Tools for a Home Door

Installing a Door

• You need a basic assortment of tools to install. You'll want a drill with several different bits to drill holes for mounting hardware, such as hinges. A Phillips bit is also good to have ready. Have a hammer or mallet ready to ensure that the pins are in the hinge properly. Keep an assortment of screwdrivers for the finishing touch on hardware. WD-40 is great for keeping hinges from squeaking and hardware from locking up.

Repairing a Door

• Over time, doors sustain normal wear and tear and occasional damage. To fix a loose door knob or hinge, a screwdriver is your best bet. Squeaky hinges are best remedied by some WD-40. If the door has expanded or warped over time, take down the door and use a planer to level the top or bottom of the door. A planer shaves down wood in small increments so that you make no drastic changes, as you would with a saw. If you need drastic changes, consider trimming the door with a table saw and an extra pair of hands will be useful for this sort of project.

Reinforcing Door for Safety

• Depending on your neighborhood, you may feel that one lock is not enough. If you'd like to add a deadbolt, you'll need a drill with various bits again, including screwdriver bits. Adding a chain lock will require just a drill and screwdriver bit combination as well.

Weather Stripping

• If you're constantly using a towel or pillow to block the cold out and keep warmth in, it might be time to install weather stripping for a more permanent solution. Once again, that same drill with various bits will come in handy. Drill pilot holes and then tighten the stripping into place for best results. If the door itself is too long to add weather stripping to, it may require that you plane down the bottom of the door to make room to attach the weather stripping.