Your Guide to Child-Proofing Interior and Exterior Doors

We’re talking about childproofing doors as it’s a very reasonable and useful, cost-effective way of ensuring your child’s safety when you’re busy doing something, and you can’t quite get there quickly enough to deal with your child’s natural curiosity.

As you will no doubt know, there are safety risks everywhere and in order to keep your children safe, you need to ensure that there are no hidden dangers lurking around to hurt your child.

Door securing devices are available both online and in DIY hardware stores near you.

Sometimes your child wants to follow you out of a room, or they want to know what’s going on behind that door. In order to stop this and prevent a potential injury, you can baby-proof, doors, handles, knobs and both interior and sliding doors. There are what’s known as door securing devices which you can buy at any local DIY store or online. These will help with injuries such as trapped fingers, which can be extremely painful resulting in bruising and in some instances broken bones.

Let’s start with exterior doors

Exterior doors are particularly tricky because they lead to the most exciting adventures for any child - the outside world. And most of the dangers you find outside can be deadly.  A child will always want to know what’s going on in the outside world. In order to avoid them going outside without your knowledge and meeting traffic, strangers, water or balconies if you’re upstairs, then there are a number of things you can do.

A security chain

This is a great way of stopping your child from getting outside as is a deadbolt. If you secure them above the handle and quite high up you’ll ensure your child can’t reach up and open it, especially if they’re mischievous enough to reach for a chair.

A door knob cover

This can be found to cover most door knobs and they’re excellent for preventing children from opening a door. They work much like the cap of a medicine bottle and remain on your door knob all the time without you having to take them on and off, preventing them from getting lost.

Lever-style handles

These are very easy for children to open but you can get specifically designed covers for these types of doors using either screws or adhesive strips.

Sliding doors

A sliding door can also be secured by using what’s known as flip locks that stick to the glass, again using adhesive strips. 

Interior doors to certain high-danger rooms need to be secured so your child is safe.

Interior doors also need locking devices to stop your children from getting out and into the middle of something that could cause all manner of injuries, such as burning, broken bones or head injuries. As you can imagine some rooms need entry restrictions more than others such as the kitchen, and any room where repairs are carried out. Or a media room with a lot of tech which means plugs and sockets.

Door top locks.

One of the ways you can protect the little ones is to invest in a door top lock which will work with most interior doors. This type of lock is installed onto the door and frame and locks and unlocks whichever side of the door you’re on. The latches can’t be removed or opened if they are installed high enough.

A door monkey

This will clip onto a door frame keeping it slightly ajar. This will lock the door but in an open position, not too open, but the idea is to allow air and small pets into the room. However, small children shouldn’t be able to get in or out. What’s also good is that it doesn’t allow any opportunity for fingers to get trapped in a door before it shuts, thus avoiding broken and bruised fingers.

A door unlock release

This will stop a child from accidentally locking themselves into a room by allowing the property owner to open the door from the other side. All you’ll need to do is tempt it open with a safety pin or a screwdriver, preferably something long that can get into the crack in the door and release the door unlock mechanism.

The Replacement Door Company - for the best quality internal doors and external doors.

As we’ve seen there are many solutions you can try to secure both your external doors and internal doors safely. This also keeps your children safe from harm, allowing you peace of mind, knowing your child can’t cause harm to themselves potentially leading to serious injury or in some extreme cases, death. If you have any questions about what we’ve discussed today why not give us a call here at The Replacement Door Company. If you think you’d like to ask about our comprehensive range of doors then ask away, we’re always happy to help!

Signs You Need Replacement Doors

When should your replace your doors? Is there a tipping point where you realise there’s something that needs to be done, when it’s literally falling off its hinges perhaps, or possibly when you hear a squeak you can no longer tolerate?

Internal Doors

Sometimes it’s difficult to know when its time to replace your doors, but we’d recommend that you do it before they’re literally falling off their hinges. For internal doors you may be happy to leave it for a while or for as long as possible because you have other priorities. However, leaving it until they’re letting drafts in and make a noise every time they’re opened can be irritating and costly in terms of energy bills. 

There are signs you can look out for before they’re literally falling apart in front of your very eyes. There are certain things to look out for, such as:

• The doors are difficult to open and shut - it could be that it’s now warped and mishappen with time and use or it may not have been installed properly at the start

• It could be more visual, the doors may look damaged and showing signs of use. They could be peeling, scratched and have greasy stains from hand use that won’t shift.

• They let in cold drafts which could be costly in terms of energy bills

• The doors are noisy, which can be alleviated temporarily by using some oil or water on the hinges, but this doesn’t last and you have to keep doing it. It could be time for a change.

External Doors

External doors are the same in terms of the signs of wear and tear as internal doors. 

For instance, you may have been feeling a draft through the front door, which again can be costly in terms of energy costs. If you have glass panes there may be moisture between the panes, this is a telltale sign of wear and tear which could cause issues with insulation over time.

If your front door is old, it could be that any glass panes you have are only single glazed which makes them less likely to be energy efficient.

They may also scrape along the floor and be very difficult to open and close. As with internal doors, external doors can look visually unappealing and worn out with peeling paint and scratches and stains. This is does no bode well if you’re thinking of selling because first impressions count, and you really want to make a good impression on visitors. Curb appeal is real!

The Replacement Door Company - for the replacement of internal and external doors.

Whether you’re looking for a new internal door or a snappy new exterior door we’ve got a pretty impressive range of replacement doors in a variety of materials and there’s bound to be something that suits. If you’re in doubt as to what you’re looking for then why not give us a call, there’s always someone here happy to help.

Choosing Energy Efficient Doors

With energy prices going up it stands to reason that we need to save on energy, and there’s no better way to do that than to start with doors and windows. Our emphasis here of course is on doors, because that’s what we sell, and if you choose an energy efficient door, you will start to see savings. Not only will you save on energy costs you’ll also reduce your carbon footprint, and that has to be a good thing - right?

Energy efficiency for insulation and draught exclusion.

Energy efficiency doors can include insulation and draught proofing to stop heat escaping. Most new external and internal doors will contain insulation within them because they are duty bound to comply with building regulations. This is good news, and as well as insulation and draught proofing they can also be improved even more with draught proof strips that are used around the letterbox seals.

Once your doors are worn out, replace them as soon as possible with energy efficient doors.

The best time to replace your doors with more energy efficient ones is around the time they appear damaged and old, because it’s now that you’ll start to notice how inefficient they are when it comes to conserving energy. Older doors won’t have the right materials that are made to stop draughts and insulate your home, and will cost you more in energy as heat is lost.

When older worn and damaged doors are still in use they won’t be properly insulated and this will cause air to leak causing cold drafts. No matter how much you heat up the room it will still seem cold, you crank the heating up - and er…nada. Cold drafts will render whatever heating system you have useless. By replacing them you’re preparing for a potentially harsh winter both economically and environmentally.

The Replacement Door Company - for energy efficient doors both external and internal.

If you’re looking for a replacement door that provides more energy efficiency and keeps those energy bills down this winter, take a look around our website and see our wide range of internal doors and external doors that are energy efficient. We’re here to help, so don’t hesitate to contact us should you have any questions.

Choosing the Best Door For Your Bathroom

So you’re refurbishing your bathroom and usually the very last thing on your mind is the door. Your focus of course is on the bathroom itself, any storage you think you need and any other furnishings. What else can you fit in there?  A bidet perhaps, or a claw foot bath wouldn’t look a miss. Figure in your towels, power shower and to tile or not to tile and you have a lot to think about. 

However, what about the door?

It’s nowhere near as inconsequential as you think. It really does matter, after all the door can really let the rest of your bathroom down. It’s the entry and exit and first impressions count. Don’t let it be a shabby affair. It needs to allow your bathroom shine and to be the bathroom entrance people won’t forget, something that compliments without overpowering the rest of the room. 

Things to consider.

Are there any light issues and how much maintenance are you prepared to deal with? After all, you’ll need to consider the amount of moisture your bathroom is going to produce, and how it can warp and crack a poorly made door. If you’ve chosen one that’s not been treated, that will take time to prep before you hang it.

Steam and moisture can cause their own problems with your bathroom door.

As you can imagine, a bathroom needs to be robust enough to take all that steam and moisture, regardless of whether it’s open or closed. 

Functional and aesthetically pleasing - a bathroom door that ticks all the boxes.

Bathrooms are normally smaller than the other rooms in a house, try to find a door that’s functional as well as aesthetically pleasing. A glass door will give you much needed light if that’s what’s been missing, or maybe a laminated door is a good choice, especially if you’re not looking for hard work once you’ve had it fitted with maintenance and treatments. 

Large handles and sliding doors.

A large handle is good for those with grip problems and can also give a sharp and funky look to a bathroom door. If you’re having problems with space and want to avoid it feeling cramped, sliding doors may be a good option. 

Frosted glass and solid materials.

Because we’ve mentioned the moisture issue, you may be wondering about which material is suitable for your bathroom door. As well as moisture it can also be prone to splashes and stains from creams, moisturizers and other liquids so it helps if the door is robust. Glass can be frosted to ensure privacy or possibly a more solid material with a secure lock.

Wooden Bathroom Doors

This is a great choice, and it’s a material that’s both durable and flexible. If it’s finished properly it’s perfect, although if not then it could be prone to cracking and warping. Wax, varnish or paint your door and the seal this gives will provide protection against moisture.

Speak to the Experts

Whether you choose sliding doors for their ease of access or wood for its traditional and classic look functionality, you can guarantee that here at The Replacement Door Company we will have what you need. Take a look around our site and find your new bathroom door, and if you have any questions just contact us.

Your Guide to Treating Oak Doors

Once you get your oak door home you need to mount it. Your oak door will need treating, and we would suggest that once you get it home, if you’re not mounting it right away, you repackage your door for now to prevent moisture getting into the wood. If an oak door is exposed to moisture it can swell and warp and that’s the last thing you need. Where you store them it’s also important to make sure the area is dry and free of damp.

What will you need to treat your oak doors?

We would suggest some dust sheets to avoid a mess, some sanding pads, protective clothing, which should include some goggles and mask, a varnish brush, masking tape, lint free cloth and latex gloves.

The sandpaper you use, so you can apply the oil, should be between 80-120 grit. This will allow the oil to absorb into the wood. You can then apply around 2 coats of hardwax oil. Apply an even layer of oil with long and even strokes following the grain. Once it’s dried, apply a second coat. 

Maintaining Oak Doors

You can top up for the lifetime of your oak door to keep its pristine condition. If any part of it becomes damaged over time, we would suggest a cleaner and thin layer of oil. That is after you’ve cleaned it, the oil can go over the untreated area of wood. Maintaining its classic look will help your oak door last for many years to come. Oak doors deserve good care and attention because they will give you so much in return. 

Wood, especially oak, is a traditional, classic and sustainable material.

It looks good in any traditional or modern home and will fit in with whatever interior design theme you have going on. It pays to buy wood because after the initial investment and the treatments you apply, your oak doors will last many years.

Here at The Replacement Door Company we have many different types of classic, quality internal and external wooden doors.

We strongly believe there’s something in our versatile oak doors range for you. Why not take a look around our online store and see what we have in the comfort of your own home. We’re always here to help if you have any questions you can contact us.

Choosing the Right Colour For Your Internal Doors

So choosing the colour for your external doors is not that hard right? Because after all, you know the importance of first impressions and how to match doors to build, but there’s just the one door to think about, or maybe two at the most - what about the internal doors, because there’s a lot more to consider. And unless you’re changing them on a monthly basis, you need to choose well - so you’re not having to live with ones you really have taken a dislike to!

With internal doors they’re all going to have to pretty much match up and be identical as much as possible, or it’s going to look a little odd. So you’re going to have to do some homework to get it right. The colours then are our main focus around internal doors this week.

You may decide to buy your doors already painted, which is always going to be less painful, or you may be considering the prospect of buying the doors and then painting them. If so, make sure you choose carefully, especially if you’ve decided to go with something bright to make a statement. 

Always take into consideration the rest of your room, the colours, theme and accessories. Consider both sides of your doors rather than just the one side - because when you open it people will see both rather than the one side.

There are always trends for what’s in or out, but at the end of the day it’s more about your own personal taste and what you think you can live with, because you’ll be seeing them every day for some time. That’s unless you decide to repaint your doors more regularly. Cool colours or warm colours are great, but not together as they may clash. What do you think will fit the room best?

You can always choose something more subtle if that’s to your tastes rather than brighter more bold colours. This could be anything from muted whites and greys to paler shades of blue, green or yellow. If you decide to go with something warm, consider warmer shades of earthy green or grey, or perhaps if you want something cool you could try dark blue or pale pink.

You may not believe this but colours can impact on your mood, so keep this in mind when choosing your interior door colours. Bright colours are welcoming and full of energy, but beware of placing them somewhere where there is less bright light as this may create a darker look. Pale shades are better in darker areas, and this will help to make the most of the available light.

The Replacement Door Company - Speak to the Experts

If you’re thinking about investing in doors this year and you’re debating colours, themes, designs, whatever it is, why not contact us and we’ll be more than happy to discuss your options with you.

Ensuring Your Front Door is Secure

You’re replacing your front door and yes the aesthetics are important - after all we’ve heard countless times haven’t we about how first impressions count? And yes they do but so does security, especially when it comes to the entrance into your home. So as well as aesthetic value, warmth, insulation and curb appeal, it should also have functionality. 

This functionality comes in the form of security, durability and longevity. Those final two will definitely come from doors you purchase from us for sure. However, what about security? Naturally, it goes without saying how important this actually is after all over 50% of burglaries are through the front or back door - scary right? If your doors are easy to access, then they’re not just easy for you, they’re easy for your burglars too. 

Good news is all our exterior doors come with security, although as we see in this week’s post, there are some things you can do yourself. It just takes some time and dedication to check the condition of your door to see whether it requires repair, the adding of locks and lights, or simply replacing altogether. 

Your door needs to be strong enough to withstand someone trying to break in, so a weak door that could be forced open is a big no-no. You naturally want peace of mind for both you and your family, and ensuring all front doors are a barrier to those intent on trying to break in will give you that.

Upgrading your door to a better quality one is one way of ensuring that it meets the security requirements, and your door retailer will be able to advise you on the kind of door you should be thinking about. Your current door may have years of damage both within its core and on the exterior. A poor fit door frame can also cause significant problems, so making sure both door and frame are in tip top condition is important. 

Once you’ve got a more secure door and frame in place, what other measures can you take to ensure that your home is safe from intruders?

Door Locks

make sure you have a door lock that’s free from age, damage and rust, if yours looks like it's seen better days, replace it. Ask for advice on the options for new locks - some may really work well on some doors, but may not necessarily work on yours.

There are many different types of door locks available, here are a list of just some of them -

Five lever mortice lock - approved by insurance companies, it’s harder to break in the more there are on your door.

Multi-point locking system - a lock with 3 points which sits on the inside of your door. Handle and key operation gives the user the most security.

NIght latches - Only to be really used in tandem with other door locks.

Deadbolt lock - a thumb turn or a key will open this lock and is impenetrable to an attempted breakin using either a card or knife. 

Any door locks you do use should meet British Standards. Reinforce your door with chains where you can so you have double protection. They’ll also give you evidence of an attempted break in which is useful for police. 

Change where your letterbox is and it’s design, preferably replacing it with a more secure one that allows the post to be safely received on the other side of the door, but doesn’t act as an open invitation to intruders to force their hand in and reach the lock.

Installing a peephole gives you added security because if you are in and you’re unsure about letting someone in through the door, seeing exactly who’s on the other side is helpful. If you’re afraid and you suspect this person is up to no good, then you can call the police. 

Lighting

make sure your door is well-lit with automatic lighting that switches on when it detects movement, this will deter anyone from hiding until they suspect the owners aren’t in and will also give you full view from inside the property of that person. Finally, add CCTV if you’re really worried and you live in an area where break-ins are common, it will act as a deterrent to anyone planning a burglary. 

Speak to the Experts

If you think you may need a new front door, then get in touch with us here at The Replacement Door Company and we'll be more than happy to help you choose a new suitable one. We can also help you choose any back exterior doors as well so you’ve covered all bases. Give us a call today, and take a look around our website where you’ll find an impressive range of both front doors and interior doors.

Internal Doors That Reflect Your Interior Design

People enter your home and their line of vision is drawn to the hallway and what lies beyond that. If they’ve been impressed with what they’ve seen so far, you’ll want that to continue throughout. Your hallway will lead off on to different rooms in the house - what impression will they all make? If your entrance is anything to go by, you’ll most likely want to make a good first impression as your visitors enter each room.

How can you do this?

To reflect your interior design your internal doors will need to be on point. The doors to your kitchen, bedrooms, dining rooms and bathroom will be the first thing people see and make lasting impressions. The style you choose for your internal doors will reflect your taste and personal style and fit in with any existing themes going on in your decor. Teaming them with the right accessories are essential - that is handles and any panels that you have - whether they be frosted or glazed glass or plain. 

Colours

Colour can work beautifully with doors as long as it’s in keeping with whatever else you have going on in your home. What you don’t want are clashing colours that do nothing to enhance or compliment your home. You want your doors ideally to bring out whatever you’ve painted your walls and skirting boards, and the colour of your floors, whether they’re floorboards or carpet. Everything should work in harmony. With colour then, think about what else is going on - white is good for minimalism and where the colours are neutral, such as shades of beige, cream off-white and white. You can paint the doors both inside and out, and you can easily buy doors that allow you to do just that.

Wooden doors - the beautifully classic choice.

Wood is a perfect choice for either minimalist and modern or more classic and traditional houses. Think again about flooring and walls and what type of wood you think will work. There’s plenty of choices, from darker woods like walnut and mahogany to paler, popular ones like pine or oak. If you have wooden flooring especially, try to make sure there is some flow and that they complement each other even if they don’t perfectly match. Not everything has to match, clashing colours and textures can work.

How many doors?

Naturally, in the main, most of the internal doors will need to match each other, so you’ll need to buy multiple identical doors so there’s symmetry. Don’t rush to buy, spend time considering all there is to consider and only buy once you’re truly sure of your choice and satisfied with your decision. 

The Replacement Door Company - Internal Door Experts

If you’re thinking of investing in internal doors for your home - get in touch with us here at The Replacement Door Company and we’ll do all we can to help you find that perfect door. We’re always happy and willing to help all our customers!

Choose Walnut Internal Doors For Your Home

We’re looking at walnut internal doors and why they’re are great choice for your home. You may have been on the cusp of having new internal doors fitted for a while, and we’re here to help you make the all important decision on what to settle on. There’s such a big choice of materials, designs and styles, and you must go with what you think is best for you and your home.

Our focus in this post is on walnut, and while we appreciate you may be interested in hearing about the other quality materials we supply, there’s a library of posts on our site you can browse through to see what else we have in our incredible range of doors another time. Today however, let’s start - why should you be interested in walnut interior doors?

Walnut is one of our most popular timbers for a reason!

And the reason is because it’s so elegant and stylish. It’s a timber that’s been popular for centuries not just decades and is considered a classic choice both for its elegance and longevity. Designs, styles and trends change over time, but much of the materials we use don’t when it comes to both our interior and exterior doors. Walnut’s deep grain and colour and flexibility are probably just a few of the reasons why it’s still such a popular choice with homeowners.

Don’t be shy with walnut, it works with a variety of different colour schemes.

It’s not that hard to incorporate walnut into your interiors, it adds such warmth and style. The deep colours of walnut will warm up rooms in winter, and blend perfectly with warm summer afternoons during the warmer months. It’s certainly a wood for the bold as it makes such a statement. It will stand out beautifully against a neutral background ,and compliment darker colours, drawing attention to the walls in the best way possible. 

Flexibility, longevity and functionality

We mentioned flexibility earlier, and we certainly believe that walnut has the flexibility to fit in with both contemporary and classic/traditionally designed doors. Whether your rooms are filled with antique and vintage touches mixed with modern, or you’ve gone for a thoroughly minimal, modern look, walnut interior doors will compliment both really well. You can achieve the look you want and also have the added security, noise control and insulation that walnut doors give you. That’s functionality as well as flexibility - giving you value for money.

Speak to the Internal Door Experts

Here at The Replacement Door Company, we have a walnut internal doors alongside a wide range of both modern, contemporary styled doors as well as more traditional classic designs that will suit your personal style and choice of interior design perfectly. If you’d like to call us and discuss what we’ve talked about today do get in touch, in the meantime, take a look around our great range of internal doors and find your perfect door!

Add Value to Your Home With New Internal Doors

Internal doors can make such a difference to your home. They may seem pretty insignificant, however, they can dramatically improve a room simply by slotting in beautifully with new fabrics and furnishings, or a freshly painted room with colours to compliment a running theme throughout the house.

Internal doors can improve the value of a property.

We often talk about external doors improving the value of a property, however, internal doors can do the same. As part of the fixtures and fittings the right internal doors can set a place ablaze with style and elegance. If your internal doors are starting to look stale and outdated and you're already planning a refurbishment, or you’re repainting or wallpapering the rooms, then it’s the perfect time to invest in some new doors. Although even if you’re not redecorating, there’s always a good reason to change your internal doors if they’re starting to look tired and worn.

Take your time.

Internal doors can definitely add value to a property so it pays to spend time finding the right ones. You need to think about matching the style and period of your property as well as the decor and furnishings and also make sure they offer functionality. You don't have to spend a fortune on new doors but spending sufficient time on choosing the right ones will pay dividends in the long run.

 Consistency is key.

It’s usually a good idea to change all of your internal doors at the same time and go for some consistency. It can seem a little odd if you only choose one or two. If your home is a little stuffy and dark, you could help introduce more light in by purchasing doors with glass panels which are either glazed or frosted. This will allow a subtle amount of light in and really brighten the place up.

Style

Think about the style you want, you could go for something completely different as long as it works with the rooms and hallways. If you’re finding it hard to find something that really works for you why not consider investing in bespoke doors?  You could try increasing the door frame height to make the doors taller, this is a popular option, but it may not be one you have at your disposal. However, bespoke doors in their design alone can make a difference. By choosing something that’s really unique to your own personal style, it might turn out to be the one thing that sells it should you decide to put your property up for sale in the near future.

Wood can be dramatic making a house even more stylish, and here at The Replacement Door Company we have a variety of different wooden doors from oak to walnut, either finished or unfinished. 

 Bifold doors are a great alternative to traditionally shaped doors.

You don't have to go with traditionally shaped doors that open and close either, you could go for a bifold door, and these are great for saving on space and providing light if you go for glazed or frosted glass. They simply don’t take up the same amount of space as a traditional wooden door and they can be used for cupboards, ensuites and wardrobe doors as well as for room division.

 The Replacement Door Company - Internal Door Experts

If you have any questions about internal doors and you’d like to talk to us about it or you’ve seen a door you like on our website and want to talk about any questions that this has raised, why not get in touch with us and one of our dedicated consultants will talk you through your choices.