Ask the BuilderAsk the Builder
Ask the Builder's on:

Subscribe to askthebuilder's videos

Air Conditioning
Asphalt - Blacktop
Brick
Building Tips
Cabinets
Caulk
Ceilings
Ceramic Tile
Checklists
Chimneys
Concrete
Concrete Defects
Concrete Installation
Condensation
Countertops
Deck Construction
Deck Maintenance
Design
DIY
Doors
Drainage
Drywall - Plaster
DVDs
EBooks - EDocs
Electrical
Energy Savings
Engineered Wood
Fences
Fireplaces
Flooring
Foundation
Garage Doors
Glue
Hardware
Heating Design
Home Builders
Home Depot Stories
House Plans
Hurricanes
Insects
Inspections
Insulation
Interior Walls
Kitchen
Lighting
Lots
Miscellaneous
Mold
New Construction
Online Courses
Outdoor Projects
Painting - Staining
Patio
Payments
Plumbing Design
Plumbing Supplies
Projects
Radiant Barrier
Remodeling
Retaining Walls
Roofing
Rough Lumber
Screened Porches
Sheds
Siding
Specialty Accessories
Stone
Storage
Structural
Stucco - EIFS
Tools
Trim Lumber
Vapor Barrier
Ventilation
Videos
Walk Throughs
Wallpaper
Windows
Glossary







Hardware

AsktheBuilder.com Featured Products & Services
Signature HardwareHardware for doors and cabinets. Entry sets, mortise locks, hooks, antique reproduction knobs and backplates. Free catalog! Call 1-866-855-2284. www.SignatureHardware.com
Repacement Hardware:
At Swisco.com you will find the parts, tools, and know-how needed for repairing windows, doors, closets, lavatories, drawers, cabinets, and more. www.Swisco.com













Hardware Store

Cabinet hardware and door hardware is found at hardware stores that specialize in these products. The hardware stores most of us have visited sell thousands of different products like nuts, bolts, nails, screening, etc. Home hardware is found at the rapidly-disappearing corner hardware stores and the giant home centers.



Ace Hardware

Ace Hardware is a national chain of stores that might interest you. Ace Hardware stores can be found in just about every city or small town in the USA. The Ace Hardware store near you is very different from a big-box home improvement center. You can often find things and advice there not available at the giant centers.



Restoration Hardware

Restoration hardware is a great way to keep a renovation job authentic. You can also find door hardware as well as cabinet hardware that will make a new home look old. All sorts of cabinet pulls, hinges, crystals, cover plates, etc. are available for any house of any time period.



Door Hardware

Door hardware comes in vast differences in quality and styles. Different price ranges bring different sets of hardware, but you don't have to spend too much money to get a good doorknob set. Don't forget door hinges. The best interior door hinges are ones that are extruded.



Cleaning Brass

Cleaning brass is not as easy as dipping it in  special brass cleaning solutions. Know how to clean brass? You have to remove the protective coating - tarnish! After the brass cleaning, it must be sealed to prevent the tarnish from returning.



Brass Cleaning Tips

Determined to clean your brass by yourself? Try these brass cleaning tips to help you get the brass shining. Sealing the brass with acrylic polyurethane seals in the shine, but it is not available at your local home center.



Brass Cleaning Companies

Cleaning brass is a time consuming job. If you don't know how to clean brass, try sending your object to one of these professional companies. They do exceptional work on your brass cleaning project.



Cleaning Brass the Professional Way

How many hours have you spent trying those magical brass cleaners that never seem to work the way you seem to remember as you watched the TV commercial? Cleaning brass by hand means you actually need to remove some of the oxidized brass atoms. Do you have any clue how hard it is to break atomic bonds?



Deadbolt Locks - Electronic Locks

Electronic deadbolt locks secure your home from intruders. There are deadbolt locks with keyless entry, single or double cylinder deadbolts to choose from.



Deadbolt Installation Tips

Deadbolt installation requires a certain level of skill. Deadbolts must be installed with the right tools. You must also have good hand-eye coordination, the ability to measure accurately and patience.



Deadbolt and Electronic Deadbolt Manufacturers

High quality deadbolts usually cost more money, but durable deadbolt locks are worth it in the long run. The following is a list of deadbolt manufacturers and electronic deadbolt manufacturers.



Keyless Deadbolt and Electronic Deadbolt Hardware

Electronic deadbolt and keyless deadbolt hardware provide excellent security. Deadbolt locks are difficult to install if you've never done it before.



Brass Hardware and Tarnish Free Brass Hardware

Brass hardware tarnishes from exposure to air and the elements. Tarnish free brass has a protective covering that prevents it from tarnishing. Brass hardware can be restored, however, by applying clear lacquer every year.



Brass Restoration Tips

Brass restoration requires a fair amount of work. Tarnished brass can be restored with a paint stripper and washing of the hardware. Apply a clear coating lacquer or urethane to the brass last.



Cleaning Brass Products

Cleaning brass can be difficult but there are many products that can remove tarnished brass easily. Some brass cleaning solutions are more caustic than others. Be sure to wear cotton or rubber gloves and read the instructions.



Tarnish Free Brass Hardware Manufacturers

Tarnish free brass hardware is not new to the market. Baldwin brass hardware has led the tarnish free brass market for years. The following manufacturers make tarnish free brass hardware.



Tarnish Free Brass

Brass hardware tarnishes. To protect brass from oxidation or tarnish manufacturers apply clear coatings at the factory. However, they still may tarnish over time. Some manufacturers now offer tarnish free hardware with a lifetime guarantee.



Wall Anchors for Concrete, Block & Drywall

Wall anchor types and sizes are varied for concrete, concrete block and drywall walls. To select the right kind, know the weight of the objects to be shelved and then select the anchors that hold this weight. I always like to add a 50 percent safety factor.



Wall Anchor Types and Strengths Chart

Wall anchors have two types of strength: shear and tension. This chart will help you identify what type of anchor you need. High quality fastener shops can help you find what type of wall anchor you need.



Cordless Hammer Drill Manufacturers

Cordless drills are essential for installing locksets and wall anchors. Here are some cordless hammer drill manufacturers that allow you to drill concrete, brick or concrete block just like wood.



Hardware for Shelves on Concrete and Drywall

Whether hanging shelves on concrete, drywall or concrete block walls, these tips will help you determine what wall anchor systems you need. Shelf brackets can be used to hold the shelves up.



Wall Anchors for Shelf Systems

Wall anchors and wall anchoring systems help install shelves on concrete, concrete block or drywall walls. Size and spacing of wall anchors is important. Here are some tips and pointers about how wall anchors work.



Lockset Installation Tips & Required Tools

Locksets come in many types, such as cylindrical and mortise. Cylindrical lockset layout is essential to the final installation. You will need many tools like a drill, boring bit, wood chisel, etc. Mortise locksets should be installed by a professional.



Mortise & Cylindrical Lockset Manufacturers

The following cylindrical and mortise lockset manufacturers make a variety of residential locksets.



Mortise & Cylindrical Locksets

Locksets are used everyday in our homes. There are two types: cylindrical and mortise locksets. Cylindricial locksets come in a variety of styles and are usually more common than mortise locksets.



Front Door Locksets and Handles

Residential locksets fall into two different classifications: mortise or cylindrical. Disadvantages and advantages lie in the way they are constructed and installed.



  







Ask the Builder Comment Help

Helpful Comment Tips: If you need help with a problem, please try these things now before you type in a comment. You could discover your answer in just minutes.
  • Read ALL Comments Before Submitting One: If there are lots of comments that are already part of this column, there is a very good chance your question has already been answered by me or someone else.
  • Read Similar-Titled Columns First: The column above is almost always part of a two-or-three-part series. The answer to a question you may have is probably in a related column or in comments that are part of that column.
  • Read Columns in a Category: Take the time to read many columns in a category. The amount of information you will discover will amaze you.
  • SHARE a Story: Please share any tips or amusing tales of glory! Tell others what has worked for you. Maybe you have a disaster you want to discuss. Let's collaborate so we all learn together.
Don't show this alert again.