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Doors
The gateway to your home, doors should be compatible in
style with other architectural elements of the house. A wide
variety of models is currently available on the market, each
adapted to different tastes and budgets. It is also
important to make your choices carefully, especially in
light of current concerns with energy efficiency.
Refinish your front door before selling
Replacing or refinishing the front door at the same time as
a balcony and the foundation roughcast, are generally the
most profitable improvements in advance of selling a house.
Pay special attention to such details as outdoor
imoprovements, the state of the indoor finish and the
presence of cracks, both indoors and out, etc.
When
a key breaks off in the lock
It's not easy to remove a broken key from a lock barrel. But
it can be done by using a small blade from a bracket saw.
Slip the saw blade under the broken key and use the blade's
teeth to grip the key's teeth.
When
hinges squeak
Oil is an option on squeaky door hinges, but it also traps
dirt and dust. WD-40 will not only clean the hinge, but it
will also assure silent hinges.
When
the automatic garage door is faulty
If your automatic garage door's causing problems and you
want to have some peace of mind, remove the fuses that
control the mechanism while awaiting the visit of the
repairman. This way, there will be no risk of it opening at
the wrong time or closing on a child.
Paraffin to make chrome sparkle
Make the chrome on toasters, stove rings, handles and other
ornaments sparkle with liquid paraffin, also known as lamp
fuel. A light rub with a cloth or a paper towel will
guarantee brilliant, shiny chrome. But be careful, liquid
paraffin is inflammable.
Marking the frame to install a strike plate
To cut a precise hole in a door frame (strike plate) to
receive a door handle bolt, shake some chalk line powder on
the bolt, close the door firmly holding back the bolt and
turn the handle to mark the correct location where the
strike plate should be installed. Turn the handle back and
forth to clearly mark the spot. You will then be able to dig
out the hole with a chisel or a router. Finish the edges
with sandpaper.
Lighting a door lock at night
Are you sick of coming home from work and fumbling in the
dark to insert the key into the door lock. Simply install a
light detector socket in the outside light. It will turn on
automatically when it's needed, I.e. once the sun goes down
and, even when your not at home, help protect your property
against burglars. |
