Replacing an old wooden door is an easy afternoon DIY project and you probably have the basic tools required. Watch our easy solution in Sixty Simple Seconds
Exterior wooden doors are subject to weather extremes and often deteriorate long before the door frame. Rather than tear out the entire door and frame, you can replace the old door by matching up the existing hinges on a new door slab and installing it on the existing frame. Watch this episode of 60 Simple Seconds for a quick look at how to replace a wooden door.
Decorative art glass tiles are simply hand-crafted tiles made by fusing layers of colored and clear glass together in a kiln. These tiles come in various sizes, in a spectrum of transparent and opaque colors, and can be fused to glass blocks. Five popular places to use this decorative glass element in your home include the bathroom, kitchen, entryway, den, and accent walls.
Leaded glass windows can enhance the architectural impact of many different homes and are characteristic of several schools of design including Victorian, Prairie School, and Art Deco. We provide seven tips to help you select the right decorative leaded glass window for virtually any room of your house.
7 Ways to Brighten Your Home with Vinyl Framed Glass Block Windows
Written by Mike Foti Wed May 18 2011 12:00amGlass block windows may seem like too heavy a product for residential use. However, 2” thick glass blocks that are built inside vinyl frames have come on the market, and these windows are not only strong (because they are constructed with vinyl spacers between the blocks) but also come in a wide variety of colors and frosted and etched patterns and are easy to install. Here are seven projects that feature glass block windows, which are increasingly popular in bathrooms, kitchens, and basements.
Are your carpets faded by the sun? Are your heating and cooling costs derailing the family budget? Are you having issues of privacy from noisy neighbors? If you’re experiencing any of these problems you’re not alone. Here are four reasons you might want to replace an old window with an acrylic block window.
If you want to create a glass block wall that steps down, then the double-ended glass block is for you. Although double-ended glass block looks great, you must design with it in the right way for a successful project. Keep these points in mind for your step-down wall.
I’ve been asked the question over and over: Should I use glass blocks or acrylic blocks for my window project? While I will admit to having a bias (I’ve been in the glass block business for over 25 years), my companies sell both glass and acrylic products and I try to recommend what’s best for the customer. Here are my pointers on how to choose between these two different materials.
Exterior prehung doors allow you to replace your existing exterior door and frame with a single unit that includes a door, glazing, frame, threshold, weatherstripping, exterior trim, and predrilled holes for a lockset. According to CostHelper.com and depending on size, style, type, and material, a new exterior prehung door could cost anywhere from $75 to $5,000. Once you have ordered and received your new exterior prehung door, you can begin removal and installation.
Depending on the age of your home, you may have single-pane windows or double-pane insulated windows. Replacing a broken single-pane window can be easily accomplished by a homeowner with the right tools, materials, and a little time, over the period of a week or so. However, if a double-pane insulated window breaks, you will need to replace it. You should contact the manufacturer of the window and replace the affected wooden glazed sash or vinyl window glass pack. If you cannot locate the manufacturer, you should hire a local glazier to replace the broken glass with a custom-fit sash or glass pack.
The Importance of Sealing the Building Envelope
Written by Fernando Pages Ruiz Thu Apr 07 2011 12:00amYou already know the basics of sealing: you do it every time you zip up your jacket or lift your collar against the wind. Sealing a home works on the same principle, reducing air infiltration through the walls, ceilings, and floors to save energy and stay comfy. Just as you do a jacket, it’s best to button up – or seal – the shell of your home, or the “envelope,” as the exterior of your home is called in trade parlance. Older homes may have had no sealing done at all, and not all builders of new homes do a great job of sealing a house, even when sealing is required by today’s energy codes. We researched the best products and spoke to several experts to learn how to tighten the envelope of your home, save energy, and keep out the cold.
Effective air sealing comes with workmanship. No matter what brand of housewrap you choose, you will be wasting your money unless you install it carefully. Getting the installation right is not hard, but it requires a basic understanding of how housewrap works. Detailed installation instructions can be found on manufacturers’ Web sites and often at the lumberyard or home center where housewrap is purchased.
If your interior doors are severely stuck, rubbing, scratched, have holes, damaged beyond repair, or just don’t fit with your style, installing new prehung doors will sharpen the appearance of any room in your home and provide easy, daily operation. Installing a prehung door after removing an existing door isn't as difficult as you might think. With some patience and a little know-how, installing a prehung interior door is a project any DIY'er can do.
