HAWKESBURY INDEPENDENT | Page 51

e // om h garden Stop at The Door Shoppe Every home has them and every home needs them and most homes may even look a tad silly and be quite impractical without them. We all use them dozens of times every day without the slightest thought, and many of us would be totally lost without them. They provide us with peace of mind security and protection, They harbour us from Mother Nature’s elements, can offer us wonderful and timely relief from noisy neighbours and boisterous children and even give us those precious moments of privacy we all relish and take for granted every day! You may have guessed already - we are talking about the humble door! So often overlooked when renovating as function usually takes priority, the aesthetic value of our doors can sometimes be just as important and beneficial as their functional value. We have to live in our homes every day and as with wall colours, furniture styles and floor coverings, We have to also like and appreciate the look of our doors. What is pleasing to the eye can enhance our moods and helps to create a comfortable and harmonious family environment. The positive impact of upgrading tired old doors can be huge and does not need to be a daunting or expensive process. Quite often the results achieved by changing your existing doors can be one of the most cost effective and rewarding forms of renovating. Other people’s impressions can be long lasting and usually the first thing visitors notice when arriving and the last they see when leaving is, you guessed it, our humble front door! Whilst there are numerous companies able to supply and install doors, a DIY approach is not that difficult and can save hundreds or even thousands of dollars depending on your requirements. One of the local Hawkesbury door retailers, Howard Smith, owner/ proprietor of The Door Shoppe in Richmond, has provided some easy and handy tips on how to hang a door for those wishing to have a go themselves and save a few dollars.  Howard says: “Fitting or hanging a door does not need to be a difficult or stressful process, it’s a matter of taking your time, having the right tools, a pinch of common sense and an ounce of patience and, oh yeah, plenty of tea or coffee available!” The right tools: correct size screwdrivers, chisels, drill bits, hammer, tape measure, razor knife, pencils, straightedge, wedge-door chocks, saw, planner, belt sander, drill. Step 1: Close the door that is to be replaced and observe how snug it fits the door jamb. Take notice of the gaps around the outside of the door. To allow for variations in weather and house movement this gap should be 3mm at top and sides and 5mm at the bottom. Plan to allow for this clearance when marking the new door. Step 2: To remove the old door, slightly tap wedges or chocks under centre or leading edge of door to hold the weight whilst the hinge screws are removed. Starting from bottom hinge and working your way to the top remove the screws from the door only, leaving the hinges attached to the jamb. Depending on the weight and size of the door you may need a helping hand to balance the now detached door. if the screws attaching the hinges to the jambs are sound and tight these are better left undisturbed, if not they may need replacing with a larger more appropriate screw. Step 3: Remove any handles and hardware from the old door. Place this door face to face against the new door noting which way it will swing. Some internal doors only have a lock block on one side so be mindful of this and follow manufacturer’s directions. Trace old door onto new door and trim to size if required. Again follow manufacturer’s directions, some doors are limited to how much they can be trimmed. Now place face to face again and accurately transfer hinge markings with a sharp pencil or razor knife. With a sharp chisel check out for hinges. Step 4: Re-chock door as before and move into position to align hinges. Depending on the size and weight of the door drill and fix 1-2 screws per hinge to temporally hold the door whilst function and sizing is checked. When satisfied, remove and seal door with 1-2 Coates primer/ sealer on all surfaces. Replace door and drill and fix remaining hinge screws. Fit any locks or hardware as per manufacturer’s directions. The last and most important point to remember is to paint your new door thoroughly; otherwise you may be replacing it sooner than you think. Best of luck!  For further advice on how to hang a door or to take advantage of Door Shoppe’s fantastic June sale, visit Howard at The Door Shoppe, located at 40 Bowman Street, Richmond. Open to the public every Saturday 9am-5pm. EVERY SATURDAY IN june • FANTASTIC SAVINGS huge june clearance sale • new doors • LIQUIDATED STOCK • CANCELLED ORDERS • FACTORY SECONDS charm and character Nothing beats the charm and character of a traditional handmade leadlight entrance door We have a beautiful range of styles from only $195 Solid timber for staining or factory primed for painting entrance makeover New look modern entrance door - can supply matching glass for side panels for a total makeover Cheaper than you think! Doors from $195 open saturdays only fantastic saving RRP $245 Solid timber 4 panel internal doors in 5 sizes. Paint or stain from only $139 each fantastic saving!! bs or jam maple do only sizes now assorted save $$$ We have a great selection of entrance door sets 2, 3 and 4 door combinations in a variety of modern and traditional styles From a crazy $425 3 door set $25 per set FACTORY PRIMED Cancelled Orders & Factory Seconds Entrance