Door tips from intelligent people for home renovation and repair - hiring, working, managing - for women, children and pets

Sometimes screws on a door hinge come loose, and the hole is too reamed out to hold. Bigger screws don't always hold. Pack the hole with wooden toothpicks dipped in wood glue. When you can't get any more toothpicks in, use of putty knife to cut them off flush. Now the screw will be going into a new, hard wood.

The best lubrication for a stiff lock is not oil; it's graphite powder. Spray the powder into the keyhole and on the key. Then work the key in and out, and back and forth to distribute the powder. Yes, you can create your own by using a pencil on the key, but squirting works better.

A keyless lock is a digital deadbolt. It works like a combination lock in that you turn the dial to enter a personal code on a digital display. You can change the code and open the lock with a standard key. It runs on electricity or batteries. In outages, electricity unlocks your door.

Door hinges that are tight but squeak may be silenced by prying up the hinge pin 1/4" and squirting a few drops down the barrel of the hinge.