DOORS

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It Pays to Make These 5 Energy-Efficient Home Upgrades in 2023
This is the first installment of Bob Vila’s Most Valuable Projects of 2023, a month-long series featuring high-ROI ho...
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Fiberglass vs. Steel Door: Which is Best for Your Home Entry?
The front door is more than merely an entry into your house. It’s part of the exterior decor, offering an opportunity...
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11 Best Front-Door Wreaths for Every Season
Front-door wreaths add color, curb appeal, and a warm welcome for visitors. You’ll find these decor staples range fro...
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How Much Does Storm Door Installation Cost?
Highlights The typical range for storm door installation cost is between $184 and $623, with a national average cost...
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How Much Does it Cost to Install French Doors?
Highlights The typical cost to install French doors ranges between $2,000 and $5,000, with a national average cost o...
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The Best Dog Gates of 2023
In homes with dogs, a reliable dog gate is a valuable tool for control and safety. These simple but practical gates a...
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10 Brilliant Ways to Lock a Door Without a Lock
Locks are the best method for securing a door. But if a lock fails, if the door doesn’t have a lock, or if you don’t ...
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How Much Does it Cost to Replace a Sliding Glass Door?
Highlights The cost to replace a sliding glass door can range from $1,051 to $3,414, with the national average price...
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The Best Interior Doors of 2023
Whether it’s a new home build, a whole-house renovation, or simply matching a new door to the old door, choosing the ...
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The Best Door Hinges of 2023
Replacing door hinges is one of the easiest ways to upgrade a space subtly. Some DIYers may think only about cabinet ...
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The Best Door Hinge Jigs of 2023
Even skilled carpenters usually turn to a door hinge jig to ensure the fast, accurate positioning of door hardware. T...
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The Best Garage Door Installation Companies of 2023
A garage is designed to provide additional space on the property to store vehicles, recreational equipment, tools, an...
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The Best Lubricants for Door Hinges of 2023
While it’s great for setting the mood in a horror movie, the sound of a squeaking hinge can be downright irritating. ...
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23 Types of Doors All Homeowners Should Know
We walk through doors every day as we move from room to room and building to building, yet how often do we really thi...
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The Best Garage Door Keypads of 2023
For added convenience and security, a garage door keypad allows for keyless entry into a garage. For times when a hom...
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Solved! What Is a Smart Lock and How Does It Work?
Q: Our neighbors were recently away on vacation and mentioned after they returned home that they had forgotten to loc...
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This Millennial Trend Could Hurt a House Sale
We all know the importance of curb appeal when it’s time to sell a home, but did you know that the color of your fron...
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It Pays to Make These 5 Curb Appeal Updates
This is the second installment of Bob Vila’s Most Valuable Projects of 2022, a month-long series featuring high-ROI h...
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How Much Does Garage Door Repair Cost?
Typical Range: $149 to $350 National Average: $247A garage door can keep a home safe and boost the overall curb ap...
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8 Ways to Secure a Door From Being Kicked In
Your doors—front, back, side, garage, and patio—are what stand between you and the outside world. Sometimes opening t...
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How to Secure a Sliding Glass Door to Prevent Burglary and Home Invasion
If you’re lucky enough to have a sliding glass door in your living space, you’ve probably marveled at the amount of l...
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The Best Barn Doors of 2023
You don’t have to have been “raised in a barn” to appreciate the aesthetics of a barn door. Once reserved as the main...
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How Much Does Door Installation Cost?
Highlights The typical range for door installation costs is $496 to $1,760, with a national average price of $1,087....
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Thinking About Installing a Hidden Bookcase Door? Consider These 7 Issues First
Whether you’re a billionaire with a secret passion for fighting crime, someone who is low on storage space, or a prep...
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The Best Garage Door Openers of 2023
It used to be that a garage door opener’s controls were pretty basic. It raised or lowered the door with the push of ...
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How Much Does a Locksmith Cost?
Typical Range: $97 to $215 National Average: $156If your house has multiple keys for each entry into the home, it ...
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10 Brilliant Ways to Lock a Door Without a Lock
These temporary fixes can help you secure apartment doors, bathroom doors, bedroom doors, and even entry doors without a permanent lock.
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6 Signs of Structural Damage You Should Never Ignore
Owning a home comes with some inevitable responsibilities, including maintaining and repairing problems before they w...
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The Best Garage Door Screens to Keep Bugs Out of Your Work Space
For some, a garage is simply a place to store yard equipment, cars, and the family’s fleet of bikes, but for many, it...
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Solved! 4 Fixes for When a Door Won't Latch
Q: We have a bathroom door that sometimes won’t latch, so the door can still be opened with a simple push. This has l...
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The Best Patio Doors of 2023
Patios, decks, backyards, and balconies are great spaces to enjoy the outdoors. And easy-to-use patio doors are ideal...
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The Best Doorbells of 2023
On the surface, a doorbell is a seemingly simple device. But in reality, doorbells are an integral part of any front ...
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These Eco-Friendly Home Upgrades Offer the Best ROI
Eco-friendly home upgrades won’t just make your home more comfortable, they can also help you save money over time. These 10 upgrades offer the best return on you...
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The Best Smart Garage Door Openers for Monitoring and Access
Whether you use your garage as a home workshop or as a place to get your vehicle out of the elements, the best smart ...
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The Best Video Doorbells of 2023
A video doorbell is a home security product and also means of being alerted that there’s a visitor—all rolled into on...
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The Best Storm Windows for Added Insulation
Homes with older, poorly insulated windows can face colossal energy bills in the cold- and hot-weather seasons. While...
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The Best Screen Door Closers of 2023
A screen door keeps flies, mosquitoes, and other bugs outside while allowing airflow to cool down the home and cleari...
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Solved! The Best Paint for Front Doors
Q: I want to repaint my front door to cover up some old water stains and add curb appeal. What is the best paint for ...
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The Best Door Security Bars Tested in 2023
A door security bar can be an excellent investment. This device, placed behind a door, adds extra reinforcement to an...
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How To: Repair a Screen Door in 5 Easy Steps
I don’t mind the squirrels taking their turn at the bird feeder, but our dog seems to have developed a personal vende...
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The Best Smart Doorbell to Upgrade Your Home Security
The days of squinting through a peephole, peaking through the curtains to see who’s at the door, or calling out “who ...
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The Best Pocket Door Locks of 2023
Pocket doors can be excellent space-savers in modern homes and they’re an original touch in many older houses. Howeve...
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A Simple Latch, a Happy Cat, and a Dog-Free Basement
Does this scenario sound familiar? We needed to keep our two 50-pound dogs away from the cat’s litter box on the base...
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The Best Keyless Door Locks of 2023
Home security is of paramount importance, but fumbling with your keys while juggling packages, especially in nasty we...
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The Best Keypad Door Locks of 2023
In an automated smart home, the best keypad door lock blends seamlessly with a home setup. Many work via Bluetooth, c...
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The Best Door Knobs of 2023
While door knobs often have a subtle visual statement, these fixtures can still accentuate home decor and add style t...
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Installing a Pocket Door
What's true about fashion can be applied to interior design: If you wait long enough, the old styles come back in vog...
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The Best Door and Window Alarms Tested in 2023
Any type of home security system is designed to keep the house and its inhabitants safe from property damage and thef...
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The Best Door Stoppers of 2023
While this hardworking piece often fades into the background, some door stops add elegance and even a touch of whimsy...
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The Best Door Handles of 2023
Though they’re one of the most used items in a home, door knobs are often overlooked as a decor element. While they m...
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The Best Door Draft Stoppers for Cooler Months
The scenario is chillingly familiar: You’re walking happily and comfortably through your home when suddenly, a cold p...
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The Best Electronic Door Locks of 2023
Modern lifestyles can be so busy, with various household members all on different schedules, so it’s high time for an...
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The Best Retractable Screen Doors of 2023
Screen doors let fresh air into a home without welcoming in all the bugs. They can also help reduce energy costs by a...
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The Best Exterior Caulks Tested in 2023
Exterior caulk is a thick, viscous solution that comes in a long tube and is applied with a caulking gun. It is desig...
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The Best Key Finders for Locating Lost Sets
It’s all too easy to misplace keys and other important items as we go about our day. In addition to investing in a ke...
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The Best Silicone Sprays of 2023
Silicone spray is typically seen as a lubricant for noisy door hinges. But users can also use silicone spray on car h...
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The Best Dog Doors for the Home
A portal that allows your pooch safe and easy access to the outside can be a real convenience for pet lovers. A dog d...
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The Best Smart Locks of 2023
Say goodbye to keys and hello to extra home security with one of today’s smart locks. It's been a decade or so since ...
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The Best Magnetic Screen Doors Tested in 2023
Warm weather means lots of comings and goings to and from the yard, deck, and patio. But when bugs barge in with you,...
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5 Things to Know Before You Replace a Garage Door Spring
A garage door spring is one of those household items you probably never think about. Until it’s broken, that is, and ...
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5 Things to Know Before Installing a Pet Door
If you worry about your pet not being able to get outside to potty or exercise while you’re gone, or if you’re just w...
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The Best Door Locks of 2023
Entry door locks are an essential element of home security. Choosing a door lock might seem like a simple decision, b...
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The Complete Guide to Weatherstripping the House
Weatherstripping is a time-honored method of minimizing door and window drafts throughout the house. In the winter, w...
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Standard Door Size 101: Important Measurements All Homeowners Should Know
Door sizes in older homes are anything but standard, as houses that predate standardized manufacturing and local buil...
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15 Old House Features We Were Wrong to Abandon
We were probably right to leave behind many hallmarks of yesterday's home, but it's time to reconsider these 15 once-popular details, not for their novelty, but f...
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The Best Storm Doors of 2023
When summer gives way to autumn, it’s time to open the doors and welcome natural light and fresh air into the house. ...
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Keep This in Mind When Choosing a New Garage Door
As cars have grown more important to our lives, they have gained equal prominence in residential floor plans. You’d p...
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3 Ways It Pays to Get a New Garage Door
This content is paid advertising created in partnership with Clopay.  Its facts and opinions are those of BobVila. co...
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Diagnose Any Garage Door Problem Yourself in Just 9 Steps
A garage door opener is a complicated creature.  In fact, despite its name, your garage door opener is actually a ser...
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7 Things to Know Before Replacing Door Locks
Your home is only as secure as the locks on its doors. Over time, or as a result of security situations, you may feel...
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3 Smart Ways to Upgrade Your Entry Door in a Weekend
Inspired by the budding greenery and aided by the warmer temperatures, homeowners inevitably get the urge to spruce t...
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16 Pro Tips for Painting Interior Doors
Give your doors a fresh coat and you’ll be surprised by the striking impact it has on a room.
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3 Ways to Improve Sliding Door Security
If you have a glass sliding door in your home, you no doubt appreciate how it creates a nearly seamless visual connec...
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Dutch Doors: An Open-and-Shut Way to Instantly Boost Curb Appeal
Dutch doors—horizontally double-opening charmers—evoke endearing visions of quaint country cottages, thatched roofs, ...
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3 Reasons Why a Sealant Is the Key to Winter-Proofing This Year
Along with colorful falling leaves, tailgate parties, and family gatherings, autumn’s crisp air brings a reminder of ...
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11 Ways to Winterize Your Home on a Budget
Keep the cold out, the heat in, and your energy bill down with these cost-effective tips for winterizing your home.
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Solved! What to Do When Your Garage Door Won’t Open
Q: When I returned from work today, I pushed the button on my remote garage door opener but the door didn’t budge. Ev...
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10 Rebates and Tax Credits More Homeowners Should Take Advantage Of
Most homeowners are eager to upgrade their homes, but the cost of home improvements, particularly substantial ones, can be daunting. Luckily, numerous federal, st...
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14 Eye-Catching Options for Your Front Door
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...
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Tight Quarters? 10 Smart Space-Saving Door Solutions
Are you struggling to find a space-saving interior or exterior door for your home? Whether you're building a tiny house or just trying to renovate a small or tric...
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Solved! How to Prevent Doors from Slamming
Q: A door in my home tends to slam shut—even occasionally when no one is using it! What causes this and how can I pre...
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How To: Build a Better-Looking Baby Gate
A lot of lifestyle adjustments need to be made when a baby comes along, and the house is no exception. In addition to...
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How To: Fix a Hole in a Door
Hollow core doors—consisting of a lightweight wood frame covered with composite veneer—are affordable (around $50 per...
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The Home Improvement Projects to Tackle Each Month in 2018
What's on your home improvement or maintenance to-do list for 2018? Rather than rushing to complete your projects all at once, try taking on a handful each season...
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The Most In-Demand Home Upgrades for 2018
Hope to enhance your humble abode to be somewhat less humble? You’re not alone. Residential improvement and repair expenditures are expected to rise through in 20...
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4 Reasons Why Homeowners Choose Fiberglass Doors
While a front door's primary job is to provide security and protection from the elements, a great entry is one that b...
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7 Ways to Get Better Curb Appeal in 60 Minutes or Less
Are you dissatisfied with your home’s less-than-fabulous first impression but too strapped for time to do anything about it? Don’t worry! You don’t have to take o...
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How To: Soundproof a Door
While closed doors do a decent job shutting out the noise outside the room, cracks between a door and its casing or t...
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Bob Vila Radio: Transform Your Home with Transom Windows
Transom windows rest on the horizontal support beam above a window- or doorframe, enhancing natural light while addin...
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3 Ways a New Garage Door Can Transform Your Curb Appeal
This article has been brought to you by Clopay. Its facts and opinions are those of BobVila. com. Most folks don’t th...
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Summer Is the Best Time for These 6 Home Improvements
If you’ve been thinking about tackling some home improvement projects this summer, don’t delay! The dog days of summe...
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5 Curb Appeal Lessons from a Gorgeous Garage Makeover
This article has been brought to you by Clopay. Its facts and opinions are those of BobVila. com. Nothing sours a hom...
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All You Need to Know About Doorway Casing
The trim around a door frame—also known as doorway casing—is installed first and foremost to conceal unsightly constr...
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Welcome Home: 11 Fresh Ways to Spruce Up Your Front Door
Whether your front door is drab, dated, or downright unwelcoming, you can change its look—and re-energize the soul of the space—with a few simple but artful chang...
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How to Install a Doorbell
Ever since we’ve had doors, we’ve been reinventing ways to be alerted to a visitor’s arrival. Hefty iron knockers gav...
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All You Need to Know About Transom Windows
Few architectural structures and details survive centuries of passing trends and technological advances in the way th...
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How to Rekey a Lock
Key rings can get crowded (and heavy!) fast, when you consider all that you load up on them: keys for your car, front...
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Genius! This Door DIY Doubles as an Indoor Gate
Homeowners with furry friends know that you only have to take your eye off the pets for a minute before they wander o...
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7 Features to Look for in Your Next Garage Door
From its origins as a no-frills, utilitarian outbuilding, the garage has matured into an integral part of the home, one that plays a major role in the day-to-day ...
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3 Fixes for a Stuck Key
It’s been one of those days. You caught every red light on your way home from work, your laundry wasn’t ready at the ...
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Bob Vila Radio: The Key to Choosing a New Front Door
When shopping for a new front door, you'll want to keep a few things in mind. First, your choice should complement th...
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The Dos and Don'ts of Choosing a New Garage Door
This article has been brought to you by Clopay. Its facts and opinions are those of BobVila. com. Americans love cars...
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The Best Wireless Doorbells of 2023
Among the many advantages of high-tech home accessories is their ability to let us untangle ourselves from old-fashio...
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5 Times a New Garage Door Made All the Difference
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...
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So, You Want to... Install a Screen Door
Breezes in, bugs out—functionally speaking, the screen door hasn’t changed much in the past hundred years or so. Diff...
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9 Energy-Saving Home Upgrades That Pay for Themselves
You want to save money on utility costs and do your part to conserve energy, but some energy upgrades are so expensive that you may never see a payback in this li...
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3 Reasons to Love Sliding Glass Doors
With each passing year, it seems like homeowners spend more and more time outside on the deck, porch, or patio, enter...
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Weekend Projects: 5 Designs for a DIY Door
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...
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The 3 Best Reasons to Upgrade Your Garage Door
This article has been brought to you by Clopay. Its facts and opinions are those of BobVila. com. Every time you leav...
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How To: Remove and Replace a Doorknob
We think of a doorknob as ubiquitous and mundane, yet a closer inspection can sometimes prove puzzling, leaving you t...
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How To: Plane a Door
It’s easy to take doors for granted. Until they start sticking or binding, that is—or you install a new floor and sud...
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7 Ways to Bring the Outdoors In
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...
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How To: Paint a Metal Door
Steel doors are wonderful at keeping the wind and weather out of our homes, and they're remarkably durable—they can l...
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How To: DIY a Space-Saving Sliding Door
When you have a doorway but not enough room for a door to swing open, oftentimes the frame goes without any sort of c...
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What to Do When Your Doorbell Stops Working
Ding, dong! Your guests have arrived for dinner and drinks. But if your doorbell stops working, you could leave your ...
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Buyer's Guide: 6 Best Garage Door Openers
It’s the little things in life that can make or break your day. Take, for instance, the garage door opener, an appliance most people never give a second thought…u...
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3 Fixes for a Squeaky Door
We've all been there: You're tiptoeing around the house in the early morning hours, trying not to wake the others who...
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Bob Vila Radio: Be Good to Your Garage Door
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 ...
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Re-Do Your Home Exterior with a New Garage Door
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...
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Bob Vila Radio: Your Finished Basement Needs an Egress
Transforming a dark, dank basement into welcoming living space isn't a small job. But once complete, a finished basem...
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Bob Vila Radio: Shush Your Slamming Doors
Is a slamming door driving you nuts? Have you had noise complaints from neighbors? Here are a few simple and inexpens...
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What Type of Door Is Best for Your Entryway?
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...
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New Front Doors Change Everything in 4 Entryway Before-and-Afters
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...
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A Contractor's Tips for a Long-Lasting Front Door
If there were one rule in home exterior maintenance, it might be this: Don't skip the door. With their frequent daily...
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A Contractor's Tips for Open-and-Shut Door Installation
Real estate agents call it curb appeal. It's how a house looks to visitors as they arrive by car. Curb appeal was, is...
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Make One Minor Change to Get Major Curb Appeal
When Remodeling magazine last published its annual Cost vs. Value Report, many were surprised to learn that, of all t...
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How To: Paint Your Front Door
Front doors undergo wear and tear on a daily basis, not least from the elements—precipitation and wind and the glarin...
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7 Ways to Start Fresh in an Old Home
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...
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9 Bright and Bold Colors for Your Front Door
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 ...
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Bob Vila Radio: This Winter, Remove Your Screen Door to Enjoy More Light
Maybe your cat has been using your sliding screen door for climbing practice. Or maybe, as we approach winter, you're...
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10 Fall Door DIYs for the Best House on the Block
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...
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7 Things to Do Right Now for a Warmer Winter
The crisp snap of autumn weather is a reminder that even colder days lie ahead. Get ready for them by performing a few simple chores now that will keep you toasty...
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9 Creative Uses for the Back of Any Door
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 ...
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Is Now the Time to Replace Your Front Door?
Everyone knows the importance of making a good first impression. Yes, that's advice for first dates and job interview...
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How To: Weatherstrip a Door the Right Way
Door drafts can be a cause of real discomfort. Besides the immediate unpleasantness of a chilly gust invading the war...
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How to Install a Deadbolt Lock
Automated security systems are nice to have, but the easiest and least expensive way to improve the security of home ...
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What Would Bob Do? Repairing a Door That Sticks
In my house, several of our wood doors keep sticking. I've tried candle wax and have made sure all the screws in the ...
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How to Install a Screen Door
Q: I'm going to install a new screen door. Any advice or time-saving suggestions on how to go about it?A: It's relati...
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Bob Vila Radio: Pivot Doors
With the season of outdoor living upon us, homeowners may be looking for new solutions to patio or backyard access. T...
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How to Paint an Interior Door
Considering the low cost of the project and the relative ease with which it can be completed, painting a door is a te...
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Door Knobs of Distinction: 21 Stunning Styles for Your Home's Doors
A door knob might not be the first thing visitors notice about a house, but it is often the first thing they touch. Make sure yours is memorable.
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Garage Doors Repurposed: 9 Innovative Design Uses
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...
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How to Install a Prehung Door
Installing a prehung door tends to be easier and more straightforward than hanging a door that isn’t prehung. While d...
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Open Sesame: 12 Ways to Dress Up a Drab Door
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...
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Quick Tip: Door Hanging
 Here's some tips for easier door hanging. For this type of door, measure five inches from the top of the door to the...
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Bob Vila Radio: Losing Heat to Drafts
In these energy-conscious times, many people are adding insulation, installing solar panels, or taking a number of ex...
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How to Shim a Door
Shimming a door frame is a skill anyone planning to install a new door into a rough opening should know. When carpent...
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10 Welcoming Front Door Paint Colors
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...
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How To: Install a Pre-Hung Door
 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...
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Quick Tip: Hanging Double Doors
 The tricky part of hanging double doors is that they have to meet in the middle. After hanging each door, check to s...
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5 Things to Do with... Doorknobs
We interact with them daily and seldom think twice, but do-it-yourselfers have found plenty of reasons for us to focu...
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Bob Vila Radio: Garage Door Replacement
Garage doors may not seem like great decorating opportunities—most people treat them as functional afterthoughts that...
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The 10 Types of Hinges Every DIYer Needs to Know
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.
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Toss Your Keys: 9 High-Tech Door Locks
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...
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Bob Vila Radio: Redoing the Front Door
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...
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How To: Restore Brass Hardware
 Here's how to restore the missing brass hardware from an antique door.  The "ghost" image of original brass hardware...
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Bob Vila Radio: Storm Doors
Storm doors are the unsung heroes of our entryways. They protect our exterior doors from the weather and add a layer ...
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Entryway Blues? 5 Ways to Dress Up Your Front Door
Ostensibly, a home’s front door is there for one reason and one reason only: to let people come and go while keeping ...
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Storm-Proof Your Garage Doors
In the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew’s devastation in 1992, the building codes in many coastal counties and storm-thr...
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Top Tips for Installing a New Door
Most homeowners are installing a new door to replace an old door that’s been damaged or cut short to fit existing flo...
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Picking the Right Garage Door
When selecting a garage door for your home, the list of questions includes basic material, style, and price. There is...
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Add an Entrance to Your Basement
When building a new home, plan the foundation to include an exterior staircase and entry basement doors. The foundati...
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10 New Uses for Old Doors
With imagination and elbow grease, you can transform that old door into a one-of-a-kind piece that's both useful and beautiful.
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Bob Vila Radio: Pocket Doors
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...
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Know Your Door Styles: 10 Popular Designs
Homeowners have no shortage of choice in selecting doors, which range from solid, flush styles to decorative, glass-paneled designs.
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How to Install a Storm Door
Installing a storm door might seem like a daunting, time-consuming task, but advances in manufacturing and design hav...
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Bob Vila Radio: Interior Lockset
Replacing an interior lockset is a pretty simple job. If you’re thinking about upgrading your doors with new doorknob...
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Enhance Your Entryway with Storm Doors
Interested in adding another layer of insulation and security to your home? Look no further than the storm door, an o...
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How to Install Bifold Doors
Sliding closet doors are a common installation in American homes, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re the best ...
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Bob Vila Radio: Pet Doors
Today’s pet doors are a far cry from the heat-stealing, wildlife-welcoming, burglary risks of yesteryear. If your yar...
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Beyond the Farm: 10 New Ideas for Barn Doors
From trendy bathrooms to hidden home offices, these barn door ideas provide an ultra-stylish solution for cramped spaces.
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Beyond the Farm: Using Barn Doors at Home
Barn doors are notable for their distinctive use of space. Rather than hang on vertical hinges and swing open, they g...
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Bob Vila Radio: Finishing Fiberglass Doors
Fiberglass doors have been popular for years now as a durable, energy-efficient alternative to wood doors that can be...
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Bob Vila Radio: Interior Doors
Interior doors have important jobs. They provide sound insulation, privacy and character to your home. Listen to BOB ...
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6 Simple & Easy DIY Closet Door Transformations
There's the big stuff—renovations, major appliances, new suites of furniture—any of which can make an obvious impact ...
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Selecting the Right Front Door
Almost no other part of your home gets as much exposure as the front door. It’s where you greet friends and family, s...
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Bob Vila Radio: Locksets
Whether you choose a handle set, lever, or knob for your entry door, you also need a deadbolt for greatest security. ...
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Product Showcase: Garage Doors
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.
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Bob Vila Radio: Garage Door Openers
Your garage door opener controls what is probably the largest moving object in your house. But it’s not actually the ...
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Are Pocket Doors Right for Your Home?
When considering whether to install a pocket door versus a regular door, it’s important to understand the differences...
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How to Replace a Window Screen
Window screening is there for a purpose. If it gets a snag, a tear, or a hole, it is much less effective at keeping i...
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Garage Door Openers 101
For decades, homeowners interested in automating their garage doors had three choices: chain-, belt- or screw-driven ...
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French Doors Everywhere
French doors have been around for centuries. Since the 17th century to be exact. The beauty of their design was certa...
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How To: Install Door Hardware
As a person who has recently upgraded from living in a garage to living in a half-constructed house, the novelty of h...
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How To: Replace a Door Closer
The door closer on my front porch—that mechanical cylindrical device that keeps the door from flying open too far and...
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Putting in a New Fireplace, Painting the Interior, and Installing Doors and Floors
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...
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Fiberglass Windows, Sliding Glass Patio Doors, and Mold-Growth Prevention
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...
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Installing the New Garage Doors
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.
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Second-Floor Plans, Door Demolition, and Staircase Disassembly
Bob goes over plans for the second floor with architect Gregory Rochlin and then joins carpenter Bob Ryley for meticulous demolition and disassembly work.
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Architectural Plans, Demolition, and Door Discovery
Work gets started as Bob and architect Gregory Rochlin discuss first-floor plans, demolition begins, and a surprising discovery is made.
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Installing Restored Brass Door Hardware and Faux Finishing the Mantelpiece
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...
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Looking Behind the Walls and Installing a Pocket Door
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.
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Replacing an Exterior Door and Windows
A new, lower-maintenance front door is installed, as well as new bay windows.
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Creating a Lattice-Top Gate and Converting a Mudroom to a Pantry
The backyard is enhanced with a lattice-top gate, and a mudroom is converted into a kitchen pantry to provide storage space.
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Cutting an Exterior Door to Fit
An energy-efficient door is cut down in size to replace the small exterior door leading to the new basement mud room.
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Replacing Sill, Repelling Insects and Rot, and Installing Sliding Doors With Custom Trim Molding
Damaged sill is replaced, the house is protected against insects and rot, and sliding doors with custom trim molding are installed.
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Applying a Textured Finish to the Drywall Interior Walls
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...
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Installing an Impact-Resistant Front Door, Electric Wiring with Metal Studs, Plumbing with Metal Studs and a Concrete Slab
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...
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Building Reinforced Concrete Storm-Ready Homes in Florida
Bob works with Scott and Aaron Renfroe to install impact-resistant windows and sliding doors.
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Pocket Door Installation
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 ...
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Hanging an Engineered Wood Six-Panel Door
Carpenter Bob Ryley and Jim Daniels (of Woodport Interior Doors) join Bob to hang a new door in the master bathroom.
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Shimming, Centering, and Hanging a Door
Carpenter Bob Ryley hangs a engineered wood door.
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Door Lock Installation
Bob Ryley is installing the new lockset from Baldwin Brass on the front door.
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French Doors and Weep Holes on the Balcony and Installing Oversized Double-Hung Windows on a Historic Property
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,...
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Choosing a Historically Appropriate Door and Creating the Jambs and Hanging a Door
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...
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Installing a Therma-Tru Pre-Hung Door
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.
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Pre-Hung Affordable Doors and Installing Pre-Primed Wood Molding
Bob points out that one huge aspect of affordability is doors, windows, and trim stock.
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Relocating the Front Door
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.
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First Floor Framing and Barn Renovation/Demolition
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...
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Shoring Up the Attic With Supports
Engineers determined that the third floor roof was weak and in need of restructuring.
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Installing French Doors
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...
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Replacing the Barn Door
Workers replace the old barn doors with an oversized Ponderosa Pine door (from KML Industries in Canada).
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Update on Deck, Breezeway, and Barn/Studio
Bob provides an update on the status of the mahogany deck, the breezeway, and the completed barn/studio.
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Tour of the Simpson Door Factory
Bob visits McCleary, WA, where Jim Fielder (from Simpson Door) takes him on a tour of the company's manufacturing plant.
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Hanging a Wood Door in the Basement
Carpenter Bob Ryley works with door hanger Steve Parks to install a wood door in the basement of the Habitat project.
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Installing a Hurricane-Resistant Door
Bob talks with, observes, and lends a helping hand to Kevin Calman (from Andersen), who is installing a hurricane-resistant Frenchwood door.
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Hanging Double Doors
Carpenters Bob Ryley and Mike Smith hang double doors at the entrance to the private family living quarters of the Virginia governor's mansion.
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Faux-Finishing the Doors
Bob looks at the old doors, then meets with local artist Elaine Havaland, who demonstrates a faux-finishing technique.
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Mounting Plantation Shutters
Carpenter Bob Ryley installs plantation shutters against a bedroom wall.
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Covering Doors with Plastic Laminate
Bob meets with architect Greg Rochlin to review the techniques used for covering a series of doors with plastic laminate.
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Installing Steel Stair Stringers for the Bulkhead
Installer Juan Gonsalves shows Bob how to install steel stair stringers.
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Installing Handicapped-Accessible Door Hardware
Bob and carpenter Bob Ryley install a Schlage interior-lever lockset.
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Mahogany Deck and Kitchen Appliances
Carpenter Bob Ryley works on the mahogany deck, while new kitchen appliances are installed and the lighting and cabinets undergo examination.
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Bathroom Remodel
Pat and Roger Simons, the owners of the second house in the Elmwood project, review the goals of their bathroom remodel.
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Porch Railing and Screen Door Installation
Carpenter Bob Ryley helps install a new porch railing and new screen doors. An underground sprinkler system is also installed.
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Installing a Brick Walkway and Porch Lighting, and Milling the Railings and Balusters
Contractors put in the brick walkway. Forester Moulding and Lumber replicates the porch railings and balusters. Also, new security and sprinkler systems are insta...
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Tour of the Restored Victorian Front Porch and Garden
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.
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Replicating Brass Door Hardware
Steve Moore (from Architectural Brass) demonstrates how to replicate a brass escutcheon plate based on a faded outline found on the door.
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Custom Door Installation
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 ...
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Wall Demolition to Create a Doorway
Bob and carpenter Bob Ryley demolish a wall on the second floor in order to connect the framed-in addition to the existing house.
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Building a Deck and Stairs
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...
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Trimming French Patio Doors
Bob joins finish carpenter Mark McCullough, who, as he works, explains the process of applying trim to French patio doors and adjacent windows.
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Federal-Style Home Restoration Update
Bob meets with restoration contractor Richard Marks, who explains the distinction between restoration and reconstruction. He and Bob also discuss the relocation o...
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Building a Door
Bob meets with contractor Bob Ryley, who outlines the door construction process and builds the first of seven doors.
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Installing a Salvaged Door
Bob helps contractor Bob Ryley install a salvaged door on the side of the dream garage, which is undergoing construction.
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Installing Pella Doors and Windows
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...
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Adding a Door to a Wood-Paneled Wall
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...
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Exterior Door Installation
Bob helps contractor Bob Ryley install the exterior kitchen door.
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Constructing a Custom-Recessed Bulkhead Door
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...
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Building and Hanging the Country-Style Door
A country-style door, built by carpenter Bob Ryley in the workshop, is hung in the new entry of the Plymouth project house.
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Installing a Pocket Door
Bob helps contractor Al Stiles change a swinging door into a relocated pocket door.
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Replacing Windows with French Doors
Bob helps contractor Al Stiles install a pair of French doors, but first they remove the old pair of jalousie windows.
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Installing New French Doors
Bob helps the contractors work on building and installing new French doors.
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Bulkhead Entrance and Trim
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.
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Continuing Work on the Bulkhead Entrance
Bob and carpentry contractor Bob Ryley continue working on the bulkhead entrance into the basement.
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Installing a Pre-Hung Front Door
Bob helps carpentry contractor Bob Ryley install the pre-hung front door, then visits Shepley Wood Products to see how the door was made.
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Installing an Iron Staircase
Ironmonger Frank Szablewski constructs an iron staircase and balcony entryway outside the front door.
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Redesigned Dining Room Tour
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...
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Installing a Solid-Core Cherry-Veneer Door
Bob helps general contractor Tim Berky put a solid-core cherry-veneer door on its bronze butt hinges, and install matching door hardware.
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Custom Trim, Windows, and Pocket Door
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...
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Removing Horsehair Plaster and Door Framing
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...
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Installing High-Performance French Doors
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...
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