your Bedroom Doors

By closing your bedroom doors, you can limit the amount of air movement required to heat or cool down a room. This makes sense at first, but when you break it down air will remain trapped and continue to build up pressure. This will force the air to escape and attract more air to replace the amount lost. Expect to see a 200% increase in air drawn and a definite increase in your utility bills.

Will Closing My Heat Vents Save Energy?

The answer is no. One common misconception is that closing your heat vents will reduce your usage of energy. This is actually the opposite and can potentially harm your furnace. When you close your heat vents, pressure is built up and forced into spaces where you don’t even need it at. You’re still paying for your energy, but it’s drawn to places that you can’t use.

Thick Walls Do Not Mean Better Efficiency

Many people believe that their wall thickness determines their efficiency. It does not. The construction of your wall is important because the amount of heat being released outside is dependent on the properties of your wall.

People continue to apply these methods to their homes every day. Not only will this reduce your energy efficiency but many people are so adamant that their theory works. It’s no wonder homeowners are baffled when they see their utility bill.

 

 

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Tips to Secure the Doors in Your Home

Intruders usually enter through doors and windows of the home. Since burglars tend to identify unsecured homes for break-ins, it’s important to reinforce and secure these entry ways. Doors should also be secured against extreme weather, such as hurricanes or tornadoes. A bit of planning and these tips can help you prevent unauthorized break-ins and protect your home from catastrophic weather events.

Cost-effective lighting at entrances

Lights at the entry door, garage(s), or side/back doors are important. Make sure you’ve installed bright lights at these entrances. Install motion sensor lights if you’re concerned about remembering to turn the lights on at dusk. These lights are stimulated when an individual walks past them. Solar powered lighting is another cost-effective strategy for securing these entrances.

Peepholes and deadbolts

Small changes, such as peepholes at front or frequently used side and back doors, can add security to your entrance points. Deadbolts are also a low-cost and effective strategy for protecting the home from the inside out.

Secure sliding glass doors and adjacent windows

Sliding doors with glass are beautiful, but easily broken by intruders seeking access to the home. Install horizontally fitted bar locks on these doors, and make sure to add window locks adjacent to the door. Don’t install bars with keys because, in an emergency, these might not be handy.

Extreme weather

Keep doors closed and locked at all times, and close windows, shades, blinds, and curtains when you’re away from home. Make sure that all inner and outer doors are locked. If you live in an area where storms frequently occur, storm shutters should be available for use prior to the arrival of a hurricane or other extreme storm. Alternatively, use wooden boards and nails to keep windows protected and sealed shut before the storm hits.

 

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How to Remove an Existing Door

Purchasing a new front door for your home is one of the most exciting ways that you can transform the look of your house. It’s an attention grabbing item that has massive curb appeal and will make people notice the fresh look of your home from the street. With pre-hung doors becoming affordable, it’s never been cheaper or easier to put a new door into a house.

But before you install a new front door on your home, you need to take out your old door. It’s a process that can be relatively quick and easy. However, if you don’t do it correctly, you can damage parts such as the interior moldings that you will need for your new door. In order to do the job right, here are four steps to take to remove most doors:

Step #1: Taking the actual old door out of the door frame is fairly simply. All you need to do is tap the hinge pins loose by using a hammer and a set of nails. Once they are loose, just open the door and lift the door off. Most doors are heavier than you expect, so have someone available to help.

Step #2: Next you’ll need to take the old trim off of the frame. You can do this by using a pry bar to pull the trim off of the frame. Placing a putty knife between the pry bar and the wall will protect it from getting scraped.

Step #3: After this, you have to remove the exterior trim. This is done by cutting the caulk away from between the exterior trim and the siding and prying the trim away from the door jamb.

Step #4: You’ll then need to remove the jambs. You can cut through the side jambs by using a tool like a hand saw and then pulling them out.

 

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Three Key Features of Home Access Controls

Having a home access control system makes sense if you are concerned that a simple door doesn’t provide you and your family with enough protection from intruders. Your front door is your first line of defense and a home access system is an ideal way to fortify your security system. Plenty of systems offer enhanced support, but there are certain features that add significant value to any home access control system:

Combination Entry Systems: Key, numerical combinations and card readers are just three of ways that a system can control access to your home. But what happens if someone gets a copy of your key, password or card? You can increase your security by combining entry methods. For example, you can purchase a deadbolt that requires a password entered into a keypad along with a key to open.

Video Systems: Heading to the front door to peer into a peephole to see who is knocking on your door isn’t safe. It’s hard to see who a person is, and walking to the door alerts the person on the other side that you are home. You can eliminate this problem by installing a video surveillance camera that is hooked up to your front door. When someone rings the bell, the video camera is turned on and you can view it from different points in your home.

Intercom Systems: Installing an intercom as part of your front door system allows you to talk to people at your door without leaving your home. Many video systems also have the ability to act as an intercom, although standalone intercoms are also available.

 

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Points of Comparison Between Front Doors

Choosing the right front door for your home can seem difficult at first glance. After all, there are plenty of different types of materials and construction details to consider as you review different doors. It’s important to know what to look for before you start looking for new or replacement entry doors. Here is a review of some of the most important points of comparison between different doors:

Energy Efficiency: Much like windows, HVAC units and water heaters, doors are a part of the home that can be energy efficient. Partially this is done by making sure that they are properly weather stripped to keep heat from being lost, but the construction of the door can also play a major factor in its energy efficiency. The most energy efficient doors are made of steel or fiberglass because they have a foam core at their interiors that help with retaining heat.

Security: The most important thing that a front door does is to keep people who you don’t want outside of your home. You’ll want to look for front doors that have added security features. This can include having a deadbolt lock or a door chain. Metal doors offer the most protection but you can increase the level of security of wooden doors by adding and exterior metal screen door.

Durability: You want to make sure that your front door will last for years. Steel doors are resistant to problems such as cracking and warping that are prevalent with wooden doors. You can extend the life of wood doors by selecting ones with higher-quality finishes and performing routine maintenance.

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FIVE COLORS TO PAINT YOUR FRONT DOOR

1. SHINY BLACK: Black can enhance most any exterior home design, but will do best with homes that have a more modern design, which would include a craftsman style, mid-century modern, and contemporary homes. Black can look dirty quickly, so pick a paint that makes cleaning easy. If your home’s exterior is already a darker shade,you may wish to reconsider shiny black; the rest of the colors listed below are great options no matter your home’s color palette.

2. BRIGHT RED: Make your door standout with a shiny apple red. Red works best on earthy tones, and is absolutely perfect for brick homes and brownstones in the city, but can work just as well for suburban homes and subdivisions. Ask your local home improvement company for a few samples of red for a front door and be sure to include a primer if you’re painting over a darker color to make sure the red stays red.

3. EMERALD GREEN: A color that makes the rain beautiful! Select an emerald green for your entryway if you want to add a little bit of color, but you’re not quite ready to commit to a red or orange as we have mentioned in this Article. Emerald looks best as a semi-gloss, but if done with the right color palette could be used in a matte finish for an ultra-modern take on the cabin-in-the-forest feel.

4. ORANGE: Okay, it sounds a bit extreme, but a pleasant citrus orange can brighten your day and your door step. Tropical colors are popular in cities like Miami, Rio, and LA, but the color is just as appropriate for Minneapolis as it is for Honolulu. In fact, in the cold winter months in Minnesota, an orange door will remind passersby of the coming spring.

5. NAVY BLUE: Not quite blue, not quite black, this nautical color scheme is perfect for a beach home, or for a home whose inhabitants love boats and beaches. A navy front door looks practical (not quite as extreme as orange), but is easily identifiable as a purposeful design choice, rather than the default white or wood stain color often found in homes across the street.