Latest news with #frontdoor
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
The 5 door colours that will add instant value to your property (and which to avoid at all costs)
When it comes to selling your home (or just showing it off), first impressions really do count, and they begin at your front door. But what if we told you that the right shade could do more than elevate your kerb appeal – it could actually boost your property value? From glossy blacks to serene sage and fire engine red (yes, really), here are the estate agent approved front-door colours that will have buyers spending.
The Sun
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
I hated my ugly concrete door step so transformed it with a Temu buy – no power tools were needed, it looks so good
THE first impression guests have of your home is how the front door looks - and it's bad news if it looks ugly. One woman shared how she transformed her unattractive front door step to look stylish and chic without too much effort. 4 4 Rosies, who posts under @rosielaurenhome, showed how she did the DIY job herself and didn't need to hire a professional to help. She shared in a video which has over 3,000 likes: 'I'm going to show you how easy it is to turn this ugly concrete step into this. 'So, I'm using mosaic tiles and this Turbo Set tile adhesive. Let's go.' She showed how she had picked up some black and white checked tiles for the job - and you can find a bargain replica on Temu for just £12 for 10 sheets. Rosie first laid out the tiles to work out exactly how many she would need, and loved how easy they were to cut. She then mixed up her adhesive and advised you to work quickly as it 'sets in around 15 minutes.' She added: 'I'm putting it directly onto the concrete, and then I'm leveling it out at the end. 'Once nice and level, I'm adding one mosaic tile at a time and gently tapping them evenly into the adhesive.' She then repeated the process until her entire step was covered with the stylish tiles. Although it didn't take long for everything to set, she said she waited until the next day to grout it. I spruced up my bland decking & gave it va-va-voom for summer with a HUGE Temu buy you can nab for just £8 down from £50 4 4 Rosie then showed how she covered the tiles with the grout paste, and said you have to 'trust the process' covering the beautiful tiles in black. She then simply wiped away the excess grout with a sponge and some warm water to reveal the finished stylish look. According to an attractive front of your house - known as 'curb appeal' - can boost your home's value by between five and 10 per cent. It seems many people were impressed with Rosie's hard work, with one saying: 'Such a great idea! currently renovating our house so saving this.' Another added: 'That's actually a brilliant idea, definitely gonna do this.'And a third wrote: 'love this am gonna copy.'
Washington Post
13-06-2025
- General
- Washington Post
My front door looks terrible. Is there a way to rescue it?
Q: The exterior side of our front door looks like it's spotted with mildew. I asked two house painters if they could fix it but they were not interested. What should we do? A: A front door should smile at all who enter. But a door with worn or peeling finish and patches of mildew is not smiling. If mildew were the only issue, you could probably just wipe it off. The finish on exterior wooden doors is usually slick and washable. It needs to stand up to rain, after all. But, judging from the picture you sent, the finish on your door appears to have flaked off in areas. UV rays from the sun could be the main culprit. UV degrades wood fibers near the surface enough so that they lose their hold on the wood underneath. The fibers slough off, carrying the finish with them. This gives moisture an easy path in, causing further damage. At this point, the only solution is to remove the finish, smooth the wood and start over. You could opt for a door that looks like natural wood enhanced with a stain to add a little color. Or you could go for an opaque stain or even paint. You could tackle the job yourself or hire a pro. Some house painters might be happy to do the work, but you're more likely to get a commitment from a company that specializes in restoring woodwork. In the Washington metro area, one option is the D.C. location of Doorstain, a company that started in Atlanta seven years ago. Russ Rol, a supervisor at the D.C. Doorstain, looked at the picture you sent and gave an estimate: $1,530. That would include chemically stripping the old finish, sanding down to bare wood, applying a wood conditioner to ensure that the wood absorbs stain evenly, multiple coats of an oil-based stain, a sanding sealer and one or two coats of an oil-based marine varnish that protects against UV damage. The work would be done in one day, at your house. The crew would start by taking off the door and covering the opening with plastic, then they would do all the prep and staining steps with the door horizontal. Typically, that's done by 4 p.m., Rol said, leaving enough time to reinstall the door and brush on the varnish. With all these steps, how long does the finish last? Maybe four or five years, Rol said, but he noted that there can be great variation depending on whether the door gets direct sun or is sheltered by a porch roof. If a customer pays attention and has the door refinished when the old varnish is just beginning to show a few cracks or dullness, it's possible to spruce up the finish without sanding down to bare wood. Doorstain offers a basic refinishing package — including a light sanding, an application of stain and new varnish — for $1,310. Homeowners who can't find someone willing to tackle a door refinishing project, who are on a tight budget, or who enjoy DIY projects can redo a door on their own at far less cost. A trusted handyman service might also be an option. The biggest challenge is removing the old finish and sanding down to bare wood. Switching to a painted door would minimize the work because the surface just needs to be smooth and devoid of loose bits of finish and wood fibers; stained wood fibers and even intact areas of finish can remain as long as edges of the remaining paint are rounded over and the entire surface is at least scuff-sanded. And a painted door will stay in good shape much longer — probably 10 years or more — than one with stain and varnish. Whether you are aiming to stain or to paint, to get off the old finish and the loose wood fibers you could use a sharp paint scraper followed by sandpaper, starting with a coarse grit, maybe 80, then a medium grit, maybe 150, and finishing with 220 grit. Sanding sponges in the various grits would be helpful around edges of the panels. Pay attention as you sand, though: Some doors have a thin veneer, and you don't want to sand through it. If you see that happening, use a chemical stripper to get off the old finish and just lightly hand-sand. If you're painting, Sherwin-Williams has a good online guide about the steps involved. They suggest leaving the door in place and covering hardware with tape or, in the case of the knob, aluminum foil. But when there is a lot of old finish to remove, as on your door, you might find it easier to work on the door when it's off its hinges and resting on sawhorses. Front doors are heavy, though, so have someone assist. Don't try to unscrew the hinges while the door is vertical; instead, tap up on the hinge pins and remove them. To minimize the time with the door down and the entry to your home covered with plywood or another temporary fix, try prepping the lower part of the door while it's in place and tackling only the higher sections when it is down. If you want to keep the natural wood look enhanced by stain, Sherwin-Williams recommends using Minwax Gel Stain. Gel stain is an oil-based product with a thick consistency that is designed to be rubbed, rather than brushed, on. The color sits on the surface of the wood, so there's less risk of the blotchiness that can occur with standard oil-based stains, which penetrate into the wood. Over the gel stain, the company recommends Minwax Helmsman Spar Urethane, which comes in an oil-based formula or in a water-based formula. Between the two coats, lightly hand-sand with 320-grit sandpaper. Other paint companies also offer gel stains and clear coatings that have UV resistance built in. Generally, it's smart to stick to one brand to avoid possible incompatibilities in the products. Whether you hire someone to stain and finish the door or do it yourself, remember that you will need to do frequent maintenance to keep it looking great. Asked whether an oil-based urethane would last longer than a water-based one, a customer-service representative for Sherwin-Williams wouldn't say. 'It's a maintenance application no matter which one you use,' she said. 'In three to five years, it's going to need attention.' But if you do give the door the care it needs then, you can skip all the hard work of removing the finish and starting over. Washing the door and lightly hand-sanding just to dull the surface is enough. You don't need to take down the door for this. Then brush on a coat or two of the same finish you used initially and you're good to go for another three to five years. Have a problem in your home? Send questions to localliving@ Put 'How To' in the subject line, tell us where you live and try to include a photo.
News.com.au
04-06-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
New TikTok trend involving your front door could result in severe damage
Homeowners and sellers tend to overlook the importance of their home's front door. However, experts argue that this is one of the key features that can make or break a sale. Front doors offer a first impression to buyers, and as the saying goes, the first impression lasts the longest. For owners, the main entry to the home is also the first line of defence from the outside world, whether it be intruders or the elements. Over in the US, there's been a resurgence of the concerning 'door-kicking' prank, which gained traction on TikTok last year. This trend has led to concerns among owners and sellers alike — especially given that things have escalated rapidly since the prank was last popular. The TikTok 'door-kicking' trend, which started in 2024, involves pounding and kicking on front doors in the middle of the night. While it might seem like a harmless prank at first, it often leaves residents bewildered and burdened with costly repairs. Against this backdrop, the importance of your front door can't be overstated as it's more than just an entryway: it's both the first impression of your home and a critical line of defence. According to high-quality doors can increase a home's marketability by 5 per cent to 10 per cent, as it suggests durability and low maintenance. Materials matter when it comes to front doors With all of this in mind, as real estate agent Alexei Morgado puts it, homeowners should not view the front door just as a surface-level design enhancement but also as a security feature. Fibreglass Fibreglass offers a balance of strength, insulation, and low maintenance, mimicking the look of wood without the warping. According to Doors Plus, 'fibreglass doors lead the way in resilience to the elements and insulation performance'. Although the price is high, fibreglass doors have a longer lifespan than wood or steel doors. Also, its low maintenance makes it cost-effective over time. Steel Steel is the most durable material available for front doors, making it an ideal choice for enhanced security. As long as the weather conditions aren't too extreme, it will not be affected – unlike wood, for example, which can warp when it gets wet. The downside of a steel door includes that it can be easily scratched or dented and requires a good finish to prevent rust. Solid wood Wooden doors can provide a stunning finish, and owners can accentuate the grain to achieve a beautiful appearance. They can also be stained or painted to give a different finish and to give a tired door a new lease of life. While timeless and customisable, wood demands regular maintenance. But it adds unmatched warmth and character. How to protect your front door There are several upgrades owners can make. Steel-reinforced doors with deadbolt plates and longer strike screws slow down break-ins fast. In addition, smart locks are helpful, but the core still comes down to the strength of the actual door and frame. Owners should also consider smart security upgrades, such as video doorbells or cameras, which can deter pranks and enhance monitoring. Finally, in terms of return on investment, doors are one of the simplest high-impact upgrades you can make. 'But the ROI goes far beyond resale value. Insurers are also beginning to include fortified doors in homeowners' premiums,' Morgado told Realtor. 'And even more valuable is time on the marketplace. Homes with obvious security upgrades, including smart doors and secure doors, also sell faster, particularly with millennials and Gen Z, who care about tech as much as security.'
