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Browse any DIY store, and you can be sure that there will be an aisle or two devoted to doors. We’re talking door frames, doors, handles, stoppers, and locks – a treasure trove of door paraphernalia.

Why is there so much stuff? Because there are doors in very house. The main elements are the door itself and the door frame which is essentially the framework supporting everything together.

But how easy is it to replace a door frame if you’re a novice DIY-er?

How Long Will It Take?

You’ll need patience and plenty of time. It’s a far easier task if your doorway is a standard size and your walls are perfectly straight. Accurate measurements are crucial to achieving the best fit. It could take up to a day to remove the existing frame and architrave before fitting a new one.

Preparing To Fit Your Door

To fit the door, you’ll need the right tools, and this includes:

• Screwdriver
• Crowbar
• Spirit level and plumb line
• Hammer
• Screws and nails
• Chisel
• Sealant and mortar
• Handsaw

Ensure you have the right frame for your door. Measure the width and height of the opening and add an extra 10cm to allow for the new frame. Keep your new door frame flat and do not rest it against anything to prevent it from warping or being damaged.

Out With The Old …

Remove the door from the frame. Loosen the hinges by tapping them with a hammer, then pull the door out. Unscrew the hinge pins from the door jamb.

The next job is to take down the trim, also known as casing or architrave. Do it as carefully as you can as you may be able to reuse it again. If the architrave is set firmly into plaster, use a utility knife down the trim to loosen the caulking securing the trim to the wall. Pry the old trim away from the wall.

Insert a pry bar underneath and gently lever it, so it falls lose. Remove any fixings that hold the door frame in place. When the frame is loose, break the side jambs by cutting through them with a hand saw. Lift out the frame.

…And In With The New

Now it’s time to fit the new one. Hold it in place with wooden supports while you check the levels. Ensure it is straight and centred.

Drill holes into each jamb to fit the screws. The holes need to be evenly positioned so the load is spread. Use expanding foam insulation in the spaces between the frame and wall. Secure the frame with screws. Fill in any gaps and then apply caulk around the edge of the frame. Once fitted, replace the architrave.

If this sounds like hard work, then why not ask a professional for help? All the doors at Door Stop are fitted by qualified carpenters with years’ of experience who work methodically without any mess. We stock beautiful doors at affordable prices with expert installation, so why not visit one of our display centres today?

Doors separate different elements of your home and are great for privacy safety and security. But a door couldn’t function without gaps around it because it needs to open and close.

When you’re installing a door, you’d probably like to know if there’s a standard size gap you should have between your door and the floor. That way it can open freely and swing back and forth.

Undercut V Floor Clearance

An undercut is the distance between the bottom of the door and the door frame itself. Any carpenter generally uses this term. Many people think the undercut and floor clearance are the same, but that’s not technically correct.

Floor clearance is the distance between the bottom of the door and the material directly below the door, for example any wood flooring, vinyl, carpet or tiles.

Internal Door Undercuts

We hang doors, day in day out at Door Stop. As a guide the average undercut of your door should be between 8mm and 10mm, that’s around ⅝ inch to ¾ inch from the bottom of the frame.

But there are exceptions. If you have a deep shagpile carpet that is thick, greater clearance is required. On these occasions it’s best to shave off the door. It’s never an easy task determining how much you should take off, so

if you are in doubt, shave or cut off a little and if it’s not enough, shave off some more. Remember less is better or you may damage the door’s structural integrity.

How Do You Shave The Bottom Of Your Door?

It can be a challenge shave your doors. This guide will help if you want to do it yourself.

• Remove your door from its frame.
• Place it on a workbench and clamp it into place or use saw horses to prevent it from moving.
• Decide how much you want to take off and mark up your door.
• Use a knife to score the surface of the door because it will prevent splintering when you start using your circular saw.
• For added measure to prevent chipping, put masking tape on the bottom of your door. It’s advisable to put tape under the foot of your circular saw as well. This will prevent the door surface being damaged by this tool.
• Cut the door using a circular saw which has a fine tooth blade.
• Sand the door using fine sand paper either by hand or using a power sander.
• Depending on your door, you may need to re-stain it, so it matches the rest of the door.
• Give it plenty of time to dry before re-hanging it.

There’s no doubt that trimming a wood door is probably beyond the reach of your everyday DIY enthusiast, because of the risk it may get damaged. Asking an expert for help is probably advisable, so why not call on the team at Door Stop?

Since 2007, Door Stop has been providing and installing quality doors to the people of Perth. We have an extensive range of internal and external doors as well as pivot and bi-fold doors at our two showrooms in Joondalup and Osborne Park.

With a seven year warranty and interest free finance options, now is a great time to install those doors you’ve always wanted.

It’s one of life’s most irritating noises, a squeaky door. Just like changing a lightbulb, it’s not that hard to fix, but it can take forever to get around to doing the job. It takes just minutes to deal with annoying squeaks, and to get rid of that mouse noise coming from your door. It’s all about giving the hinges a bit of lubrication to stop and peep or future squeaks.

Why Do Doors Squeak?

Doors will squeak because over time the screws to the hinges can become loose. If it’s not the screws to the door hinges, it may be the hinge pin itself that has become dislodged. The squeak will get worse if grime and gunk get into the hinges and the metal becomes corroded. New metal is shiny, but as it ages it can become more abrasive.

A little bit of lubricant around the hinges will make them slippery, so there’s enough slide to prevent any further squeaks.

The Professional Super Lube WD-40

Probably the most trusted lubricant and a firm favourite on shelves in garages and workshops throughout Australia is WD-40. It’s been around since the 1950s and is considered to be the super lube of choice by many DIY enthusiasts.

A thin petroleum-based liquid, apply the lubricant to hinges from an aerosol can. It was originally developed in California when the Rocket Chemical Company was trying to develop a line of solvents to prevent rust in rocket parts. Spray the WD-40 directly into the door hinges, so that no surplus oil gets on the door or trim.

The Alternative Lubricants

If you don’t have any WD-40, then there are a few alternatives. Some swear by cooking oil, a staple in most kitchen pantries. Any type of cooking oil will suffice, it doesn’t have to be a premium grade. There is, of course, the possibility that if use cooking oil you’ll end up with a sticky door as well as a squeaky one!

From the kitchen to the bathroom…another suggested option is Vaseline. For both cooking oil and Vaseline, place a small amount on your finger and rub it into the hinge.

If The Squeak Remains…

If the squeak doesn’t stop and you’ve lubricated the hinges, you may need to physically remove the hinge pin and spray it individually before reinserting it into the door. This may be tricky because for some doors you’ll have to unscrew the whole door to access the hinge which can be a two person job.

If the squeaking resolves itself but then returns later, it could be that your door isn’t aligned properly. If the door isn’t balanced correctly within the frame, there may be added pressure on the door hinges. To resolve the problem, you’ll need to have it reset which is best done by a professional door fitter.

For all your door requirements, head on to Door Stop. We offer a range of doors and windows with workmanship, materials and design that are truly outstanding. Don’t take our word for it, take a look at the Google reviews and come and see our quality doors at showrooms in Osborne Park and Joondalup.

The garage is one of those areas which is often overlooked. While its main purpose is to accommodate your cars and motorbikes, more often than not it’s full to the brim with tools, cycles, surfboards and more.

There are twenty million registered motor vehicles in Australia. People love houses with garages because prolonged exposure to the sun can harm the finish of a vehicle with extreme heat damaging a cars and fittings.

There will always be those who don’t bother to park in their garages, but an ever increasing number are choosing homes with integral garages with a garage entry door to provide convenient access to the inside.

Secure And Safe

A strong, sturdy door with a good locking mechanism should be your door of choice. Ideally it should be a solid- core door, one that is as tough as the front door to your home. Solid-core doors are excellent for sound insulation and act as effective fire doors because they are heavy and dense with a thickness of 35mm or 40mm.

If you live in Perth, there are no regulations about it being fire-rated, but if you live on acreage in the bush, then a fire-rated garage entry door will be compulsory. Check with your shire if you’re unsure.

Be mindful that here’s always a risk of a garage fire. Garage fires can be ferocious because of the amount of flammable materials inside with overloaded outlets sparking a blaze. Garage fires can go undetected for long periods and can spread quickly because of garage clutter.

Security should be a priority as well. Intruders do break into a home via the garage rolling door. Offenders can vandalise the motor that lifts the garage door. While they may be targeting your vehicles, if the internal door to your house is weak, they’ll get access into your home as well.

Checklist For A Garage Entry Door

For anyone investigating a garage entry door, these are the key things to consider:

• Ensure it’s as sturdy as a main front door
• Install a good deadlock
• Use a solid core door with good insulation
• Ensure it has self-closing hinges, so the door is shut unless in use

A door with a thickness of 35mm or 40mm, it will be of superior strength and will have the potential to slow the movement of fire from garage to the house.

Best Material

Solid core wooden doors made from high-quality timber such as meranti have excellent insulation properties and resist wear and tear. Meranti is a hardwood timber that does not warp or twist.

Door Stop offers a range of stylish garage entrance doors at affordable prices. Each comes with a seven year warranty for peace of mind. Our doors are manufactured to withstand Perth’s harsh heat and won’t split or warp. All installation work is carried out by qualified carpenters. Whether it’s a garage entrance door, internal door, sliding or bi-fold door, come and visit our showrooms in Osborne Park and Joondalup to inspect the quality yourself.

Paint your interior doors to spruce them up, so they look fresh and clean, but before you open that tin, brush up your knowledge on the type of paint to use.

Interior doors and trims, as well as skirting boards get a lot of use day-to-day which means you’ll want one that’s hardwearing as well as pleasing on the eye.

Behind every painted wooden door is an all-important decision on the type of paint finish, so let’s dip further into this subject.

Smooth With Satinwood

Satinwood, so called because it’s a satin which is great for wood, is classed as a semi-gloss. It’s also known as satin finish, and is fast becoming the number one option for paint finish for interior woodwork, especially by millennials who see it as more modern.

Satinwood has a pearl like sheen with the finish being less reflective. It’s not as shiny as gloss but not as matt as an eggshell finish. For doors and trims, the preference is to use a water based satinwood.

Some people are loath to use it because they feel it lacks body, but that’s often a misconception because technology has improved and now it’s developed to a superior quality. Depending on your wood, you may have to apply additional coats of paint.

Glossing Over Gloss

The traditional choice for painting doors, trims and skirting boards has always been oil based gloss because it’s practical and hardwearing.

Gloss paint holds up better for cleaning. Doors and the trims can get grubby which makes gloss type paints the preferred option, but some argue it’s outdated.

Choose a water based gloss and not oil based, as over time oil based can discolour, meaning that beautiful white door, trim or skirting board may develop a yellow hue. This is especially true if your door is in an area which lacks light; it will yellow quicker in a dark hallway rather than in a bright conservatory.

With gloss paint you’ll need an undercoat to prevent it soaking into wood. The downside of using gloss is that it can take a long time to dry and could have a strong smell, with the fumes causing a headache. In recent years modern paint manufacturers have introduced odourless paints, so you no longer have to worry about strong vapours.

Another negative about high-gloss paint is that it can highlight slight blemishes within the wood itself, the high amount of sheen means you can easily see imperfections.

As with most decisions, it will come down to personal preference. It’s your home and you’ll be passing through the doors over and over again. While it may be the most basic DIY job, once it’s painted you’ll have to live with it.

For all your doors internal and external, talk to the team at Door Stop. Our doors are of a superior quality and we offer exemplary customer service from enquiry to installation with a 7-year door warranty that’s worth having. Drop into our showroom in either Joondalup or Osborne Park to find out why we’re the door store of choice in Perth.

Your front door is much more than an entrance to your home. While it says a lot about you and your personality, it’s also the barrier that exists between your house and the outside. Every day it may face a barrage of elements and differing temperatures, so it needs to be hardwearing and well-constructed.

Interior and entrance doors are not the same product. The construction process is different; internal doors are lighter because they don’t have to withstand the same abuse while entrance doors are produced to be sturdy and robust.

Door Thickness

We’ve already mentioned that all doors are not equal. An entrance door will be thicker and more durable than internal doors, measuring in at 40mm to provide the insulation and protection required. Most entrance doors are 820mm wide and 2040mm tall.

Interior doors are made from a single material whereas entrance doors may consist of several wood layers.

Material

An entrance door will be tough and made out of material which is structurally rigid as well as being pleasing on the eye. Entrance doors may incorporate glass for decoration purposes and glazing always incurs extra costs.

Wooden doors have always been popular because of their connection with nature and their properties which make them natural insulators.

Aluminium doors add a touch of contemporary elegance and are well suited to a modern home. Compared to wood, aluminium will withstand more force, requiring less maintenance year-on-year than wooden doors.

Hardware

Inevitably you will have more decorative hardware on your front door. Door knockers are a firm favourite and come in different designs and styles. A gold, brass or silver door knocker will add sophistication when paired with a matching house number.

Kick plates and handles along with locking mechanisms will also add to cost. Don’t skimp on security. A high quality front door lock to provide the highest level of security is essential.

Size Entrance

To create a welcoming entry to your home, you may want to consider a double-entry door. Double doors will result in double the expense, but two doors at the front of your home will add balance and uniformity.

Double doors are always beneficial for entertaining when there are lots of guests coming in and out. Removal men will thank you if they’re ever dropping off furniture. They can also provide a greater amount of natural light into the interior, creating a better ambiance as you welcome people into your home.

For all your door requirements, come and visit one of our two showrooms in Perth. At Door Stop we provide high quality, affordable doors that are made to last and all come with a 7-year warranty. Summer is here, so it’s a great time to let the outdoors in, so come and talk to us today and let us help you find your perfect entrance door.

Price is a big factor when it comes to buying doors. While most people opt for doors that you can select from a showroom, there’s also the option to buy custom doors to meet your exact requirements.

A door which is custom made is unique because it’s bespoke and one-of-a-kind. While it may be more expensive, you’ll be investing in better quality, design and safety.

In today’s modern environment, where most people buy mass-produced goods, a custom door that is crafted individually, will stand out from the rest. This type of door requires more work and attention to detail which will inevitably mean the price tag is higher. You may have to pay for extra transportation as well.

Craftsmanship

Custom doors offer a higher level of security, improved functionality and uncompromised quality. They’re made exactly the way you want them from the very best materials. The craftsmanship involved will be better than on any prefabricated door bought off the rack and will require a high degree of skill and carpentry.

Design

When it’s bespoke, the devil is in the detail. Your door will meet exact specifications, from material and hardware to size. Some people regard custom doors as a piece of functional art which can spark comments and conversation.

Durability

You can guarantee that a custom door will be made from stronger, more resilient materials and while it will be more expensive, it could end up saving you money in the long term. Higher quality materials lead to greater durability, so bespoke doors will last for many years and require less maintenance.

Security

With durability, there’s also added security. The time involved with the workmanship and materials used will mean a custom door is sturdier and stronger than those mass produced. An exterior door is your family’s first line of defence against the elements and any intruders. One that is made individually will withstand any tampering or disturbance and is the best deterrent against burglars.

Efficiency

Custom doors are made to last. Because they use high-quality materials, they provide superior insulation which will reduce your energy bills. An additional bonus of greater insulation is sound reduction. A main entrance door which is custom made will block out noisy cars driving pass and any rowdy neighbours.

Better Hardware

Quality hardware will be incorporated within a custom made door to really lift the aesthetics. By choosing your own hardware, you can select the size, material and functionality that may add to the expense.

While standard doors are always the popular choice and may be easier to source, it may be worth the time and cost to opt for custom doors. A bespoke door will set your house apart from any others on the block.

When it comes to door quality and choice, speak to the experts at Door Stop. Our doors are far superior and all are produced and crafted with care. If you want a custom built one, we can help. With 35 years’ experience we are widely regarded as the number one door supplier in Perth. Why not come and see for yourself at our two showrooms in Joondalup and Osborne Park?

As smart home technology has advanced, so have security camera systems with prices becoming more affordable. The long cables and leads of yesteryear have been replaced by modern wireless security cameras.

How Do Wireless Security Systems Work?

A wireless security system is just as it sounds, a security system which connects to your Wi-Fi internet network. It’s the eye in the sky keeping your home safe.

Internet connected cameras allow you to have a live real-time view of what’s happening on your doorstep, even if you’re well, not on your doorstep.

Newer security systems are small and unobtrusive and while they connect with your home via Wi-Fi, most will still be plugged into the mains with a back-up battery system in case of a power cut.

It’s All About Positioning

Your camera should be directly over your main entrance door, pointing down at an angle, ideally eight to ten feet from the ground. You want it low enough to capture detail but high enough, so it won’t be tampered with. Of course you’ll want a good field view to capture the area around your front door.

A camera pointing downwards is a great deterrent to stop burglars in their tracks. Finding the right angle to complement the position of the camera is just as important as the placement itself.

Get The Right Resolution

It’s no good installing front door security cameras if the video is blurred. Don’t skimp on low resolution as there may come a time when you wished you’d captured number plates and faces.

Look for a camera with High Dynamic Range (HDR) as it can brighten up the dark areas, offering better detail. HDR widens the exposure range, so you don’t lose any detail when it’s dark at night and bright during the day. Ideally, you’ll want it to record to 1080p with greater pixels, so the images are clear to see.

Access Your Video Remotely

Apps will allow you to monitor your front door security camera at any time. You can live stream footage or look back on recordings. Some cameras will only trigger recording when motion is detected and will send email or text alerts when this happens.

Recorded footage can be kept on a memory card, in the cloud or in files on a laptop or home computer.

Making A Selection

There are many security cameras on the market, some of the more popular ones in Australia include Arlo, Nest, Logitech, Hive and Motorolo. Before buying a front door security camera do some research to check it has the right functions you require.

For anything door related come and speak to the team at Door Stop. We’ve been established more than 35 years and offer great products at affordable products. But don’t take our word for it, come and see for yourself at our two showrooms in Joondalup and Osborne and check out our Google reviews from satisfied customers.

We’re often asked if there’s a definitive rule about which way your bedroom doors should swing open in your home. The answer is no, there isn’t – it’s very much up to the home owner to make that decision.

However, in Australia look around any property and you’ll discover that most houses tend to have bedroom doors which swing inwards into the rooms. Before you swing into action and fit new ones or replace old doors, we’re focussing on why that’s the preferred option.

Come On In

Doors which open inwards to bedrooms are designed to push to enter and pull to exit. The swing of a door can be an obstruction.

If your bedroom leads out onto a hallway, you’ve a higher chance of the door opening into the direct path of someone walking by. Plus it could be encroaching into an area which is relatively narrow.

If a child accidentally locks themselves in the bedroom, it’s easier to break down an inward door to get them out.

Maximum View

In many ways the bedroom is the most important room in your house, a personal haven where you can unwind and enjoy restful sleep.

A door which opens inwards gives you a great view of the space inside. Open the door and it showcases that room, and you can admire the furniture, bed and all the fittings.

Safe And Secure

Inward opening doors are generally regarded as safer because the hinges are on the inside, so no one can tamper with them.

Exposed hinges are a security weak point and makes it harder for burglars to gain entry. If the hinges are easy to move, the room becomes less secure making you feel more vulnerable at night.

Hinges on the inside will also make the door look tidier and aesthetically pleasing.

Feng Shui Principles

Feng shui philosophy believes a bedroom is the most important room of the home and should always be inward opening. That way it’s deemed to be more welcoming and pulls the Chi-energy, drawing it in, instead of pushing it away and allowing this fresh energy into your space.

What About The Swing?

In most cases, it doesn’t matter the type of swing you opt for, but the design of your bedroom may help you to decide whether it should be a left or right swing and whether it limits the availability of space.

For example a door shouldn’t open out to block a light switch or wardrobe. If it hits something, then the door needs to swing in the opposite direction.

With 35 years’ experience, the team at Door Stop have the products and knowledge to advise you on bedroom doors that are both stylish and affordable.

We have two showrooms in Osborne Park and Joondalup, so you can come and see for yourself. We stock a range of hardware including hinges and handles and with a no quibble 7-year warranty and offering 0% interest, you can see why we’re the door company of choice in Perth.

Is your life full of wealth and good luck? If the answer is no then perhaps you need to get wise to feng shui and show negative energy the door.

According to feng shui – the Chinese art of balancing energy to encourage a positive environment and lifestyle – the front door of your house is the mouth of chi energy and a key element to your wealth and happiness.

But there is no single answer to achieving perfect door feng shui. There are many factors at play. Some of these elements, such as having your front door facing the street, can’t be addressed without a major rebuild, but fortunately there are always ways to counter negative feng shui.

Light the way

If your front door faces the street, then that’s a great start, as it attracts positive energy from the road into your house. If it doesn’t then some extra lighting or by adding plants along the path will lead to better energy within.

In The Right Direction?

The next consideration is the orientation of your door. Different rules apply dependent on whether the door faces north, south, east or west, and all directions in-between. Woe betide anyone with a south-facing door who wants to paint it white. South-oriented doors have to be red, according to feng shui principles. White doors are reserved for south-west and north-east orientations.

None of that applies to north-facing doors. These need to be very dark, ideally navy blue or black. But if your door points north-west or west, a cheerful ochre or yellow door is recommended.

Finally, east or south-east doors should stay a natural wood colour.

Beware Of Arrows

Now that you know your door colour, have a look at your outdoor environment. Bad feng shui energy can be created outside by a neighbouring building with sharp edges pointing towards your door. These literally translate from the Chinese as ‘poison arrows’, and you need to deflect their bad energy.

The solution to a poison arrow depends on what direction it’s coming from. You don’t need to fix the door itself; you can use interior decoration to build a shield.

Raise Your Shields

If your poison arrow comes from the south, a fountain or crystal placed near the door will shield you. From the north, a crystal or a plant will stave off the bad feng shui. An arrow pointing from the east or south-east just needs a wind chime or light to deflect it. From the west or north-westerly direction, a light or fountain will do the trick. Finally, any poison arrow from the south-west or north-east can be fixed with a windchime or plant in its way.

Other feng shui considerations are making sure the door faces inwards to let the energy flow in and having a medium-sized door to let the correct amount of energy into your house. For extra luck, open your front door a lot as you’ll be making your home more balanced and harmonised.

Of course it’s up to you if you want to follow feng shui principles. But for all your door requirements head to Door Stop. We offer buy now, pay later finance options and with two showrooms in Perth you can come and take a look at the quality of the doors for yourselves.