Hello World! Welcome Friends! According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, contact with objects is a leading cause of injury and hospitalizations. In 2019-2020 alone, an estimate of around 20,000 hospitalizations has been recorded in Australia due to injuries from falls or contact with objects, including doors.
These data are enough reasons to consider replacing your old door with a new one that will provide better protection against these accidents. But what if you don’t have the money to buy a brand-new door?
There are still ways to repair your existing interior door to be more durable and safer. Here are six of the most common interior door problems and ways to solve them:
Worn-Out Door Hinges
The door hinge hardware is often an under appreciated member of the hardware department, but hinges are important because they help keep your door closed and prevent it from swinging open. When damaged, they may not malfunction and cause injuries such as jammed fingers or broken bones.
The best way to fix worn-out hinges is to replace them with new ones. You can find replacement hinges at any hardware store. Start by removing the screws holding the hinge together, then remove the hinge plate and clean it thoroughly. Next, apply wood glue on both sides of the hinge and put it back together. Finally, secure the screws back in place.
Cracked Door Frame
Cracks in your door frame can also pose a danger by swinging open unexpectedly, causing it to fall. It’s therefore advisable to fix cracks in your door frame immediately. You can repair cracks in your frame by patching them up using wood filler. Make sure you apply enough of it so there will no longer be any visible traces of the crack.
Holes In Your Door
Holes happen on wooden doors and are usually caused by insects. However, they can also be caused by nails or screws. Regardless of the cause, repairing holes in your door is essential to ensure safety.
Holes in your door can be repaired using wood putty. Clean the area where the hole is located first. Then, mix some wood putty and water until you have a smooth paste. Apply the mixture onto the hole and leave it to dry. Once it has dried, sand it down to remove any excess putty.
Paint Peeling Off
Peeling paint is another problem that needs to be fixed right away. Not only does it affect the appearance of your door, but it can also pose a risk to your health. For example, you risk being injured by splinters when you touch them.
You can quickly fix this problem by applying a coat of primer over the entire door surface. Afterward, apply two coats of paint. To avoid repainting your door more often, choose a semi-gloss finish instead of a flat one.
Malfunctioning Lock Mechanism
A malfunctioning lock mechanism can be dangerous and allow intruders into your home without you knowing about it. There have been 238,100 home break-ins reported across Australia between 2020 and 2021.
To prevent this from happening to your home, you must check your locks regularly. There are several ways to repair a malfunctioning lock mechanism, depending on what kind of lock you have, including:
- Old-Fashioned Keyed Lock: Unscrew the cylinder from the door. Then, remove the pins from the inside of the door. Lastly, insert the pins into the cylinder and screw the cylinder back into place.
- Deadbolt Lock: Remove the bolt itself. Then, slide the latch plate out of the way. Finally, replace the bolts and the latch plate.
- Lever Handle Lock: Push the handle toward the center of the door. Then, pull the knob outwards. Replace the knob and the handle.
- Mortise Lock: Drill a small hole at the top of the door, then use a screwdriver to pry open the door. Unscrew while holding the plate in place, slide the strike plate out of the way, and replace the screws.
However, you may not be able to repair a malfunctioning door lock immediately, but you can always call a locksmith to help you and advise you on how to proceed.
Broken or Loose Door Handle
According to the Australian Standards and National Construction Codes, quality door handles shall allow the user to unlock and open the door with one hand and grip it without slipping from the handle when operating the latch.
Therefore, if you notice that your door handle doesn’t comply with these standards anymore, you should get it replaced or repaired immediately.
To repair it yourself, you must first determine whether the handle is broken or loose. If it’s broken, you can simply unscrew it and replace it with a new one. However, if it’s loose, you must drill new holes for the screws, and install the screws and tighten them so that the handle stays firmly in place.
Final Thoughts
Interior doors are essential elements of your home that provide security and privacy. However, like everything else, they need maintenance to prevent any problems. Thus, follow the tips above to keep your interior doors in good condition, and you’ll soon enjoy a beautiful and functional interior door again.
Click the links below for any posts you have missed:
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4 Tips For Stress-Free Junk Removal and Hauling
Using Technology to Drive Down the Cost of Real Estate
Sport-Related Injuries and the Treatments You Must Know About
6 Solutions For Old or Damaged Roofs
3 Ways to Make Your Home More Comfortable and Inviting
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Toodles,
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