Your lockpicking skill increased by 5%

Sure I have >> but I live in South Florida so maybe up in NYC things are different.

Most plates I have seen are in the commercial industry and are there not to cover holes but are there to enhance the door knob. They do look nice.

Residential 99% of the time in South Florda consists of just the door knob, a deadbolt, and no plates.

I've been out of door making business since '92 so I'm sure by now things have changed. I realized I could make tons more money in computers and hence chose that career path.

Either way he choses he'll have a job on his hands.

PEACE

Well... I guess if you didn't know what you're doing it would look like a patch job. These plates can look pretty nice and can be easy to install. Have you ever seen one?

Just remember you put a plate on that door and its going to look like a door that has a plate on it. I.E. >> it's going to look like a patch job.

If your in no hurry and money is an issue then I would go the path the others speak of.

Number 14 beat me to it, but that's usually the best way (and sometimes least expensive aside from the 'bondo' method). Try getting an adapter plate first, then see about getting a replica, or restored knob assembly.

Being an expert on such matters (no really, I'm a locksmith) you have a couple of options other than great globs of wood filler (don't recommend this) or replacing the door (all your BS&T on the lock would be for naught).
Go to a Lock shop (or Home Depot, but you'd probably be better off at a lockshop because they would understand you and you wouldn't have to search all over Hell's half acre and end up dragging somebody out of the paint dept) and tell them of your plight. 1) There is an outside chance that they may have something to fit your hole (on the door). Up until a couple of years ago there were still some retrofits being knocked off in Taiwan. B) If he is at all worth his wait in brass he should have a Mod kit (a selection of plates) that will nicely fit over all your old holes (on the door) or at the very least a Mag or door wrap-around that will... uh... wrap around the door. It's a single plate with three sides to cover outside, edge and inside of said door. These are available in various finishes. Being based in NYC as I believe you are than there should be no shortage of lock shops. I'm on call 24 hours but being based in Canada I'd have to charge you for mileage.

I built entry doors, interior doors, etc for many years in my younger days.

If the door jamb (sp?) is in good shape then this may be easier than you think but it will cost some $$.

Here is what I suggest. Call your local lumber yard that also builds doors and schedule to have your front door 'copied'. They can do this in a day (about 1 hour or 2). They will bevel the door edge, router out your hinges, and install your door sweep (the rubber on the bottom of the door) Put up some visqueen and have Mrs. Blue watch the house while your out. Bring home your new door, attach the hinges and knob, lock, etc and your done. It will be more expensive but it will be done in a day and look really nice.

You don't want to try and hang a Home Depot door and frame without help from someone experienced. It is harder than you might think to do it 'right'.

Painting or staining that door will be your next project however.

Hope that helps.

This comment was edited on Jul 10, 16:37.

Well, Micro$oft is already implementing this with that new purchasing and licensing stuff. Frankly, I don't think this will fly. I think it's going to get off the ground, but probably crash after a bit... Anyone ever read 1984? Heh...

Damn... I almost thought someone mentioned my Domo-Dance web site

Anyways, it's: http://www.domodance.tk

My house was built in 1947 so both entry doors had the old Mortis style lock and they both used skeleton keys. This isn't a very secure thing to have anymore, as you might guess. I bought a prehung door from Home Depot and completely took out the old door frame. Well I got it in there ok, but then found out the thickness of the walls was thicker than the frame. Then I had to take some 1x2's and a nail gun and attached them to the inside of the frame so the frame's thickness would match the wall. Then I took some white caulk and filled in the small cracks where the 1x2 intersected the frame. I then smoothed this over and painted the frame again. Now it looks just like new! BTW I recommend either a heavy solid wood door or a metal door. I used a metal door for the back door, but I'll be using a hardwood door for the front.

Right now I'm enlarging the single bathroom in the house while my wife is visiting family in Russia for a couple of months. So far I've torn out most of the plaster and I also replaced a load-bearing wall with a large 4x6 beam that I located in the attic so it wouldn't be visible from below. I'll probably start running the plumbing today so that when I tear out the old bathtub I won't have to go too long without a bath. =) It isn't good just having one bathroom in the house.

Already I've refinished all of the hardwood floors, repainted all the walls and patched up the plaster, and I also gutted the kitchen and completely redid it. We didn't have a dishwasher or much of anything in there at first, so it's really nice to have the modern amenities. =)

I really can't recommend any one book for help. I typically find that one book is good at explaining some things, while another book is better at others. I recommend you spend some time looking up specific items in several books in Home Depot just to see which one you like better. I've already bought 10 books so far. Really I don't use them much unless it's something that has me totally stumped.

Speaking of which, I think I just about wrote a book here now.

Let's see... this new technology:
-Makes it harder to use the OS
-Keeps me from using anything they don't want me to
-Makes it harder for journalists to get information
-Gives government access to my encrypted documents
-Allows outside parties to control what I can and can't do on my own computer.
-Cuts me off from borrowing music

Sounds like the next version of Windows ;).

Let's see... this new technology:
-Makes it harder to use the OS
-Keeps me from using anything they don't want me to
-Makes it harder for journalists to get information
-Gives government access to my encrypted documents
-Allows outside parties to control what I can and can't do on my own computer.
-Cuts me off from borrowing music

And the only reason I'd have to get this technology is so that TCPA-enabled applications work?
Gee.

[insert plug here]

For more old hardware and information than you can shake a stick at go to www.crowncityhardware.com
You will have to pay for the catalog but believe me it is worth every penny, and you get the cost of the catalog back with your first purchase. It is an absolute treasure trove of information and hardware.

My guess is that the existing frame is not square requiring that a new door needing to be 'shaved' to fit the existing frame...

I have investigated pre-hung doors, as my home handyman's guide warns of the troubles of hanging your own door that Chris described (it is an entry door, btw), basically suggesting it requires an expert. The good news is, should we decide to go this route, the frame is likely still perfectly square, as the house is brick. The bad news, of course, is that I am far from an expert.

The putty solution is a little trickier, because between the huge older lock fixture, and what's clearly a previous putty job, we'd probably end up with a knob that was more supported by putty than door (on the bright side though, the door is indeed painted).

As for the question about the home repair book, we got one at Home Depot.

I've lived in some older homes and I hated to loose the look of the old hardware. Try some of your local antique stores that focus on home hardware - you may find a prefect match for your existing hardware. If you don't know of one just go into the nearest antique store and ask them for directions - antique people all know each other - its like a cult.

If it's an interior door, to a closet or bedroom, you're probably just as well off buying a new pre-drilled door and the connectors attached. They're fairly cheap and easy to hang.

To take Chris one step further. They do sell pre-hung doors in a frame. In some instances this can be much easier than trying to fight a new door into an old frame that has of course gone out of square. Judging by the hardware on your door your home is at least 50 years old. My guess is that the existing frame is not square requiring that a new door needing to be 'shaved' to fit the existing frame. If you go with a pre-hung door - you pop off the trim, rip out the old frame, insert new frame using shims to even the door up and secure it, reattach trim. I know if you buy the pre-hung (or simple door for that matter) at Home Depot they can for a price send a contractor along with it to install it. The contractor will replace that door (if the measurements you provide are correct ) in about 45 minutes tops. I've had friends try to do this themselves and have it take 6 hours.

YMMV

Check with your local Home Depot for a strong wood putty that can fill the holes left by your existing lot, then use your drill (and a special bit for drilling door holes) to make the holes for the new knob.

Another good idea. As long as the door is painted.

They do make replacement door latches that are old style. they aren't cheap though

www.popularculturegaming.tk

Stephen,

If it's the front door to your house, there might be an alternate method to solving this that will cost a lot less and be a *lot* less frustrating. Check with your local Home Depot for a strong wood putty that can fill the holes left by your existing lot, then use your drill (and a special bit for drilling door holes) to make the holes for the new knob. I've replaced a front door before and it was a truly painful experience. Painful on the wallet, since you need to get something secure (aka expensive). Painful on the back, since rehanging a door is an experience that's literally a pain in the neck. Painful on the pride, since the new one never looked as good as the first.

If it's an interior door, to a closet or bedroom, you're probably just as well off buying a new pre-drilled door and the connectors attached. They're fairly cheap and easy to hang.

-Chris
(who just wrapped up a six month basement-renovation project that included drywalling, tiling the floor, running wiring and installing recessed lighting)

This comment was edited on Jul 10, 13:52.

Yep, I'm another schlep when it comes to fixing stuff or remodeling around the house. Any good sites out there with info? Or better yet a book would do.