Homes built before 2002, in many parts of the country, were built with standard brass hardware; not only door levers and knobs, but also hinges, door stops, cabinet hardware, bathroom hardware and front door handle sets. With the current housing market suffering and a vast majority of homes with negative equity, people want to know where to go from here. Here’s a relatively simple solution to updating a home for less time and money than even typical paint changes. Just change your hardware.
While changing your hardware is a relatively simple endeavor. I advise against customers going to the local store, less committed to spending considerably more cash and dwindling precious time. A few things to consider when changing your hardware:
- The purpose of the door hardware is the function: the door hardware must serve Security First.
- With new styles added every day, now you can improve design.
- Finish Matters: The consistency of finish throughout your home is a timeless quality signature. Order a sample, mount it and contemplate. Colors are influenced by wood tones and light.
- Install with a Purpose: Door hardware must be fixed, notched and square.
Security First: While our economy lends itself to increased crime, door security isn’t JUST about keeping your home and family safe from human intruders; intruders also take the form of foul creatures.
The owner of a beautiful home in the southern Idaho foothills called our store. It had six exterior entrances. He called hysterical: she had colonies of mice! His door hardware was insufficient to adequately support the heavy 8 foot doors that so magnificently defined his sense of style. While he looked great when he bought it, a little over a year later, the weight of the doors was too much for the rinky-dink hardware installed at great savings to the builder and cost to this family. The inside of the latches were constructed of plastic, a cheap alternative sold by one of our local sawmills. It left enough of a closing gap to serve as an open invitation for mice.
Based on current crime statistics, a high percentage of intruders enter through the front door.
Tips to ensure the security of the door
- Fixed mortise latches ensure the latch is locked in place and not easily damaged.
- The locks are often inadequate. The further the deadbolt extends into the door frame, the more secure the entry system will be. Make sure your bolt length is suitable.
- Deadbolt construction is critical so that deadbolts can withstand any degree of forced entry.
- Several brands of locks on the market use an inexpensive zinc alloy material to construct their deadbolts. This significantly reduces the cost of the latch. It also significantly reduces the life of the latch. Also, some of the most popular rule builder Lock lines used in new construction use a plastic component inside the adjustable latch. This creates a very weak security system.
Improve design: Today’s hardware market is much more diverse than it was five years ago. Design and finish options are endless within all product price groups. Look for the most design-conscious hardware brands. One such manufacturer can be found at Fusion Hardware Group dot com. Fusion is dedicated to the design styles used in modern architecture. Hardware includes door, hinge, bath, cabinet, faucets, and trim. Moen Bath Hardware and accessories can be found at CSI dot Moen dot Com. Moen now has over thirty decorative styles in various finishes. Moen Bathware Outlet is an exceptional place to shop online.
Tips for choosing the design:
- Look at your house. Evaluate the roofline, door shapes, cabinets, door designs, and any other special architectural aspects.
- Look at your decoration. What kind of furniture do you have? What colors attract you?
- Lastly, look at your options. Review the available design options.
finish matters: There are various schools of thought regarding matching finishes. Aesthetically, some designers adhere to the belief that you can coordinate too much. These designers frequently mix trim colors, using less rigid design rules to create a sense of comfort in the chaos. Opposing views would claim that accents from other decorating areas can be added, but accessories and architectural elements should create a sense of continuity throughout the home. who do you listen to? Consider visiting the most luxurious resort spa. All components are consistent and create a feeling of safe leisure. Our general attraction to these environments supports our inner desire for sensible décor. Face it; those that intermingle, are deeply connected with eclectic pieces or their perception of budgetary requirements has dictated a mix and match approach.
Mismatched finishing hardware distracts the eye and takes attention away from other key aspects of the home. What matches is rarely noticed; as it should be with hardware.
The colors of the walls and wood, combined with the source of natural light, dramatically impact our perception of the hardware finish.
Tips for choosing the finish:
- Use a sample cabinet knob against the wood finishes inside your home, to properly assess the finish color of your choice.
- Use a sample of robe hooks in your bathrooms, against colored walls, to determine the best finish option for your bathroom fixtures.
- Find matching faucets to match your bathroom and kitchen fixtures.
- Consider the colors of your appliances. A brass or copper finish with hardware doesn’t necessarily complement stainless steel appliances. Wood tones should also be considered if stainless steel is your choice of appliance.
Install with Purpose: Great care is taken in selecting accessories, colors, flooring, and countless other components of home design and structure. The doors are chosen to reflect the architectural style of the house. Be very careful with the hardware.
Mortized or Drive In? Most of the time, your builder will make this call for you, so stay informed.
- Shroud: noun a notch, hole, groove, or groove made in a piece of wood or the like to receive a tenon of the same dimensions. A deep hole cut in wood for any of several other purposes, such as to receive a mortise lock.
- Drive in: verb the contractor does just that: with a hammer he drives this premium quality latch into the hole in the door… with a hammer? Yes, with a hammer! I wonder how long his supremacy will last.
Door hardware is not our only consideration when addressing installation errors. Cabinet hardware plays a very important role kitchen jewelry role. Very often it is installed without taking into account the aesthetic that it is intended to create. There are a number of solutions for cabinets that have already been drilled. A decorative back plate can hide many flaws. Bathroom hardware installation requires the use of a level. Offset towel rails and toilet paper holders can be very distracting.
I highly recommend going with a company that offers installed sales. There is nothing worse than investing in quality hardware that services your home on a daily basis only to immediately depreciate it with poor and inadequate installation. One up-and-coming company that offers both professional in-home sales from highly-skilled design professionals and professional installation is Vicinity Hardware.
Avoid some common mistakes:
- Department Stores: Most of the designer items offered at Lowes and Home Depot require a special order. They can’t key their input systems equally, in the store. There are hardware vendors that offer this service to their customers.
- DIY: Door Hardware is a complicated industry. If you want to do the job yourself, be sure to use a hardware vendor like Vicinity Hardware who will serve as your educational guide through the entire process.
- Hardware Warranty: Be sure to inquire about both the finish and mechanical warranty for the hardware you are choosing. Often the warranty is only valid for the original owner. This poses a problem if you are preparing your home for sale.
- You get what you pay for: If it’s the cheapest option out there, be prepared to pay in the long run.
Hardware is a daily hands-on experience. Touch it and use it. Studies indicate that the perception of value within the real estate market is within a small variance of finishing components, including countertops, doors, windows, and hardware. Consider the activity in your home on a daily basis. From opening cabinets to closet doors, to getting in and out of your home; hardware is affected countless times, each and every day. We only directly notice hardware when it interferes with our ability to use it. In this way, hardware is the most used accessory within any home and the most overlooked element of function and design. Expect to spend a bit more to ensure the life of your hardware; a worthwhile investment that will open the door to value.
