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Assa Abloy, the world’s largest lock manufacturer and parent company of Yale Door, has produced an animation video showing the latest technological advancements.

The video demonstrates the limitless options of keyless systems for front doors, for home and business purposes. A hotel chain in Scandinavia is currently trialling the scheme, which allows guests to check-in before arrival using their mobile phone. This is made possible through the use of Near Field Communication (NFC), an exciting technology that already lets Starbucks customers pay with their smartphone, but one day will enable all of us to enter our homes without using keys.

Some of the developments are not available in the UK at the moment, but this is a good chance to check out what the future will bring us. 

What you have not seen in this video is that keys are still an important part of our everyday life. We still carry them, lose them, and pay for them. Yale Keyfree is the solution to avoid fumbling for keys in the dark. Just type your code in and the lock will drive the bolt for you, unlocking your front door in total security.

Door hinges are one of those things that go completely un-noticed, but if it wasn’t for door hinges we wouldn’t beautiful doors keeping our homes warm and secure. We really should take care of our door hinges, as we door the rest of our homes. 

When Door Hinges Go Bad

Everything’s rosy as long as long as your doors silently swing open and closed without any effort, but all that changes when you don’t look after them. On a day-to-day basis, squeaky doors can drive you crazy and it doesn’t get any better when they stick and rub the floor, making it a mission just to get in and out of your house. 

The problem, with even the most modern door hinge designs, is that the screws that hold the door in place become loose and weakened because of the constant stress they are under. This is especially common in homes where kids run wild, swinging from door to door and moody teenagers slam them closed on their way out. Of course, this happens on its own with heavier doors, which put great strain on a door  hinge. 

When to Fix Your Door Hinges

Once a year, perhaps while you are spring cleaning or carrying out big DIY jobs, you should walk around your house and inspect your door hinges. You should tighten loose screws with a screw driver.

Sometimes you will find that the screws never tighten no matter how much you screw them into the frame. This means that the holes in the wood have been damaged and you need to carry out further improvements to fix it. 

How to Fix Your Door Hinges

Remove the door hinges and take note of the screw holes

Get some good old fashioned matches, or strips of wood of a similar size, and places them into the holes. You will need glue to make sure they stay tightly in place. 

Once the glue is dry you can refit the door hinges and door. You should notice that the screws remain snug in their place and will keep the door from dragging on the floor. 

While you’re at it, you might as well lubricate the door hinges with a multi-purpose lubricant. This will get rid of those annoying squeaks and creaks that wake you up in the middle of the night. If you don’t have lubricant, you will find that olive oil will do pretty much the same job, however, it may not last as long until the door hinge needs re-oiling. 

If you are considering buying draught excluders for your home then it's likely that you are living here in blustery Blighty. Ironically, even though we have some of the worst weather in Europe, most of the houses in Britain offer the worst in home energy efficiency and insulation. Our old houses are fitted with out of date, single pained windows and doors that have long since fitted in their door frames. All of these factors together create homes which are hard and expensive to keep warm. 

For that reason, British residents tend to look for ways to "cure" their properties and make them more energy efficient, with the use of equally outdated technology, such as draught excluders and insulation tape. 

Prevention is Better Than Cure

The problem with even the most modern draught excluders, is that although they help with retaining heat, they do not prevent the problem from happening in the first place. Draught excluders do not create an airtight seal around the door or window, which means cold air is still entering your home, and warm air is still leaving. 

Draught excluders also cause problems in the home as they cause obstructions in front of the doors, which makes it difficult to open the door. It also means that every time you open and close a door, you have to waste time putting the draught excluder back in place. Obviously, this is impossible to do from the outside of the house as you are leaving, which means while you are out at work your house is getting colder and colder. Fabric draught excluders also collect dirt and need regular cleaning and one thing's for sure, they certainly don't keep your house warm while they're in the washing machine!

Ultimately, if you want to create a warmer, more energy efficient home you need to get to the root of the problem. Prevention, as they say, is better than cure. If you are considering spending money on draught excluders or other forms of home insulation, why not consider better investing your money in measures that will truly enhance your home's value. 

Effective Energy Efficiency Measures

Loft Insulation

As we all know, heat rises. This means that a huge proportion of your home's heat is escaping through your roof. Invest in quality loft insulation and you will instantly notice the difference. 

Doors and Windows

Quality double glazed windows and energy efficient doors will work wonders for your home. Not only will they lock in your homes warmth but they will also make your home safer and more secure. More modern technology also means that your new energy efficient composite doors and windows will last for many years to come and will require almost no maintenance. 

It’s not usually at the top of our “things to do list”, but it’s an important job that should be carried out at least once a year. Well maintained door locks will provide you with better home security and will save you from having to fork out cash for locksmith repair fees in the future! It’s quick and easy – here’s how to maintain your home door locks!

Basic Lubrication

Any, “all purpose” oil or lubrication will do the job, but be sure never to lubricate your door locks with powder graphite, as it will do more harm than good. Simply insert the straw (which is normally supplied with lubricants such as WD40) into the lock cylinder and spray away! You may even have fun with it!

Lubricant will seep out of the lock so make sure you have some kitchen roll or a cloth to absorb the excess.

As you spray, you will see that the oil is discoloured with dirt. Continue to spray until the lubricant t runs clear again. This means that you have flushed all of the dirt out of the lock.

Dead Bolts

While you are cleaning your door locks, you may also want to lubricate your door latch and/dead bolt. Regular door lock maintenance will make your door locks work more efficiently and make your everyday life that little bit easier!

There are lots of things to take into consideration when fitting a new front door and getting the correct measurements before you purchase your door is vital. Here are some top tips for those of that are considering buying a door and fitting it yourself. 

Measure the Width of Your Door Frame

It’s important to be thorough. You MUST take at least three measurements at the top,  middle and bottom of the door frame that you want to fit a new door to. Remember, as houses set, things don’t always stay straight. A door frame may look like it’s perfectly in line but it’s probably not a perfect rectangle shape. 

Use the widest measurement as this with give the most accurate size needed. 

Measure the Length of the Door Frame

As above, make more than one measurement. Measure down each vertical side of the frame and remember to make allowances for carpet or other floor materials which may need space underneath the door. 

Making Adjustments if Your Door Doesn’t Fit

Sometimes, even though we take all the necessary advice, things just don’t pan out as we hoped. A common problem is that people buy a new door and find it doesn’t quite fit. A millimetre here and a millimetre there all adds up and causes problems when fitting your new door. 

If your door doesn’t fit, use a small chisel to remove thin slices from the door frame. Remember, your door will probably be coated with important coatings and insulation features so you don’t want to damage it by taking a chisel to it. 

You should also use sand paper to smooth off the door frame edge until the door fits without force. Be careful not to chisel away too much of the frame as gaps around the door will create draughts and unwanted heat loss. 

Keeping a beautiful home is all about paying great attention to detail. No matter how much money you spend on quality home furnishings, small blemishes and discrepancies will always detract your guests’ attention. In fact, I always remember something my Grandmother used to say;

“Nobody will notice if you religiously clean and maintain your house in perfect condition, but everybody will notice if you don’t.”

With this in mind, and also considering that your guests will, typically, enter through your front door, we would like to offer some advice on keeping your door handles looking sparkly clean and shiny new. 

How to Clean Brass and Silver Door Handles

Brass and silver door handles are notoriously difficult to clean but there are a few techniques that will save you time and effort. Head to your local hardware store and invest in a cleaning product which is specifically made for cleaning brass and silver. Good old fashioned Brasso tend to work best on brass door handles. 

Poor the brasso onto a damp cloth and rub it into the door handle in a vigorous, circular motion.  

Magic Tip: Leave the cleaning product to completely dry and leave for a couple of hours. 

Then, using a clean, dry cloth get to work on polishing up the door handle. You may notice that your new shiny brass or silver door handle makes the rest of your door hardware look old and tired. Don’t worry! You can use the same method to clean the rest of your brass and silver door fittings!

How to Clean Crystal Door Handles

If you are lucky enough to have beautiful, antique, crystal door handles then you are very fortunate. However, you will also find that they are difficult to keep looking sparkly and shiny! For crystal door handles it’s important to use an all purpose cleaner that doesn’t contain solvents that can damage the surface. A good cleaning product for crystal door handles is Kurd Kutter as it will not scratch or damage the crystal door handle. 

Spray the surface of the crystal door handle but do not allow the product to dry. Using a soft, dry towel wipe the solvent off the surface – don’t be afraid to use some elbow grease! 

How to Clean Clear Coated Door Handles

Back in the day many fashionable door companies fitted clear coated door knobs to their doors. They may look great but they are hard to polish as the polish won’t reach the handle’s surface. To polish clear coated door handles you must first remove the clear coating with a solvent. Be careful not to use stripping solvents in unventilated spaces as you may find yourself going a little dizzy! 

Once the clear coat is dissolved you can use any all purpose cleaning solution, and of course, some good old fashioned elbow grease!

Here at Yale door we’re always trying to show you ways to improve the look of your home and make it more welcoming for your family and visitors. This includes refreshing your hallway with a new paint job and keeping on top of your “clutter situation”, but it also entails everybody’s least favourite chore – cleaning! 

It doesn’t matter how beautiful your front door is or how modern your decor is, if you don’t manage to keep your house clean and fresh you will never succeed in creating that warm welcome home.  

Here are some top tips for keeping that dirty old door mat looking fresh, clean and ultimately – inviting!

Check the Label and Save Yourself Some Time

Doormats, like all home fittings, come in a variety of different shapes, sizes and qualities. If your door mat is made with nitrile rubber backing, you can simply throw it in the washing machine and wash it as you would your clothes. Use a high temperature but not too much detergent to get it looking as good as new and smelling as fresh as a daisy! You can even stick it in the tumble drier to get it dry!

Blast from the Past

Sometimes, if your door mat is in a really bad way, it may require some serious high power blasting. Front door mats with vinyl backing can be taken to a car wash and hosed off. Alternatively, if you are lucky enough to have a home power washer, you can take your door mat into the garden and give it a good blast. This is also suitable for rubber door mats which are incredibly durable and resilient. 

Put the Lime in the Coconut

Unfortunately, natural coconut shell and coir door mats have a shorter life span than vinyl backed and rubber door mats. Once these mats get dirty (and mouldy), there is little that can be done to revitalise them. If you do have a coconut or coir door mat, make sure you frequently vacuum it and shake the dirt out. This will help make it last longer and keep the dirt out of your house. 

Ultimately, it’s best to replace old coconut door mats with polypropylene or nylon yarn mats that have vinyl or rubber backing. These modern front door mats keep the dirt out of your house and don’t cause any bad odours – and that certainly helps to create a more welcoming home!

We are passionate about our energy efficient doors but we also know how important it is to insulate your entire property, not just the front door. Loft insulation is one of the most valuable home insulation techniques available and offers a rapid return on investment. Here’s what you need to do.

The recommended minimum loft insulation is 270mm (minimum) - this will not only make your home more comfortable, but it will also be cheaper to heat. You could potentially save up to £100 on energy bills annually, paying back a DIY loft insulation within two years. 

Required Materials

•Loft insulation (the minimum recommended is 270mm, but the thicker the insulation the more energy you save)

•Gloves, mask, and glasses

•Stanley knife

•Tape measure

•Knee pads

Step 1: Calculating Depth

Measure how much insulation is already present. Subtract 270mm by current depth to find out how much minimum insulation is required. 

Step 2: Calculating Area of Loft

Next, measure the size of your loft (area = length x width). 

Step 3: Joist Gap

If your current insulation is already in level with your joist, skip to step 4. Joists tend to be 400mm or 600mm. You can use a calculator like this to figure out how many rolls are required.

Step 4: The Fitting

Clear your loft out so that the fitting process is easier. Start at the farthest corner and unroll the first roll so places between the joists or above existing insulation. Press down lightly, but do not compress the insulation as this increases energy spending. When a roll finishes, place the next one from end to end so there are no gaps. When you reach the end of your loft, cut the roll, but leave enough gap to allow for ventilation from eaves. 

It is also recommended that you insulate your loft hatch—this prevents any heat from escaping. To do this just cut a piece of insulation about the size of your hatch and fit it onto the back. Remember, there is no point insulating your loft if you have old, draughty doors and windows. Double glazing and energy effiecient doors, such as Yale composite doors, will drastically improve energy efficiency and lower your bills. 

Are you frightened by the sight of your latest gas bill? Are your teeth chattering while reading this blog post? Maybe you can solve your problems without spending a fortune.

No matter how long you keep the heating on, a great amount of heat is lost through windows and doors, especially if they are outdated.

The Doors

The advantages of double glazing are well known, but it is often forgotten how much an insulated door can improve the energy efficiency of your house. According to the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), insulated doors are one of the highest cost effective ways to save money on energy bills. In order to understand why, just try standing next to your front door and place your hands on the sides, you will feel the difference in temperature compared to the rest of the house. This is where the heat is literally being blown away. If it feels like you are in the North Pole, you need an insulated door.

But how can we distinguish an insulated door from a normal one? When you buy a new door, ask to see the Energy Rating Certificate, whereby doors are given a U Value, which represents the amount of heat loss and shows you how efficient the door is. It is expressed in units of watts per square metre per degree Kelvin, or W/m2K. The lower the value, the more efficient the door is. And therefore the more money you can save on energy bills. 

The Law

New standards introduced in 2010 require suppliers to produce doors with a maximum U Value of 1.8 W/m2K (1.6W/m2K in Scotland). All our composite doors have U Values lower than 1.0W/m2K.

Thanks to the Green Deal initiative, homeowners will soon be able to pay for energy efficient doors with no upfront costs, and paid for via savings on the energy bill.

So remember, if you are trying to decide which door to buy, ask to see the energy rating score before you buy. If you have any more questions regarding door energy efficiency ratings, you can read our post "Energy Efficiency - Knowledge is Power" or give us an obligation free call on 0800 787 9253.