| #ffffff;" /> | | | | your doorknobs will pop out of the door easily, allowing |
| You home may be your castle, but even the lords and | | | | you to add a new one in minutes. |
| ladies had to eventually hang a “For | | | | Here are the basics: |
| Sale” sign out on their sprawling estates. | | | | 1. Remove the old doorknobs. Find the side with the |
| Of course, kings and queens didn’t have to | | | | screws and loosen them until you can pull the bolts out. |
| worry about such paltry details as doorknobs. They | | | | 2. Insert the new lock with the screw holes on the |
| hadn’t become popular yet. Most of the | | | | same side as the one you just removed. Line the two |
| doorways in castles were covered with portieres, | | | | sides up so the shaft slides into the other side of the |
| fancy tapestries of silk that were embroidered. These | | | | lock. Make sure they are both aligned. |
| kept the drafts out of the various rooms without | | | | If you’re replacing the latch as well, remove the |
| having to constantly push open a heavy oak door. | | | | faceplate and pull the old latch out first. Then insert the |
| These were left to the exterior entrances where stout | | | | new one before doing step 2. |
| hearted men could move them with ease. | | | | 3. Once the shaft is inserted, tighten the bolts until they |
| If you’re contemplating selling your own estate, | | | | are snug but not fully tightened. Test your doorknobs. If |
| you probably can’t get away with installing | | | | they stick, it’s an alignment issue. If the latch |
| portieres. No matter how grand they may look to you, | | | | doesn’t retract when you twist the knob, you |
| the buyer may not be so impressed. | | | | didn’t catch the latch when you inserted the |
| But there’s an easier way to give your doors a | | | | shaft. Loosen the bolts and recapture the latch. |
| brand new look without replacing them entirely. | | | | 4. Test again. If everything works correctly, tighten the |
| The secret is doorknobs. Doorknobs, which are also | | | | bolts snugly so they hold the doorknobs in place. |
| call locksets, allow you to put a new face on your | | | | Don’t over tighten or the knobs can damage |
| door without facing the prospect of having to replace it | | | | the door or ruin the alignment. |
| entirely. In fact, with the right doorknobs a buyer may | | | | That’s all there is to it really. Doorknobs are |
| not even notice the door itself, taken instead with your | | | | very easy to replace and will give your doors an |
| fantastic selection of wood, stone, glass or metal | | | | entirely new look. |
| knobs in an endless array of styles and shapes. | | | | If you plan to keep your existing doorknobs but they |
| Replacing doorknobs is easy too. It's one of the | | | | stick, try a lubricant on them. WD-40 works well. |
| easiest things you can do in the way of home | | | | Sewing machine oil is another good choice. |
| improvements actually. Just by removing two screws, | | | | |