Home Maintenance Tips For Your Windows And Doors!

DOORS
There are five basic door styles found in most houses:

• Exterior Entrance Doors — typically made of solid wood, metal, or fiberglass.
• Interior Doors — individual room doors can be either hollow core or solid wood.
• Sliding Doors — usually leading to a patio or deck, these doors are often make use of insulated glass for energy conservation.
• Garage Doors — most often these are overhead doors installed on metal tracks. They can be manually or electrically operated.
• Storm/Screen Doors — made of metal, wood, or fiberglass, these units are secondary doors serving a valuable seasonal function to conserve energy or keep out insects.

These doors are readily visible in most cases; however, the need for maintenance is not always as apparent. A coat of paint is the most often required maintenance for both interior and exterior doors. Doors will also require a periodic adjustment or planing of the edges to assure easy opening and closing, especially in older houses. Exterior doors should also be checked annually for suitable weatherstripping to minimize air infiltration or heat loss.

Storms and screens can become damaged during use as well as when in storage. Torn or damaged screening can be repaired or replaced, while cracked glass panels should be replaced for safety and to maintain their energy effectiveness. If the recurring breakage of glass panels occurs, an acrylic substitute (plexiglass) can be used.

Garage doors are the most neglected of all doors. If the doors are to last and function properly, they must be painted regularly and their mechanisms must be adjusted and lubricated periodically to provide for easy opening and closing. Garage doors also tend to suffer damage caused by careless driving.

WINDOWS
Aside from window storm and screen windows, there are six basic styles found in residential construction. The different styles are:

• Double-Hung — the most common type window. It consists of two sashes which slide up and down in slots in the window frame. Old units had ropes and chains or cords; newer units use a friction fit to hold open the windows. If the friction fit can no longer be adjusted to give a tight hold, this mechanism or track must be replaced.
• Sliders — sashes move side to side along sill tracks. There is a wide quality range on sliders. In some cases, only one sash is movable.
• Casement —sash is hinged at the top and bottom corners to allow for the outward motion. The window can be operated by a push bar or a crank. These units tend to warp with age or weather exposure. Also, adding storms and screens is more difficult with casement windows.
• Awning — this type window is hinged along the top and opens out at an angle resembling an “awning.” Interior opening mechanisms typically allow for storm/screen placement on the inside window frame.
• Jalousie — narrow, horizontal glass panels or slats that are controlled by a crank mechanism either collectively or in groups. Jalousie windows are not very infiltration resistant or energy efficient.
• Hinged — can be hinged at the top or the bottom. Often found in basements, hinged windows are opened by a handle or manually.

Remember, these tips are only general guidelines. Since each situation is different, contact a professional if you have questions about a specific issue. More home safety and maintenance information is available online at Lightcap.HouseMaster.com.

This information is provided for general guidance purposes only.© Copyright 2008 DBR. Each HouseMaster franchise is an independently owned and operated business. HouseMaster is a registered trademark of DBR Franchising, LLC.