A Touch of Brass Hardware Blog
New to our Blog? Feel free to share your comments at the bottom of each post!
Jun
04
Measure Twice, Buy Once (And Cut Your Expenses in Half)
It’s a common saying anywhere there are tools.
“Measure twice, cut once.”
It makes perfect sense especially when you consider that most times, you’ll only get to “cut once” either way. The only question is whether or not you’ll be happy with what’s left.
Buying hardware isn’t as final as cutting wood or metal but it can create delays, stress and tie you up in returns and exchanges for weeks.
Here are some tips to avoid the mis-measurement purgatory:
- Always measure first. There is no excuse for not measuring. It only takes a couple of minutes and it could save you months in delays. Grab your tape measure and go.
- Be as exact as possible. You might be tempted to round off numbers. Don’t do that. There might not seem like a big difference between 2 3/4″ and 2 3/8″. Just 3/8 of an inch, right? It’s actually two completely different products. If you need 2 3/8″ but get 2 3/4″ then you are in trouble. So don’t guess, ballpark or estimate. Be exact.
- Make sure you don’t get caught up on these common problem areas:
- Floor Registers: Don’t measure the register you have. Measure the vent you are trying to cover. If you’re floor register is near a wall then measure the distance between the edge of the vent and the wall. Your new register will only be able to overlap by that much.
- Door Hardware: There are two main points to measure here: door thickness and backset. Door thickness is easy. Measure how thick the door is and make sure your new knob or lever will accomadate that thickness. The backset isn’t as obvious. Measure from the edge of the door to the center of the hole your knob or lever will fit into. You’ll probably measure 2 3/8″ or 2 3/4″. Remember, be specific.
Measuring isn’t fun. Cutting things is. That’s why they came up with the saying “Measure twice, cut once.” Buying may not be as much fun as using a power tool (depends on what you are buying, I guess) but it’s more fun than measuring.
Measure anyway. It’s more fun than sending things back.
Jun
02
What is a Cremone Bolt?
If you have swinging double doors then you’ll need a cremone bolt to secure and lock them. The cremone bolt will extend past the edge of the door and into the floor and ceiling. This keeps the door from swinging.
Items like cremone bolts are why the term “decorative hardware” exists. Cremone bolts are highly visible, so you’ll want them to be as pretty as possible.
Installing cremone bolts isn’t difficult. There are two steps. First, make sure you’ve carved out a pocket above and below the door that the cremone bolt can extend into. Once that is done you can move on to the second step: mounting your cremone bolt on the door.
Our cremone bolts are made by Baldwin Hardware and come with all the necessary mounting screws you’ll need and with complete installation instructions.
May
26
Emtek Screen Door Latches
Summer is almost here! Is your home ready?
A screen door let’s you enjoy the fresh air and relaxing sounds of a summer night without bugs invading your home. Don’t let a cheap screen door latch ruin your fun.
Emtek now offers two screen door latches, the rectangular style and the arched style. Both come in five different finishes and can be made from brass or bronze; it’s your call!
These latches are in stock, and they are ready to ship. You can start enjoying summer’s sunset sounds without worry!
May
24
Right or Right Now?
You need a piece of hardware.
Do you need it right, or do you need it right now?
If you need it right now then you should get something cheap, plastic or pull it off the shelf of your nearest big-box hardware store. We might be able to help you, but now has never been our number one priority.
Getting things right always has been our number one priority.
What’s “right?” The right front door handleset that will give you the security you need, but still make your front door look great. The right floor register will be able to stand up to your guests big feet but look so good nobody will want to step on them.
Something’s right when you don’t have any regrets about buying it. It looks and works exactly the way you want it to; you can look at it in your home without any doubts it was the right one to buy.
But what about the wait?
What about the wait? If the perfect handleset takes one month to get to you then you’ll regret the long wait for exactly one month. If you settle for the less-than-perfect handleset that you can get right away then you’ll regret not waiting everytime you look at your front door.
Get it right. Pick the best piece of hardware you can find, the one that is exactly what you want.
The one that is worth the wait.
May
21
How To Buy Cabinet Hardware: Two Important Tips!
Buying new cabinet knobs should be fun. You have wide selection to choose from and the knobs you buy can make your home prettier and feel newer.
It’s not entirely fun. There are pitfalls. One mistake can lead to headache after headache as you send knobs back then order new ones and go crazy while you wait for them to be delivered. Getting the perfect knob turns into getting any knob because it is enough already!
You don’t want to feel italicized about your cabinet knob. You want to feel happy, pleased and content. Here are two tips to avoid common problems first-time shoppers make and guarantee you’ll finish with a bold feeling about your cabinet hardware.
1. Buy a sample.
You test drive a car before you buy it, right? Take your cabinet knob for a “test drive” and you’ll be sure to feel good about the type you buy.
Don’t just go out and buy 20 or 30 of one type of knob. You need to see how it will look in your home before you can make a final decision. A cabinet know will look different in the store. It will be under specially arranged lighting, around a bunch of matching knobs, and you’ll have a salesman telling you it is the greatest knob ever made, and he has 50 just like it at home. Don’t believe him. Don’t believe your eyes.
Here’s what we recommend you do: Purchase a selection of knobs and take them home. Try each one on your doors and decide which you like best. Once you’ve picked a winner, send the rest back and order enough of your favorite to finish the room.
The extra effort is worth it because you’ll know what you’re getting and you won’t have any doubts that the elusive “right one” is still out there somewhere. Don’t worry about the extra cost of shipping either. Good stores – like A Touch of Brass – will reimburse the cost of shipping the sample knob if you come back and place a second order later on. So in the end, you’ll be saving money!
2. Buy extras.
Hardware can wear out. It’s a sad but unavoidable truth about owning a home. At least a few pieces of the shiny new hardware you’re buying today may need to be replaced sooner or later. That poses a problem if some of your cabinet knobs wear out much sooner than others. The knob on your silverware drawer will see a lot more action than the knob on your “why did I buy this from an infomercial?” drawer. If your hardware isn’t on the market anymore you’ll either have to buy all-new cabinet knobs, search for a look-alike or just turn your kitchen into a mismatched gobblety-gook of miscellaneous cabinet hardware.
Or you can just do what we recommend, which is to buy a few extra cabinet knobs when you make your initial purchase. That way, if a knob wears out or if you somehow lose one, you won’t be in trouble. Consider the extra cabinet knobs to be an insurance policy against future inconvenience.
Cabinets can really tie a room together so don’t be hasty during the selection process or stingy when you place your order. Take the time to find the perfect knob and buy a few extras just in case. Once you get your kitchen or bathroom to perfection you don’t want anything to keep it from staying that way
May
20
Damper Box = Air Deflector
Hardware jargon gives me a headache. It’s tough explaining to customers that need a register cover that we call them floor registers. They are also called vent covers, heat registers and “stupid thing for that dumb hole in my floor that’s making the room chilly.” Only the last one is the official term.
“Damper box” is another confusing term. The damper box, also called an air deflector (or “open-shut thingamadoo”), is the part of the floor register that actually fits into the floor. It has louvers that open and close the same way venetian blinds do. If the louvers are open then air can flow out of the vent and through the floor register. If the louvers are closed then the floor register blocks all the air in the vent from entering the room. The register is “dampening” the flow of air into the room and so the louvers are called a “damper box.”
If you don’t need a damper box then you’ll want to buy a return air grille (”skinny register”).
If you need something and have no idea what to call it, then you can call us at 1-800-272-7734 or send us an email.
May
19
Towel Bars
Towel bars add a splash of color to your walls and perform a valuable function. They present neatly folded hand and bath towels for your guests to use, or, if you’re like me, they help you get out of the habit of dropping your wet towel on the floor or throwing it over the shower curtain. Either way, towel bars make for a neater, nicer looking bathroom.
If you want your bath room as neat and nice as possible then you’ll need to keep three things in mind when you shop for a new towel bar: size, rosette style, and finish.
- Size:Towel Bars typically come in three available sizes: 18″, 24″ or 30″. This is the center-to-center measurement(CTC), or the distance between the center of one mounting plate to the center of the other. If you’re replacing an old towel bar, you’ll want to measure the distance between the holes in your wall and have that ready when you shop for you new towel bar. If you’re installing a towel bar for the first time then get whatever lenght will best suit your needs. Longer bars will accomodate larger towels. An 18″ towel bar will work great for holding hand towels in a powder room. For full baths a 24″ or 30″ will work better.
- Rosette Style: The rosettes on a towel bar are the decorative plates that cover the mounting hardware. Emtek towel bars come with a selection of rosette styles you can choose from. Most other manufacturers only offer one style of rosette for each towel bar. Most towel bars look the same except for their respective rosettes, so you’ll want to pick one you think is unique and appealing.
- Finish: Pick a finish that matches your bathroom. If the rest of your bathroom hardware is polished chrome then your towel bar should be polished chrome too. Brighter finishes, like chrome and polished nickel will look modern and contemporary. Darker finishes, like venetian bronze or satin brass, will look more traditional.
There’s no need to drive yourself crazy trying to pick the right towel bar. They aren’t complicated or expensive. Just make sure there’s enough room for the towels you want to hang on it, the rosette style is something you like, and the finish won’t clash with the rest of your hardware and fixtures.
If you have any question about towel bars you can send us an email or call us at 1-800-272-7734.
May
18
Rocky Mountain Hardware
We want our customers to have access to the best products available, so we look for the best manufacturers we can find. Rocky Mountain Hardware definitely fits that bill. They specialize in fine, hiqh quality hardware. Rocky Mountain produces showstopper products that are meant to elicit “oohs” and “ahs” from guests.
Rocky Mountain elicits those amazed exclamations by using the finest bronze metals and decorating them with hand-applied patinas. These products truly stand apart from anything else on the market right now.
You can view Rocky Mountians entire line of door, bath, and cabinet hardware here.
Once a product catches your eye you can email us or call 1-800-272-7734 for pricing and availability.
May
18
Why Choose An Oil-Rubbed Bronze Wicker Floor Register?
Oil-Rubbed Bronze Wicker floor registers are becoming more and more popular because they combine the sturdy structure of the wicker design with a rich oil-rubbed bronze finish. The combination creates a register that can handle the pounding of Keds during playtime but still look smooth and stylish in candlelight.
Wicker registers use a criss cross pattern that looks great but doesn’t sacrifice sturdiness. The elaborate design is an updated marriage of the victorian and mission styles; A register that is contemporary and classical at the same time.
Unlike other registers with a classical pattern, wicker registers aren’t flimsy or dainty. They can be stomped on and trampled and come away unscathed.
Oil-Rubbed Bronze Wicker floor registers look great, last long and come in every standard floor and wall register size. Add one to your home today!
May
17
Expert Shower Installation in the Maryland Area
Buying a new shower door is the first step and installing into your bathroom is the second. A Touch of Brass can help you with both!
We’ve been installing showers for years and we’ve become experts at installing new shower doors quickly and cleanly.
This is a photo of one of our latest installtions of a Century Shower Door. This is a frameless door with satin nickel hardware and glass clips.
If you want your bathroom to look sleek and modern then a frameless shower door is a great choice.
Not sure you want a new shower door? Don’t rule it out yet! Give us a call at 1-800-272-7734 or send us a question. A brand new shower door is probably a lot less expensive than you think!
