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