Door Dress Up
By: Amanda Campbell
Updated: March 3, 2011
If you’ve looked at the front of your house lately and thought that it needs to be brightened up, there’s several ways you can add curb appeal to your home without breaking the bank.
You can add a new brass handle set, deadbolt lock, door knocker/peephole and kick plate for less than 150 dollars and three hours of your time.
They are good do it yourself projects and you can dramatically upgrade the look of your home’s entryway.
Deadbolt
If your front door knob and deadbolt are dingy and weathered looking, install a new deadbolt. The deadbolt lock comes in a kit with everything you’ll need to install the lock.
The only tool you’ll need is a Phillip’s head screwdriver.
The Schlage system comes with a template and step by step instructions that show how to install the locks in the holes that currently house the deadbolt you want to replace. It literally takes a few minutes to complete the change out.
Handleset
Replace that dingy doorknob with a shiny brass handleset. Use the Phillip’s head screwdriver to take out the two screws holding in the old knob. Slide the handleset into the hole that housed the old knob.
Be sure that the top of the new handleset (which will sit on the door’s exterior) is flush with the door, check the alignment of the handle to make sure it’s straight, then use a carpenter’s pencil to mark the door through the mounting hole in the bottom of the handle.
Remove the handleset from the door. Then, drill a pilot hole on the mark you’ve made. Put the handleset back onto the door, and use a mounting screw that comes with the kit to attach it to the front of the door.
The (interior) door knob that comes in the kit fits with the front plate like hand in glove and attaches with two brass screws (which are included in the kit).
Kick Plate
Let’s face it, front doorways are high traffic areas and because of that doors take a lot of abuse especially along the bottom part near the porch. Scuff marks from shoes, cracking, chipping and all kinds of scratches can detract from your door’s appearance. Adding a brass kick plate not only adds welcome color to the area, but it protects your door as well.
It’s important that you measure the area along the bottom of your door to determine if you need to purchase the 6” or 8” height of plate so that it’s aesthetically pleasing. For example, you may have panels or trim that will help you determine what size to buy. Once you’ve measured and bought the kick plate, it will take only minutes to further beautify your front door.
If you’re doing the project alone, it’s difficult to hold the kick plate in place on the door at a level angle, and mark the holes you need to drill to attach it to the door. So here’s a tip: Take some masking tape, and stick it on the back of the kick plate. Then put the plate up to the door, using your eye to determine the placement so that it is level. Also, ALWAYS install the kick plate with the door close so that you don’t install it improperly and come away with a plate that’s not centered or gets caught in the door jamb when the door is closed.
With the masking tape holding the plate in place, to further check your accuracy, use a level to make sure the plate is centered on the door and isn’t out of kilter. Once you’ve done these steps, use a carpenter’s pencil, find the pre-drilled holes on the kick plate, mark the door and you’re ready to drill the pilot holes for the mounting screws. Remove the kick plate from the door after you’ve marked the pilot holes, so that you don’t damage the plate’s appearance. Once the holes are drilled, line up the kick plate and use the screws included in the mounting kit to attach it to the door.
TIP: DO NOT tighten the screws hard against the door. If you tighten the mounting screws too tight, it will dimple the kick plate and leave you with an unsightly addition to your front door.
House Numbers
Adding house numbers to your door jamb will definitely be the icing on the cake. Not only will it tie all the other brass additions together, but it’s easy to install. Before you install the new brass numbers, if you have older numbers on the house, use a flat head screwdriver and gently work it behind the existing numerals and gently pry them out of the door jamb. They’re usually attached with small nails so this is not a difficult process to complete.
With the Ives Schlage brass numbers, you may have to drill new pilot holes to mount the brass numbers but just mark the door jamb through the screw holes in the numbers and you’re ready to attach them. Use the screws that come in the numbers kits and attach them to the door frame. By doing these simple and quick projects you can really enhance the looks of your home.
You can add a new brass handle set, deadbolt lock, door knocker/peephole and kick plate for less than 150 dollars and three hours of your time.
They are good do it yourself projects and you can dramatically upgrade the look of your home’s entryway.
Deadbolt
If your front door knob and deadbolt are dingy and weathered looking, install a new deadbolt. The deadbolt lock comes in a kit with everything you’ll need to install the lock.
The only tool you’ll need is a Phillip’s head screwdriver.
The Schlage system comes with a template and step by step instructions that show how to install the locks in the holes that currently house the deadbolt you want to replace. It literally takes a few minutes to complete the change out.
Handleset
Replace that dingy doorknob with a shiny brass handleset. Use the Phillip’s head screwdriver to take out the two screws holding in the old knob. Slide the handleset into the hole that housed the old knob.
Be sure that the top of the new handleset (which will sit on the door’s exterior) is flush with the door, check the alignment of the handle to make sure it’s straight, then use a carpenter’s pencil to mark the door through the mounting hole in the bottom of the handle.
Remove the handleset from the door. Then, drill a pilot hole on the mark you’ve made. Put the handleset back onto the door, and use a mounting screw that comes with the kit to attach it to the front of the door.
The (interior) door knob that comes in the kit fits with the front plate like hand in glove and attaches with two brass screws (which are included in the kit).
Kick Plate
Let’s face it, front doorways are high traffic areas and because of that doors take a lot of abuse especially along the bottom part near the porch. Scuff marks from shoes, cracking, chipping and all kinds of scratches can detract from your door’s appearance. Adding a brass kick plate not only adds welcome color to the area, but it protects your door as well.
It’s important that you measure the area along the bottom of your door to determine if you need to purchase the 6” or 8” height of plate so that it’s aesthetically pleasing. For example, you may have panels or trim that will help you determine what size to buy. Once you’ve measured and bought the kick plate, it will take only minutes to further beautify your front door.
If you’re doing the project alone, it’s difficult to hold the kick plate in place on the door at a level angle, and mark the holes you need to drill to attach it to the door. So here’s a tip: Take some masking tape, and stick it on the back of the kick plate. Then put the plate up to the door, using your eye to determine the placement so that it is level. Also, ALWAYS install the kick plate with the door close so that you don’t install it improperly and come away with a plate that’s not centered or gets caught in the door jamb when the door is closed.
With the masking tape holding the plate in place, to further check your accuracy, use a level to make sure the plate is centered on the door and isn’t out of kilter. Once you’ve done these steps, use a carpenter’s pencil, find the pre-drilled holes on the kick plate, mark the door and you’re ready to drill the pilot holes for the mounting screws. Remove the kick plate from the door after you’ve marked the pilot holes, so that you don’t damage the plate’s appearance. Once the holes are drilled, line up the kick plate and use the screws included in the mounting kit to attach it to the door.
TIP: DO NOT tighten the screws hard against the door. If you tighten the mounting screws too tight, it will dimple the kick plate and leave you with an unsightly addition to your front door.
House Numbers
Adding house numbers to your door jamb will definitely be the icing on the cake. Not only will it tie all the other brass additions together, but it’s easy to install. Before you install the new brass numbers, if you have older numbers on the house, use a flat head screwdriver and gently work it behind the existing numerals and gently pry them out of the door jamb. They’re usually attached with small nails so this is not a difficult process to complete.
With the Ives Schlage brass numbers, you may have to drill new pilot holes to mount the brass numbers but just mark the door jamb through the screw holes in the numbers and you’re ready to attach them. Use the screws that come in the numbers kits and attach them to the door frame. By doing these simple and quick projects you can really enhance the looks of your home.
