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During normal use or even during hanging, a door and its frame may develop several defects.

A binding door
If the hinge side of a door comes into contact with the frame before the door is fully closed, it is probably because the hinges have been sunk too far into the door or frame. A door in this condition is said to be hinge bound. A door may also become hinge bound if the screws project out of their countersinks and stop the hinge closing fully.

This problem can be cured cither by packing out the hinge in its recess – use materials such as sandpaper, card, card¬board or hardboard – or by driving the screw fully home. In the latter case, new screws which are smaller than the original ones may be the best solution.

Insert packing beneath the hinges to cure a hinge-bound door. Protruding screws should be replaced

A sticking door
Occasionally a door may stick when it comes into contact with the frame through too much paint on the door and frame or, in the case of external doors, because the wood has swollen.

The simplest solution is to plane off a sufficient amount of wood to allow the door to close freely. Take the wood off the door, not off the frame – it is much easier. The door may have to be removed to get at the top and bottom. Take care not to overdo planing down external doors that are damp. The door will shrink when it dries out and a large gap will be left if too much is taken off.

When a door which has to pass over an uneven floor catches the floor over the high spots, you should locate the problem places on the floor, put sandpaper over them and pass the door over the sand¬paper a few times.

A sagging door
Doors usually sag because the hinges have been pulled out of the frame or door edge, or because the hinges have been strained. Hinges often work loose when a door is hinge bound. To resecure the hinges you can:

• use longer screws
• use thicker screws – size 10s instead of 8s, for example, so long as the hinges have holes and countersinks large enough to accommodate them
• insert pieces of dowel into the screw holes before putting the screws back in.

A problem with strained hinges usually means that the hinges were not big enough – a pair of 75mm hinges will generally hold an internal door, but a heavy external one may need three 100mm hinges.

With boarded and panel doors the swinging (lock) stile – the one opposite the hinges – may drop so that the door bottom catches on the floor as you open it. This sag in the frame can usually be attributed to one of two causes.

Loose joints
In framed doors – panel and boarded – the joints occasionally work loose. To resecure them, cut new wedges for the ends of the tenons and bore two holes through the stile and the tenons to take pieces of dowel. Glue the wedges and dowel firmly in place. If the tenon is broken in the mortise hole, bore two holes down the tenon into the rail and glue pieces of dowel in place to strengthen the joint.

Poor bracing
Framed boarded doors need to be properly braced. A door that is not adequately braced – because its braces are at too shallow an angle, say – has no braces, or has its braces the wrong way round will sag. Braces should have their lowest point at the swinging stile.

A ledged-and-braced door with adequate bracing. Note that the braces hold up the non-hinged side of the door

Also learn how to remove old paint and how to deal with a twisted or bowed bed.

For most home owners, a screen door is an excellent way to provide a barrier between yourself and the annoying objects that fly in to bother you from the outside world. This of course includes insects which seem to never stop bothering you no matter how busy you are and despite how many swats you’ve taken at them. And even though bugs are the main culprit and source of frustration, random objects like leaves and pine needles are also sometimes blown in from out doors. But in addition to these benefits, some home owners also want a feeling of security that standard screen doors simply cannot provide. They want to be able to rest in their homes with a feeling of comfort while their families to remain safe at night when they sleep in their beds. For this commendable need, home owners should purchase a security screen door.

A security door is built from a much heavier material than normal, ensuring a very sturdy barrier between yourself as well as your possessions and whatever person is trying to break their way in. Fastened with special bolts and clamps onto the front part of the door are steel grilles, which are used to reinforce the door and provide extra strength. These special grilles can also be made out of cast iron or a different type of strong metal. The grilles are close enough together to provide the strongest protection, but allow enough room for sunlight to reach through the glass or wire mesh that lies beneath them.

The hinges on the security door will also be made of much stronger metals then other models, very similar to the grilles which are welded securely into the exterior. With all of this metal being used on this door, one might wonder just how disruptive the iron and steel will be to the eye. You needn’t worry though, as many models of security screen doors can be very decorative, even when providing that extra layer of protection for your home. While more pleasing models are available, it is advisable that you seriously weigh the options of your purchase and decide if you value a more decorative design over a safer home when choosing your model.

Upon review, the added benefits of this model of screen door will provide you with extra security that you otherwise wouldn’t have. This added protection is something that will help you and your family sleep easier at night, so if you’re serious about needing a more secure home, a security screen door is an excellent choice.

A garage door is really one of the most important safety features you can do for your home or office. It’s not just a way to keep your vehicle out of the rain and snow. It’s an important access point that some people take for granted. If you’re going to spend money on this important part of your home, you want to make sure you get the right size door for your garage.

Measuring Made Simple

You’ll want to measure the door height and width. Since most standard doors are in even feet, that is 8 feet by 9 feet, you can use a yardstick. If you try and gauge the size with by “eyeballing” it, you could really have a problem if your “eyeball” isn’t calibrated right!

Standard Sizes

There are a few sizes of doors that are considered standard. These include 8 x7 feet, 8×8 feet, 8×9 feet, 9×8 feet, 10×7 feet, and 10×8 feet for single car garages. For double doors, the standard sizes are 12, 14, 16, and 18 feet by 7 feet and 12, 14, 16, and 18 feet by 8 feet. You can also order a custom size, but expect to pay much more.

What Other Measurements Are Needed?

You’ll also want to measure the sideroom and the headroom. This will help in determining what type of track and hardware can be installed. Most will require at least 3 ¾ inches on each side of the door and 5 ½ inches at the top. However, each manufacturer may have their own specifications. Make sure you know what these are for the type of door that you are considering.

DIY or Professional Installation?

This will depend on your skill level as a handyman! If you are going to do the install yourself, you’ll need to ensure you have the proper tools. You’ll also need someone to help you, as the door is rather large, heavy, and cumbersome. A professional may be the answer you need if the garage door sizes are custom made or very large, such as a triple door. You don’t want to try and put the door up yourself, only to have it crash down in the middle of the night!

In Closing

Since so many of the garage door sizes today are standard, there’s a pretty good chance you’ll be able to find a good deal. However, for custom doors, you can expect to pay at least twice as much and installation could cost you more as well.