Get Help from Bob Vila
- Give-Aways & Offers
- Monthly Must Do's
- DIY Project Ideas
- Step-by-Step Guides
- Inspirational Photo Galleries
DOORS
Browse By Tag
When shopping for a new front door, you'll want to keep a few things in mind. First, your choice should complement th...
Americans love cars. For evidence, look no further than the design of the average postwar home. The garage often clai...
Among the many advantages of high-tech home accessories is their ability to let us untangle ourselves from old-fashio...
The garage door doesn't get the respect it deserves. Think about it: In the daily life of a house, the unassuming garage door performs a pivotal practical functio...
Breezes in, bugs out—functionally speaking, the screen door hasn’t changed much in the past hundred years or so. Diff...
With each passing year, it seems like homeowners spend more and more time outside on the deck, porch, or patio, enter...
At its core, a door's construction is mostly the same; learn to build one, and you can fashion as many as your home h...
Every time you leave or return home, you can’t help but notice the garage door. But how often do you really look at i...
We think of a doorknob as ubiquitous and mundane, yet a closer inspection can sometimes prove puzzling, leaving you t...
It’s easy to take doors for granted. Until they start sticking or binding, that is—or you install a new floor and sud...
It’s instinctual, really: During the winter, people naturally prefer to hunker down indoors, protected from the frigid temperatures and severe storms that are sig...
What’s true about fashion is true also about doors: If you wait long enough, the old styles come back in vogue. Pocke...
Steel doors are wonderful at keeping the wind and weather out of our homes, and they're remarkably durable—they can l...
When you have a doorway but not enough room for a door to swing open, oftentimes the frame goes without any sort of c...
Ding, dong! Your guests have arrived for dinner and drinks. But if your doorbell stops working, you could leave your ...
We've all been there: You're tiptoeing around the house in the early morning hours, trying not to wake the others who...
No matter whether you use muscle or a motor to open and shut your garage door, it's going to need TLC every so often ...
If you were to look at pictures of all the homes built since the mid 1950s, you would notice one obvious commonality: For decades, the garage door has been the mo...
Transforming a dark, dank basement into welcoming living space isn't a small job. But once complete, a finished basem...
Is a slamming door driving you nuts? Have you had noise complaints from neighbors? Here are a few simple and inexpens...
You put a great deal of trust in your front door, counting on it to form a good first impression of your home for any...
It's almost shocking that a home upgrade as minor as replacing the front door can boost your home's curb appeal in such a major way! Courtesy of Masonite, these b...
If there were one rule in home exterior maintenance, it might be this: Don't skip the door. With their frequent daily...
Real estate agents call it curb appeal. It's how a house looks to visitors as they arrive by car. Curb appeal was, is...
When Remodeling magazine last published its annual Cost vs. Value Report, many were surprised to learn that, of all t...
Front doors undergo wear and tear on a daily basis, not least from the elements—precipitation and wind and the glarin...
Did you recently move into a fixer-upper? Or have you lived in your house so long that it’s become outdated? No matter your circumstances, there are plenty of way...
Before guests even set foot inside your home, the front entrance establishes the tone for the rest of the space. The color you choose for your door might reflect ...
Maybe your cat has been using your sliding screen door for climbing practice. Or maybe, as we approach winter, you're...
In fall we celebrate the beauty and bounty of nature. This is a time of harvesting and hosting, of rejoicing in the changing season. This autumn, before your visi...
Hidden behind every door is a wealth of untapped potential—often times the extra bit of storage you've been dreaming about, sometimes service for a hack. There’s ...
Everyone knows the importance of making a good first impression. Yes, that's advice for first dates and job interview...
Door drafts can be a cause of real discomfort. Besides the immediate unpleasantness of a chilly gust invading the war...
Automated security systems are nice to have, but the easiest and least expensive way to improve the security of home ...
In my house, several of our wood doors keep sticking. I've tried candle wax and have made sure all the screws in the ...
I'm going to install a new screen door. Any advice or time-saving suggestions on how to go about it?It's relatively e...
With the season of outdoor living upon us, homeowners may be looking for new solutions to patio or backyard access. T...
Considering the low cost of the project and the relative ease with which it can be completed, painting a door is a te...
While the doorknob may not be the first thing visitors notice about a house, it is often the first thing they touch—so make sure yours is memorable. A doorknob th...
If you’re planning on improving your home's curb appeal by installing a new garage door, don’t be so fast to throw out the old one. Disposing of a large, cumberso...
Weatherstripping is a time-honored method of minimizing window and door drafts. In the winter, weatherstripping preve...
Doors come in countless different sizes and styles—from modern, flush interior doors with standard dimensions to mass...
Does your house suffer from drab door syndrome? It’s a common diagnosis. We tend to view doors as necessities—all function and no frill—so we don't see them as th...
Here's some tips for easier door hanging. For this type of door, measure five inches from the top of the door to the ...
In these energy-conscious times, many people are adding insulation, installing solar panels, or taking a number of ex...
When installing a new door, use shim shingles as extra support between the jack studs and the door jamb. Use two ceda...
Whether you're trying to sell a home or just make one look uniquely yours, an attractive exterior can seriously boost curb appeal. While the overall color of a ho...
Here's a tip on how to install a pre-hung door. First, lift the door into place, then be sure it's plumb. Always use ...
The tricky part of hanging double doors is that they have to meet in the middle. After hanging each door, check to se...
We interact with them daily and seldom think twice, but do-it-yourselfers have found plenty of reasons for us to focu...
Garage doors may not seem like great decorating opportunities—most people treat them as functional afterthoughts that...
When it comes time to upgrade a front door, build new kitchen cabinets, or even fix a toy box, homeowners have a wide range of hinge styles to choose from.
Now that our phones talk and our cars start with the push of a button, it's no surprise that the front door is going digital too. We’ve got the lowdown on some of...
Your front door is the face your home presents to the world. It sets your house’s style and tone. So if your entry is...
Here's how to restore the missing brass hardware from an antique door. The "ghost" image of original brass hardware ...
Storm doors are the unsung heroes of our entryways. They protect our exterior doors from the weather and add a layer ...
Ostensibly, a home’s front door is there for one reason and one reason only: to let people come and go while keeping ...
As cars have grown more important to our lives, they have gained equal prominence in residential floor plans. You’d p...
In the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew’s devastation in 1992, the building codes in many coastal counties and storm-thr...
Most homeowners are installing a new door to replace a old door that’s been damaged or cut short to fit existing floo...
When selecting a garage door for your home, the list of questions includes basic material, style, and price. There is...
When building a new home, plan the foundation to include an exterior staircase and entry basement doors. The foundati...
Maintaining your home used to require close attention and diligent care. Thanks to a bevy of home automation products...
With imagination and elbow grease, you can transform that old door into a one-of-a-kind piece that's both useful and beautiful.
It takes about nine square feet of floor space to swing open a typical 3-foot-wide door. That’s a big chunk of real e...
Homeowners have no shortage of choice in selecting doors, which range from solid, flush styles to decorative, glass-paneled designs.
Installing a storm door may seem like a daunting, time-consuming task, but advances in manufacturing and design have ...
Replacing an interior lockset is a pretty simple job. If you’re thinking about upgrading your doors with new doorknob...
Interested in adding another layer of insulation and security to your home? Look no further than the storm door, an o...
Sliding closet doors are a common installation in American homes, but that doesn't necessarily mean they're the best ...
Today’s pet doors are a far cry from the heat-stealing, wildlife-welcoming, burglary risks of yesteryear. If your yar...
From trendy bathrooms to hidden home offices, barn doors provide an ultra-stylish solution for cramped spaces.
Barn doors are notable for their distinctive use of space. Rather than hang on vertical hinges and swing open, they g...
Fiberglass doors have been popular for years now as a durable, energy-efficient alternative to wood doors that can be...
Interior doors have important jobs. They provide sound insulation, privacy and character to your home. Listen to BOB ...
There's the big stuff—renovations, major appliances, new suites of furniture—any of which can make an obvious impact ...
With all the emphasis on paint color and siding, a front door could easily get lost in the shuffle of exterior updates. But as the first and last part of your hou...
Almost no other part of your home gets as much exposure as the front door. It’s where you greet friends and family, s...
Whether you choose a handle set, lever, or knob for your entry door, you also need a deadbolt for greatest security. ...
The garage door can play a major role in your home's overall curb appeal. Learn more about the types, styles, and options available in this product showcase.
Your garage door opener controls what is probably the largest moving object in your house. But it’s not actually the ...
I don’t mind the squirrels taking their turn at the bird feeder, but our dog seems to have developed a personal vende...
One of the reasons we chose the house plan we built was because there was a “flex” room off the breakfast nook. We th...
For decades, homeowners interested in automating their garage doors had three choices: chain-, belt- or screw-driven ...
French doors have been around for centuries. Since the 17th century to be exact. The beauty of their design was certa...
As a person who has recently upgraded from living in a garage to living in a half-constructed house, the novelty of h...
The door closer on my front porch—that mechanical cylindrical device that keeps the door from flying open too far and...
Unlike left- and right-handed doors that can take up to 10 square feet of space, pocket doors slide into the wall, le...
Fiberglass windows and sliding glass patio doors are installed. A trailer is brought in to remove moist air and bring in dry, clean air to prevent mold growth whi...
Bob talks with Robert Rainey of PJ Overhead Door as the new and improved garage door panels and tracks are installed on the Norwell home.
The walls in the new addition are just about ready for paint. The new fireplace, trimmed with fieldstone, will make this new in-law suite very cozy. Interior door...
Work gets started as Bob and architect Gregory Rochlin discuss first-floor plans, demolition begins, and a surprising discovery is made.
Bob goes over plans for the second floor with architect Gregory Rochlin and then joins carpenter Bob Ryley for meticulous demolition and disassembly work.
Bob and carpenter Bob Ryley install the restored door hardware, and artist Kim Sweet faux finishes the mantle in the den, taking as inspiration a piece of Bob’s f...
Before putting on the blue board, Bob looks at what goes behind the walls: wiring, light fixtures, heat ducts, water lines, and a pocket door frame.
A new, lower-maintenance front door is installed, as well as new bay windows.
The backyard is enhanced with a lattice-top gate, and a mudroom is converted into a kitchen pantry to provide storage space.
An energy-efficient door is cut down in size to replace the small exterior door leading to the new basement mud room.
Damaged sill is replaced, the house is protected against insects and rot, and sliding doors with custom trim molding are installed.
Bob works with Scott and Aaron Renfroe to install impact-resistant windows and sliding doors.
Bob meets with Jesse Gonzales to install an impact-resistant front door, electrician Jose Rodriguez to install wiring and plumber Dan Gerry to learn how to work w...
Doug Frueh shows Bob how to apply a textured finish to a fiberglass-faced wall and Jim Trottier installs a pre-hung hollow-core door. Then Bob looks at the finis...
Bob and Gilson Novaes discuss the construction of pocket doors, screens that will divide the bedroom from the outer living area. Bob takes note of the advantages ...
Carpenter Bob Ryley and Jim Daniels (of Woodport Interior Doors) join Bob to hang a new door in the master bathroom.
Bob Ryley is installing the new lockset from Baldwin Brass on the front door.
Bob starts on the balcony of the Manhattan Brownstone where open space was standard for these urban town homes then moves to the interior to talk about the large,...
Bob shows the Woodport medium-density fiberboard doors selected for the Manhattan Brownstone then works with the crew from Thorough Construction as they prepare t...
Bob is joined by Michael McDevitt of Therma-Tru Doors as Wes Lohr and his crew prepare for the installation of the pre-hung exterior door.
Bob points out that one huge aspect of affordability is doors, windows, and trim stock.
Bob works with the general contractor Charlie Tomaszewski to move the Medford project home's original front door, so they will be able to frame up a new foyer.
Bob tours the first floor of the house, then turns his attention to the family room addition. Demolition has taken place in the barn, where a concrete floor has r...
Engineers determined that the third floor roof was weak and in need of restructuring.
Bob talks with Ray Adam (from Pella Windows) about the new French doors to be installed in the library. It's an active/inactive door with all hardware. The most i...
Workers replace the old barn doors with an oversized Ponderosa Pine door (from KML Industries in Canada).
Bob provides an update on the status of the mahogany deck, the breezeway, and the completed barn/studio.
Bob visits McCleary, WA, where Jim Fielder (from Simpson Door) takes him on a tour of the company's manufacturing plant.
Carpenter Bob Ryley works with door hanger Steve Parks to install a wood door in the basement of the Habitat project.
Bob talks with, observes, and lends a helping hand to Kevin Calman (from Andersen), who is installing a hurricane-resistant Frenchwood door.
Carpenters Bob Ryley and Mike Smith hang double doors at the entrance to the private family living quarters of the Virginia governor's mansion.
Bob looks at the old doors, then meets with local artist Elaine Havaland, who demonstrates a faux-finishing technique.
Carpenter Bob Ryley installs plantation shutters against a bedroom wall.
Bob meets with architect Greg Rochlin to review the techniques used for covering a series of doors with plastic laminate.
Installer Juan Gonsalves shows Bob how to install steel stair stringers.
Bob and carpenter Bob Ryley install a Schlage interior-lever lockset.
Carpenter Bob Ryley works on the mahogany deck, while new kitchen appliances are installed and the lighting and cabinets undergo examination.
Pat and Roger Simons, the owners of the second house in the Elmwood project, review the goals of their bathroom remodel.
Carpenter Bob Ryley helps install a new porch railing and new screen doors. An underground sprinkler system is also installed.
Contractors put in the brick walkway. Forester Moulding and Lumber replicates the porch railings and balusters. Also, new security and sprinkler systems are insta...
Bob takes a last look at the restored porch, its second-floor balustrade, polished-brass door fixtures, and the newly planted rose garden and boxwood bushes.
Steve Moore (from Architectural Brass) demonstrates how to replicate a brass escutcheon plate based on a faded outline found on the door.
Bob meets with Curt Weiss (from J.W. Door), who has custom-made a door unit for the bungalow remodel, with glass lights designed in an Arts and Crafts style, and ...
Bob and carpenter Bob Ryley demolish a wall on the second floor in order to connect the framed-in addition to the existing house.
Bob meets with contractor Bill Wilcox to help build a landing and steps up to the French doors. Bob reviews the footings that support the deck, as well as the met...
Bob joins finish carpenter Mark McCullough, who, as he works, explains the process of applying trim to French patio doors and adjacent windows.
Bob meets with restoration contractor Richard Marks, who explains the distinction between restoration and reconstruction. He and Bob also discuss the relocation o...
Bob meets with contractor Bob Ryley, who outlines the door construction process and builds the first of seven doors.
Bob helps contractor Bob Ryley install a salvaged door on the side of the dream garage, which is undergoing construction.
Bob and Tom Moran (from Pella) discuss the anatomy of the doors chosen for the Martha's Vineyard Victorian project, and contractor Bob Ryley demonstrates the proc...
Bob reviews progress in the kitchen, which includes the installation of a pantry, and contractor Bob Ryley demonstrates how to build a door into a wood-paneled wa...
Contractor Larry Landers builds a trapdoor to enable access to the old bulkhead from outside. Sheet lead flashing and an ice-and-water barrier are used to waterpr...
A country-style door, built by carpenter Bob Ryley in the workshop, is hung in the new entry of the Plymouth project house.
Bob helps contractor Al Stiles change a swinging door into a relocated pocket door.
Bob helps contractor Al Stiles install a pair of French doors, but first they remove the old pair of jalousie windows.
Bob helps the contractors work on building and installing new French doors.
Bob helps carpentry contractor Bob Ryley install a bulkhead from a kit and put trim (a soffit, fascia, and drip edge) on the front façade.
Bob and carpentry contractor Bob Ryley continue working on the bulkhead entrance into the basement.
Bob helps carpentry contractor Bob Ryley install the pre-hung front door, then visits Shepley Wood Products to see how the door was made.
Ironmonger Frank Szablewski constructs an iron staircase and balcony entryway outside the front door.
Bob and the homeowners look at the newly redesigned dining room. Kara Roberts from Smith & Noble joins to review the selections made for window coverings, and Bob...
Bob helps general contractor Tim Berky put a solid-core cherry-veneer door on its bronze butt hinges, and install matching door hardware.
General contractor Tim Berky trims out the windows with custom millwork created from a profile of the home's original trim. Bob looks at the four-panel cherry poc...
General contractor Tim Berky and his crew remove the old horsehair plaster in the kitchen. The framing and sheathing are found to be original to the house. Bob lo...
Cordell Burton (from Pella Windows) joins Bob to show off the in-swinging French doors to be installed. It's constructed of solid wood and double-pane, low-e glas...