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Selecting the Right Front Door

It be overwhelming to choose a new front door, so here are some practical ideas to help guide your decision-making process.

By Jennifer Noonan | Updated Dec 29, 2021 11:10 AM

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How to Choose a Front Door

Photo: istockphoto.com

Almost no other part of your home gets as much exposure as the front door. It’s where you greet friends and family, serve (or scare) trick-or-treaters, and enjoy the songs 0f holiday carolers. A front door says a lot about who lives inside.

There is a dizzying variety of options to choose from in front doors, both in style (paneled, double, arched) and construction (wood, fiberglass, metal). Selecting an entryway can be completely overwhelming, but fortunately there are some practical matters to help guide the decision-making process.

Style

Your front door should fit in architecturally with the rest of your home. But you can take the opportunity to let this element say something about you, as well. Are you the traditional type? Maybe the classic six-panel door is right for you. More whimsical? Perhaps an arched door with stained glass. There is something out there for everyone, so feel free to express yourself.

Front Door Ideas

Photo: shutterstock.com

Size

The standard size for a single door is generally 32″-36″ wide. Is your entryway standard, or will it require something bigger, like a 42″ extra-wide single door? Beyond that are double doors. Also, an entryway may encompass more than just the actual door, and remember that ornamental elements (e.g., sidelites or a glazed transom) require proper framing for support.

Material

Most modern doors are made of wood, fiberglass, or steel.

  • Wood: Nothing beats the natural beauty of wood, but it doesn’t come cheap—or easily. Because wood is sensitive to moisture and sun, its condition should be examined at least once per year. Modern wood doors are generally a sandwich of veneers over a wood or steel core (to lower cost and minimize warping).
  • Fiberglass: Fiberglass composite doors are both affordable and durable. They can go years without needing touch-ups, so they are particularly well-suited for harsh climates. Generally, fiberglass doors they have a foam core—an excellent insulator.
  • Steel: Steel is strong and won’t crack or warp, but it can dent. Minor damage can be fixed with auto-body repair kits, but big dents may require replacement. Depending on the core, a steel door can have great energy efficiency. But steel does conduct temperature, so its performance won’t be optimal in extreme climates. Steel is one of the least expensive options, but there is a trade-off in shorter lifespan.

Cost

Like most investments in your home, when you purchase a front door, there’s an up-front cost and the long-term cost. Make sure you are well aware of the energy efficiency, maintenance requirements, and life expectancy of the door you are selecting. All those things impact the long-term cost of maintaining your entryway.

Whatever door you choose, use color, hardware, and entryway accessories to make it your own. Then invite your friends, family, and neighbors to knock and come on in.

Looking for inspiration? Front door ideas abound in our gallery 10 Eye-Catching Options for Your Front Door!


How To: Plant an Apple Tree

It be overwhelming to choose a new front door, so here are some practical ideas to help guide your decision-making process.

By Jennifer Noonan | Updated Nov 30, 2020 9:03 AM

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs.

How to Plant an Apple Tree

Photo: University of Vermont

Since moving to the ‘burbs, I’ve been slowly trying to convert on this fantasy I have of backyard sustainability. I planted blueberry bushes and a small veggie garden this summer, and I’m planning for some grape vines. Next on the list is an apple tree. I absolutely love picking apples in the fall and always enjoy making this irresistible apple sauce recipe I found in my grandmother’s cook book. So I’m itching to plant an apple—but fruit trees, I know, are not for the faint of heart. They require careful planning and diligent care. If you’d like to harvest apples in your very own yard, here’s what you should consider before diving in.

Timing & Climate

Most planting happens in spring, but if you live in a region where fall and winter weather is mild and moist, planting in the fall can be very successful, too. Each apple variety has a different hardiness level and requires different chill hours (when temps are between 32 and 45 degrees F). Check with your local extension office for recommended varieties in your area.

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Pollination

Apple trees need cross-pollination, which requires one of the following:

  • You plant two apple trees of different varieties that bloom at the same time.
  • You have a relatively close neighbor with a crabapple or apple tree of a different variety that blooms at the same time.
  • You place a cut branch in a bucket of water from another variety at the base of your tree when it flowers.

Bottom line, do your research on bloom times for varieties you are considering or that you know are in your area. That way, you’ll have the best chance of successful cross-pollination.

Site and Soil

Apples need at least six hours of direct sunlight a day for best fruiting, so plant in full sun. Apple trees also need well-drained soil that is moderately rich and retains moisture and air, so mulch with an organic material after planting.

Maintenance

Apples are prone to pests and disease and require constant care and attention. Most need to be sprayed every 10-14 days to deter insects and fungus. Be prepared for the commitment, or be prepared to go organic and know what to expect. You can help yourself some by choosing disease-resistant varieties. Pruning and thinning are also extremely important.

How to Plant an Apple Tree

Illustration: Treeworldinfo.com

Planting

The saying goes, “You need to dig a $100 hole for a $10 tree.” So, go for the gusto.

  1. Dig a hole about twice the diameter and about a foot deeper than the roots. You want the bud union (where the scion meets the rootstock) to end up about 2″ above ground.
  2. Apply water as you fill the hole back in (to help remove air pockets). Add your soil amendments in at the same time.
  3. Water well again after transplanting is complete and apply a 2-4″ cover of mulch to keep moisture in and weeds at bay.

There’s a lot more to know about growing apples, more than could be included in this post, so if what you’ve read here interests you, do your research. There is a wealth of information available online, at your local extension office, and at nurseries everywhere. Let’s meet up for a good old-fashioned apple festival next year. I’ll bring the apple sauce!

Not sure what type to plant? Browse 8 Disease-Resistant Apple Tree Varieties to find the best (and most delicious) species to grow in your climate.


Enter Week 2 of Our GE Appliances Give-Away Today!

By Larry Bilotti | Updated Feb 23, 2020 10:49 AM

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs.

Today is the start of WEEK 2 in our four-week GE Appliances Home Improvement Give-Away.  If you weren’t lucky enough to win last week’s prize—the GE® Hybrid Stainless Steel Interior Dishwasher (MSRP $699)—perhaps this will be your week!

ENTER TODAY and every day (through midnight EST Friday, September 14) to be eligible to win a new GE Profile™ Slide-In Double Oven Electric Range, valued at $2,799 MSRP.

GE Profile Slide-In Double Oven Electric Range

GE Profile™ Slide-In Double Oven Electric Range

Designed to offer high performance with a built-in look, this GE double oven is the only slide-in electric model that offers a custom look without the custom installation cost. The stainless steel oven, with black glass ceramic and patterned graphite range, fits flush in the common 30-inch kitchen cutout and requires no backsplash to create a clean, finished look.

Among its many features, the new GE Profile™ Slide-In Double Oven Electric Range includes self-cleaning top and bottom ovens and five electric cooktop burners, including a powerful 3,000-watt Tri-ring, a warming zone to keep foods fresh and ready to serve, and a dual heat element for power boiling and precise low-temperature cooking.

GE Profile Slide-in Double Oven Open

The GE Profile™ Slide-In Electric Double Oven offers 6.6 cu ft capacity.

If you’ve ever dreamed of cooking like a pro, this is the oven to have. The top oven preheats faster and uses less energy, making it more efficient and convenient for cooking small, frequent meals, baking cakes and cookies, or reheating leftovers.

The convection system of the bottom oven includes a reversing fan surrounded by a third cooking element for even browning, baking, and roasting any menu item, large or small.

For official rules and entry, click here. Be sure to enter Bob Vila’s GE Appliances Home Improvement Give-Away daily to increase your odds of winning—and come back next week when one lucky winner will have the chance to win one of the following prizes: a GE GeoSpring Hybrid Water Heater (MSRP $1,299), or a GE Profile Front-Load Washer with Steam and SmartDispense™ technology (MSRP $1,299) and companion dryer (MSRP $1,099).

To learn more about the new GE Profile™ Slide-In Double Oven Electric Range and other innovative products, visit GE Appliances.

The “Bob Vila GE Appliances Home Improvement Give-Away” sweepstakes is open only to permanent legal U.S. residents of the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia; residents of Alaska and Hawaii  are not eligible. Void in all other geographic locations. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Contest Period runs from 12:00 a.m. (EST) Saturday, September 1, 2012 through midnight (EST) Friday, September 28, 2012. One entry per household per day on BobVila.com. Alternative means of entry for Drawing is available by faxing your name and address to 508-437-8486 during the applicable Entry Period. Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received. See Official Rules.


Picnic Indoors—For Real

By Larry Bilotti | Updated Jun 12, 2020 12:30 PM

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PicNYC

Architect Haiko Cornelissen’s PicNYC table

If you think summer’s end will preclude you from enjoying the pleasures of a picnic until next year, think again! This PicNYC table from the design firm of Haiko Cornelissen really delivers on the promise of bringing the outdoors in. The table top—made from premium lightweight aluminum that is cut, folded, bolted and welded together by an American manufacturer—is deep enough to act as a planter, accommodating soil and grass, even a stone foundation for drainage.

While you don’t have to worry about spilling wine, soup, or gravy, you will need to make certain your table is getting the necessary sunlight and water to keep it fresh and green. According to the architect, “no table mower exists yet,” but an occasional trim by hand should be all that’s needed to keep your 36″ x 84″ plot of land happy in its city digs. If you get tired of the lawn care, you can always opt for something more manageable, like a bed of stones.

Picnyc-table-with-stones

Photo: Voos Furniture

For more information, visit the architects’ site here.