Archive for the ‘doors’ Category
Deadbolt with Key.
Having a quality deadbolt lock on your door can be vital to your home security, so it's best not to put off on any repairs or replacements that are needed. Don't let a thief take advantage of your broken deadbolt before you get a chance to take a crack at repairing it. If you need to replace your deadbolt lock, this article will make a handy guide for getting started.
First, it helps to understand that there are generally two types of deadbolts - internal and external. An interior deadbolt will generally be more secure, but can be a little more difficult to remove or install, while an exterior deadbolt will be the opposite - not quite as secure, but easier to remove. If you're a solid do-it-yourselfer, you should have no problem installing a quality interior deadbolt.
When it's time to replace your deadbolt, you'll want to make sure you prepare adequately. This means you'll want to test the quality of your door's wood - if it's so old that nothing will come out, it's generally a good idea to simply buy a new door. You'll also want to look and see how your current deadbolt is installed for any clues you can get about installing a new one. Also, make sure you do proper research and preparation in terms of your new deadbolt - it should be able to fit properly once you place it in the door.
To begin, simply remove the screws from the old deadbolt and remove it as best you see fit - generally, you'll want to remove the smaller pieces before the bigger ones, though this rule isn't always set in stone. Remember to make a mental note of what you're doing in case you need to work the opposite way when you install the new deadbolt.
When you put in the new deadbolt, do your best to follow any instructions you have. Your new deadbolt should be able to fit if you've done your homework. Make sure you install the right side up - a good way to check this is to make sure any writing isn't upside down - and make sure that the new deadbolt is properly installed and secure in the door. Give it some tests, having someone help you by locking it from the inside and having you try to open it from the outside. After a few tests, you should be good to go. Congratulations! You've installed a new deadbolt.
Photo Credits: The Suss-Man (Mike)
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Posted by Fix Handyman on January 14, 2010 in
Handyman, How to Fix, Locks, doors
Fixing old doors.
With winter rolling around and tough economic times, the name of the game for many people across the northern hemisphere is this: how to save money on heating in your home without investing in a new heater or breaking their back to improve their home. One of the best ways you can fix the problem is by attacking the key areas where your home is losing heat - and one of these areas is simple: your door.
Many doors today already come with weather-stripping that traps in air automatically with every time they're shut. But that's no guarantee your door has the same. Here's a quick guide to setting up weather stripping on your door.
One of the first things to do is consider the material you want to use: weather stripping is seen in rubber, foam, metal, and plastic. Go to a local hardware store and find the appropriate materials - but not without measuring your door fir so that you understand exactly how much weather stripping you'll be needing.
You can attach the stripping to the door as directed at your local hardware store - it's not a bad idea to ask for help if you're stuck here, especially when it comes to all of the different varieties of weather stripping available. Once you are ready to attach the stripping, go ahead and do it, being as thorough as possible and working to make sure everything stays symmetrical and relatively tight.
Once you've attached the weather stripping - and before you move on to the next door - test to see how well you've done. Some people do this by lighting a stick of incense near the door to see if there are any areas that are leaking air. Light the incense and go to the other side of the door - once there, if you see incense floating out, you need further stripping. Make sure you note where the incense is getting through so that you can fix the appropriate location on the door when you come back around.
After you have a handle on your weather-stripping abilities, go ahead and install weather stripping on all of the doors in your home that needs stripping. Now, you're all set! You can enjoy a more thoroughly-insulated home this winter; this means a tighter energy bill and a more peaceful state of mind. One more tip: keep the money you save on energy to invest in more home improvements!
Photo Credits: boboroshi
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Posted by Fix Handyman on December 24, 2009 in
Handyman, How to Fix, doors
Stuck door lock?
Nothing's more frustrating than coming home from a tough day at work only to find that the key you use every day to get into your home isn't working like it should. If it's sticking in the door lock and you know your door knob is the culprit, this article will teach you how to lubricate your door lock to running more smoothly. If you've ever seen the Tin Man's appearance in "The Wizard of Oz," you're already halfway there!
First, understand how to diagnose a sticky lock that simply needs lubrication. A good way to conduct this test is simple: try turning the key in your door's lock even as the door is open. If there's still stickiness, then there's a good chance that you'll need to use the lubrication.
So what kind of lubrication do you use? First, remember that the lubrication you apply into the door lock will likely be staying there. For that reason, you'll want to use something that won't cause problems down the road. Graphite powder will work for you. Why not use a petroleum-based oil? You can, but remember that it could stay in there and collect dust, and even get on your key. If you've used a lubrication of a certain type in your doorknob before, try to use the same one, as you don't want to mix lubricants.
To use the graphite powder, insert the squeeze-tube pointing upwards into the door lock, squeezing the tube a few times to shoot the powder into the lock. Make sure that you apply the powder to the door bolt, as well, just to make sure you have your bases covered.
After applying the powder, use your key to insert into the lock and turn it over and over, moving the graphite powder around to as many areas as possible.
Once you've done this, you shouldn't have any more problems with your door lock, unless the problem isn't with the lubrication. There might be something wrong with the door knob itself, in which case you'll need to make more extensive repairs or even replace it. If you find yourself pushing or pulling the door in order to get the lock to work, then your door's alignment is the problem.
If the graphite powder did the trick, you should be ready to use your door lock easily again! Enjoy, and make sure to stay on top of your home improvement so that you never need to get frustrated after those tough days at work. Fixing your job is another story!
Photo Credits: René Ehrhardt
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Posted by Fix Handyman on December 19, 2009 in
Handyman, How to Fix, Locks, Locksmith, doors
Broken door lock?
Having a broken car door lock might not be the most serious situation your car's ever encountered, but it can make you feel "out of commission" nonetheless. After all, your car's lock is vital to feeling safe, and at least erasing the feeling that some one may steal one of your possessions or - worse yet - your car itself. If you need to fix your car door lock in a hurry, this article will be your guide.
First, you'll want to make sure that everything is working well - not just the car lock itself. If you're having trouble using your remote locking mechanism attached to your keychain, then you may want to check the batteries. Believe it or not, this can actually be a relatively common problem with an easy fix: simply replace the batteries in your remote mechanism and give it a test. If your car locks still aren't budging, it's time to move on to the next step.
What is that next step? You'll want to check all of the door locks in your car and see how they're working. If they're all not functioning, then you likely have a problem with a blown fuse. If only one car door lock isn't functioning, then the problem may be with that door lock's solenoid. Now you know where to go in order to fix your locking problem: the answer should lie either with the individual lock or the fuse that is connected to every power lock on your car.
If you're looking at a problem with an individual lock, you'll need to determine what the problem exactly is - it will most likely lie with the wires or the lock mechanism itself. If you can open the door and take a look at the lock, making sure to move it up and down if you can, you should try to see if the lock makes "attempts" at locking. If this is the case, then you're looking at a frozen lock mechanism. If not, you may want to look at the wiring of your lock; this will often call for a replacement.
The car door lock is an important and sometimes tricky thing to figure out. If you have too many doubts about what the problem is, simply contact a professional who can make the right diagnosis. At the very least, see if you can get in touch with a friend who's interested in cars.
Photo Credits: Paul Kehrer
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Posted by Fix Handyman on September 4, 2009 in
Car, How to Fix, Locks, Locksmith, Mechanic, doors
Patch that screen!
In the summertime, we like to keep the doors open to allow the warm breezes in but the screens still locked to keep the bugs out. Of course, a screen is only effective as long as it's in one piece - and if you have a screen that's patchy or has one glaring hole, it's time to either repair it or replace it. This article will help you understand which option you may need to pursue.
Repairing a Patchy Screen
Believe it or not, repairing a screen isn't a highly complicated affair, involving the stitching of small metal wiring. Actually, you can purchase screen patches that clip on to the rest of your screen at hardware stores and online - but keep in mind that these patches will only fill smaller holes, typically up to three inches in diameter. When you purchase one of these screens patches, you'll need to know how large the hole you're repairing is, and then buy about a half an inch more than that. Make sure to measure the hole you're repairing before you make your purchase.
The patch of screen you're buying will typically have long ends that you can intertwine with the rest of the screen to make it as unnoticeable as possible. Keep in mind that if you have smaller holes in your screening, then you'll be able to use smaller repairs, such as household cementer or even glue.
Replacing a Patchy Screen
Of course, there's a tremendous difference between a screen that has a few tiny holes in it and a screen with one gaping monstrosity of a hole: how you repair it. In the case of these large holes, you're better off simply purchasing a new screen to replace the old one. Install it yourself to save money, and it won't necessarily be a big expense.
To get a good idea of how your screen works, pay attention to how the old screen was put in place. This will help a lot if you're not familiar with household construction at all, as it will give you some context regarding screen installation. Once you've made a couple of notes, prepare the frame for installation and cut down your screen to the right size. Never try to cut a screen to exactly the right size - you're better off overestimating so that any mistakes can be easily corrected with new cuts.
Those are the two most effective ways of fixing your household screen. How much repair does your screen need? Only you can say.
Photo Credits: General Wesc
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Posted by Fix Handyman on August 12, 2009 in
Handyman, How to Fix, doors, windows
Squeeeeeeeaaaak no more.
It's usually the stuff of horror movies: a door opening slowly always seems to produce an eerie creaking sound. It's enough to make one wonder why every haunted house seems to have rusty hinges. In real life, a squeaking door isn't always scary, but it can be downright annoying after a while. If you want to know how to fix your squeaking door, you've come to the right place.
First, you'll want to understand exactly what causes a squeaking door. It's not very complicated: sound vibrations are caused when two parts rub against each other. When it comes to doors, most hinges are designed to be as silent as possible, so the squeaking noise indicates a problem with alignment, usually with the door hinge.
Lubricant eases this friction, but only on a temporary basis. This means that a household item like WD-40 will be able to handle the job, but that doesn't mean your door will permanently stop squeaking.
For a long-term solution, you'll have to take a good look at your door hinges and really determine what's causing things to rub against each other contrary to their design. One of the easiest ways to do this is to simply re-tighten and re-attach a hinge by tightening loose screws. Be sure to check the top hinge on your door first, since much of your door's weight actually hangs on that area.
Most long-term fixes usually require a bit of tearing down before you build back up: this is the case if your door itself is actually out of alignment. You can use a balance to check your door's alignment, and if it needs adjusting, you can loosen your hinges and make the necessary changes. Oftentimes, simply undergoing this process will fix whichever point on the door was causing the squeak, even if you can't pinpoint it directly.
After you've tightened everything back again and the hinges seem in proper alignment, you can give your door a test swing. Swing it back and forth with your hand, and also try a "slow" movement to see how your door handles it. If your door is now silent, you've fixed the problem. Be sure to listen to it occasionally in order to be sure that the treatment has stuck.
Remember that everything can be repaired - or at least replaced. Don't assume that a squeaking door is out of your league even if you've never fixed anything in your life. You might surprise yourself.
Photo Credits: ocean yamaha
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Posted by Fix Handyman on August 11, 2009 in
Handyman, How to Fix, doors
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