Get matched with top door pros in Belle, MO

You should prime interior doors before painting for the best results. If you do paint directly on the wood, you could see some of the grain patterns show through the paint, in which case you’d need to apply additional coats. Priming the surface before painting will reduce the number of coats and can better cover the grain pattern for a clean, finished look.

Kick plates are usually installed on the “push” side of a door, but there are plenty of reasons to install them on both sides. Interior kick plates can offer protection from pet scratches, doors being kicked closed, and even kids’ toys during enthusiastic play sessions. Consider what kind of use and abuse your door gets to determine which side or sides to install a kick plate on.

The best place to install a dog door is on an exterior door that leads to a fenced-in area of your rear yard. This position will let your dog go in and out as they need and still keep them safe in your yard when they’re outside. You should plan on installing the bottom of the doggie door a minimum of 3 inches above the bottom of your exterior door to maintain the structural integrity of the door, and never cut out a hole within 3 inches of exterior door glass.

Standard door sizes aren’t one-size-fits-all, but there are common go-to dimensions. For exterior doors—like your front door—36 inches wide by 80 inches tall is typical, though you’ll see 30- or 32-inch widths too, especially in older homes. Interior doors vary more. Bedrooms and bathrooms often use 30- to 32-inch widths, and closet doors can be anything from slim singles to wide bi-folds. Height is usually 80 inches across the board; however, always measure your actual opening. “Standard” only works if it matches what’s already in place.