Windows & Doors

Explore expert guides on replacement windows, front entry doors, patio sliders, and energy-efficient upgrades to boost your home’s curb appeal and comfort

A new full-view storm door with glass panel on a craftsman entry, warm wood front door visible behind it

ExteriorStorm & Screen Doors10 min read

Hang a Storm Door in a Day (and Have It Close Itself Softly)

Install a full-view storm door: measuring the opening, hinge-side selection, mounting rail plumb, closer adjustment, and the expander sweep that seals the sill.

A navy front door laid across sawhorses being painted with a small roller, matte black hardware and tray beside it

ExteriorFront Entry Doors9 min read

Paint Your Front Door and Swap the Hardware in a Day

A step-by-step guide to repainting a front entry door off its hinges: sanding, exterior enamel in the right sequence, and fitting new hardware that latches clean.

Cedar window box planted with petunias mounted on black brackets below a white window on gray lap siding

ExteriorShutters & Window Trim8 min read

Build and Mount Window Boxes That Will Not Rot the Siding

A step-by-step guide to building cedar window boxes with drainage, mounting them on brackets with standoffs, and sealing fasteners so the siding stays dry.

Freshly painted exterior shutters being mounted beside a window on lap siding, with a drill and level nearby

ExteriorShutters & Window Trim8 min read

Hang Exterior Shutters Sized and Mounted Right

A step-by-step guide to exterior shutters that look original: sizing at half the window width, full height, correct fasteners for every siding type, and shutter dogs.

New screen mesh being rolled into an aluminum sliding screen door frame on sawhorses beside a patio door

ExteriorPatio & Sliding Doors7 min read

Rebuild a Sliding Screen Door That Glides Like New

A step-by-step guide to rebuilding a patio sliding screen door: pulling it, replacing the rollers, re-screening with new spline, cleaning the track, and adjusting the fit.

A sliding patio door panel on sawhorses with a new roller held beside the worn old one, tools and a dirty track nearby

ExteriorPatio & Sliding Doors8 min read

Make a Sticking Sliding Patio Door Glide Like New

A step-by-step guide to fixing a hard-to-slide patio door: cleaning the track, lifting the panel out, replacing worn rollers, adjusting height, and realigning the latch.

A steel tape measure stretched across the inside of an old white double-hung window with a notepad on the sill

ExteriorReplacement Windows8 min read

Measure for Replacement Windows the Way Installers Do

A step-by-step guide to measuring for pocket replacement windows: three-point width and height, checking square and sill slope, deductions, and writing a clean order.

A new white vinyl insert window being set into an old wood frame with shims and a level on the sill

ExteriorReplacement Windows11 min read

Install an Insert Replacement Window That Stays Square for Decades

A step-by-step guide to installing an insert replacement window: stripping the old sash, setting it square, shimming, foaming, and refitting stops.

Gloved hands spraying lubricant onto a garage door roller bracket beside the track, stepladder standing in the bay

ExteriorGarage Doors8 min read

Tune Up a Noisy Garage Door Without Touching the Springs

A step-by-step guide to quieting a garage door: tightening hardware, lubricating rollers and hinges, testing balance and safety reverse — springs strictly off-limits.