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How to Change your Locks in Five Simple Steps


Changing locks in your home sounds so simple, and it can be if you know what youre doing. Of course there are on the market different styles of handles, and certain styles have different locking mechanisms. Each style has its own unique function, so if youre going to change your lock, know what type works best and why. Read on and learn a little about how to change a basic lock, and other style issues and uses.

You need to know what youre using your lock for before changing out the lock. Here are a few styles that youll want to consider.

1. Free through Passage Handles. If you need to change the handles in your house for a closet then you wont have to fool with locks on this one. Its free through exactly as the name sates. You can buy them in a knob type handle style, or a lever type that is very popular. Of course make sure that you dont need one a lock before purchasing a free through handle. Any medications that are stored will need to be locked if you have small children around.
2. Privacy Door Knobs. Commonly used in the areas of a bedroom or bathroom where privacy is most desired. The lock on these doors are made where you can unlock the door from the inside by turning an extra switch, or just by turning the knob.
3. Entrance Locks. This type of lock is very popular for a garage door or anywhere that youll want limited access to areas that might have dangerous chemicals, or sharp machinery or tools. The style is not totally secure because if its used on fencing around a pool someone can hop the fence, and get right into the area youre trying to keep closed. Consider enclosing any area like this with a much taller fencing system for better security.
4. Decorative Door Knobs. These types of knobs are used for spicing up the look of your house. Popular places for placement are on French doors. You can use them on pantries too as long as you dont have anything in there thats hazardous. Theres no lock on these, so make sure that youll use them in the correct way. Handles can be placed on both sides of the door, but youve got a choice of having them only on one side too. A cap in a matching color is on the other side with fake trim.
5. Security Single Deadbolt Lock. This lock is good for any entrance door to the home, such as a front or back door. You can put them on interior doors that lead from a garage to inside of the house too. Its advisable to use this type of lock with doors that dont have glass panes or side lights. It would be very easy to enter by just breaking the glass and reaching in to turn the knob. It has one cylinder on the outside. Youll enter by using a key from the outside of the door.
6. Security Double Deadbolt Lock. Use this type of lock when you want extra strength and security for you doors. This deadbolt lock can be locked from the inside or outside of the door using a key. Other types of locking mechanisms can be added for security such as a chain too.
7. Decorative Deadbolt and Latch Set. This type can be made as either a knob or handle type. Its a deadbolt lock and a door latch in one. You can use the two configurations by themselves too. It just depends on your needs.

Now that youve got an idea about the different types of styles and their locking mechanisms youll need to figure out if the door handle that youve got now is appropriate, or if you just want a new style of lock and handle to replace the older one.

Considerations for changing your lock are below. If youre upgrading your lock these are a few tips that will come in handy when doing it.

Latch plate. The latch plate hole might not be deep enough for a better quality latch. The latch plate is on the interior part of your door. Open it and remove the existing latch plate.
Try fitting the new latch plate into the old hole. If it doesnt fit flush with the hole, youll need to chisel out the old hole to a deeper depth.
Check to make sure that the plunger for the deadbolt matches up with the hole in the door frame. The lock wont do any good for security if the holes dont line up.
For extra security add longer screws to the pre drilled areas on the plate.
Readjust if needed for security purposes.

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Five Important Things to Consider Before Tiling

Picking a new floor can be overwhelming. Even after youve narrowed it down to one particular type, it is still challenging to find the right tile because there are so many different varieties to choose from these days. And then once youve purchased your new tiles, there are still quite a few things to consider before you begin laying the tile. Here are the top five things you should know before you began tiling.
1. Is Ceramic Tile Suitable for Your Space?
There are many advantages to ceramic tile. It is really durable and easy to clean. It isnt the best option in some spaces though. During the winter months, ceramic tiles can really hold the cold, so you might not want to use them in a basement space. Certain types can be slippery, so you if you are considering tile for an entryway, you should go with a more slip-resistant variety.
2. Select the right Size, Style and Texture
Ceramic tiles come in all sorts of shapes anywhere from one inch to two feet. The most common size tiles are between one and one and a half feet in size. Choosing the right size is actually easier than you might think. Just figure out the size of your room and then choose a size that suits it. For example, if you have smaller room, a large tile would not be the best option because it would look like panels rather than tiles. A large tile is really best suited to larger spaces because they look less busy than smaller tiles do.
Currently, there are many styles of ceramic tiles to choose from. The easiest way to narrow down your options is decide on the type of look you are going for. It you want a rustic, natural look than you might want to consider a rugged, natural looking tile instead of a polished marble.
Choose a tile with the texture that will best suit your rooms theme. If you go for a rustic, natural looking tile, it will be rougher than a polished marble surface. When choosing a texture, you do need to take safety into consideration. The smoother that a surface is the more likely it is to be slippery when wet. If you have children or elderly people in your home, then a high-gloss tile is not the best option from a safety standpoint.
3. Choose an Appropriate Grout Color and Width
Grout is a cement mix that has color added to it to compliment your tile. Grout fills the space between tiles so you need to choose a grout width and a color that works in your space.
4. Installation Materials and Methods
There are different installation methods and a successful installation will really depend on the materials used and the energy and patience put into the project. You will want to make sure that you do the proper preparation and have all the materials you need at hand. You will need to make sure that you purchase a high quality bonding material, grout (as discussed above), a sealer and the right tools to get the project done.
Laying tile can be a bit tricky. You need to make sure that your cuts are correct and that the space around each tile is even. If you feel overwhelmed by the prospect of installing it yourself, then you might want to look at contracting the job out to a tiling professional.
5. Maintenance
Ceramic tile is one the easiest types of floors to clean and if you take care of them, they will maintain their shiny, new appearance for years to come. To clean tile, all you really need is water and any household cleaner product. You can start by removing any dirt and dust with a broom or vacuum and then using a sponge or mop you can apply the mixture of water and cleaner to your tiles. Its as simple as that! You will need to be cautious about dropping heavy objects on tile. If tiles split, crack or chip, it is impossible to replace just one tile. Odds are youll have to live with any cracks or chips until youre ready to re-do the entire floor.