Emtek Charleston Mortise Lock - A Touch of Brass

During the course of an average day, the front door lock can be locked and unlocked many times but it is only when the lock ceases to function properly that anyone notices that there might be a problem. Regular and proper maintenance of your exterior door hardware is important, so that it will last you forever.

Cleaning Products

Despite being of very high quality, Emtek Mortise Locks and Baldwin door hardware all require regular maintenance to keep them looking and working as good as new. Products like Super Lube Dri-Film or Lubrican Poxylube CP200 are the best for lubricating exterior door hardware components.

Cleaning Process

A Touch of Brass recommends that you begin cleaning your door hardware with a mixture of water, lemon and salt. The salt will act as a very light abrasive and the lemon is a natural degreaser. Use an old toothbrush and lightly scrub all exposed parts of the door hardware. Dry the areas with a soft, dry cloth. If the original finish on your lock is polished brass (like some Baldwin Hardware door knockers), then cleaning the exposed hardware with a polish specifically designed for brass is the best way to ensure it doesn’t get scratched.

Lubricating the Deadbolt

Using either the Super Lube Dri-Film or Lubrican Poxylube, shake the can well and then place the plastic spray tube into the deadbolt’s keyhole and depress the nozzle in short one second sprays; do this two or three times. Remove the nozzle and insert the key and turn it a few times to spread evenly the lubricant and to make sure it works. If the key won’t turn, repeat the process until the key turns easily in the lock. If after two applications of lubricant the key still won’t turn, you may need to take the lock apart or call A Touch of Brass for advice.

Treat the Hinges

There is nothing more annoying than a squeaky door and doors with rusty hinges sounds horrible. Open the door and find the hinges. Down the center of each hinge is a pin; pull the pin about half way out of the hinge and give it a short burst of lubricant. Replace the pin and repeat the process to protect your valuable brass door hinges.

Lubricate the Handset

Keyed entry locks or keyed handsets by Emtek require that the keyhole is also regularly lubricated. As with the deadbolt, shake the can of lubricant and place the nozzle into the keyhole. Spray short, one second sprays two times then turn the key in the lock to ensure a smooth motion. Spray short sprays into any seams on the handle where it turns or on the underside of the thumb lever. Clean up any excess lubricant with a soft cloth or paper towel.

Despite regular maintenance, door hardware can fail to function or it may become outdated. At A Touch of Brass, we specialize in door hardware and can guide you through the process of replacing your current door hardware.

Baldwin Colonial Door Knocker - A Touch of Brass

Curb appeal and first impressions are very important if you are considering selling your house. Expensive landscaping or exterior renovations can certainly create the wow factor to lure potential home buyers, but there is a simpler, and much less expensive, replacement that you can make to an existing feature. By replacing your front door hardware, such as the door knob, door handle and door knocker, you can instantly, and inexpensively, update the look of your home.

Pick the Right Finish

Even if your existing front door handle and lock function well, they can become worn looking and drab over time, not to mention they can even go out of style. By replacing your existing door hardware with something by Baldwin, Emtek or other manufacturers found at A Touch of Brass, you will be instantly updating the exterior look of your home and increasing its curb appeal. Front door handles like Baldwin’s Madison Handleset or Emtek Craftsman Mortise Locks are elegant, timeless and beautiful. Door handles come in a variety of finishes like polished chrome, brass, rubbed bronze, satin nickel and more. It is important to consider the overall look of your house when deciding on a finish. Is your home modern or contemporary? Then perhaps a polished chrome door handle would look terrific. If your home is rustic, then a rubbed bronze mortise lock might accentuate the overall look best.

Consider the Style

A Touch of Brass carries a vast selection of different styles of door hardware by reputable companies such as Emtek and Bladwin. Once you have narrowed down the finish you’d like on the door hardware, it is time to consider the style. Is there an existing deadbolt on the door or is there a simple, one lock entry system? Something like the Baldwin Classic Knob Keyed Entry Set is functional and utilitarian. These basic locks look lovely on modest homes with unpretentious front door areas. Or, consider choosing a product like the Pasadena Mortise Lock handset, which has a very distinctive style. This look would fit well on a modern or slightly Asian-influenced front door area. If you are not sure what kind of style would look best on your home please ask! Any one of the experts at A Touch of Brass can assist you.

Other Door Accessories

Wall mounted mailboxes, kick plates, door knockers, doorbell buttons, light fixtures and house numbers can all also add to the exterior charm of your home, and these items are easily replaced with a few screws and a screwdriver. By choosing complimentary accessories you can really improve the exterior look of your home. Just do not overdo it - remember that often less is more!

Expensive landscaping and exterior paint jobs can all increase the curb appeal of your home, but these are expensive projects. You can give your home a fresh, new look simply by replacing some worn-out or outdated exterior door hardware. The folks at A Touch of Brass are always willing and eager to help you find the perfect look for your front door.

Whitehall Superior Streetside Mailbox Package by Whitehall

Are you redecorating your house? Or maybe just in the process of designing a new one? The process of design can be a bit tricky if you are new to the process. Smaller items like door knobs and light fixtures do not have to be a difficult purchase.

Mail has been an important fixture in most homes since before electricity. Anyone looking to have a classy and elegant look for their home should consider browsing A Touch of Brass for their various home decors and fixtures. For instance the Whitehall Superior Streetside Mailbox offers a great sleek design in French bronze, black, or white. The features of the mailbox are as follows:

• Mailbox Dimensions:
  Width: 9.625″
  Height: 13″
  Depth: 20.375″

• Post Dimensions:
  Length: 4″
  Width: 4″
  Height: 54″

What makes this mailbox so unique is that you can personalize it with side plaques. So if and when you decide to move to a different location, you can relocate your mailbox and re-personalize it to fit your new place. The mail box is large enough to allow for multiple days worth of mail and packages. So if you are away for a few days or if you expect to receive mail from a lot of people, you won’t have to worry about visiting your post office to pick up your mail.

Additionally if you or someone in your home receives magazine subscriptions this mailbox is a fantastic choice because it is both wide and deep enough that it allows standard size magazines to sit flat rather than being folded or rolled. Consider too that this mailbox is large enough to accommodate packages that would normally be delivered and signed for personally. This means that you will not have to stay home and wait for an expected shipment but rather just pick it up from your mailbox like a standard letter.

The rust free aluminum coupled with a weather resistant finish makes the bronze mailbox a compliment to just about any home. And since it is weather resistant, it is bound to last longer than any traditional mailboxes.

If the Whitehall Superior Mailbox is not the type you are looking for, there are still plenty of other mailbox styles that A Touch of Brass offers. We also offer different designs of the Whitehall mailboxes, such as the Wall Mounted Mailbox, the Premium Streetside Mailbox, and the Ultimate Mailbox. All of these mailboxes offer a touch of sophistication and function to your home and property.

Other choices include the Oasis Mailbox series, the Peninsula Mailbox series, the Metropolis Stainless Steel Wall Mounted Locking Mailbox, the Lunada Powder Coated Wall Mounted Locking Mailbox, the Soho Powder Coated Wall Mounted Locking Mailbox, the Coronado Post Mailbox, the Geneva Locking Post Mailbox, and the Bellevue Post Mailbox. All are offered at a great value and add a touch of class to your beloved abode.

Williamsburg Address Plaque for Lawn or Wall by Whitehall

Have you ever met a new acquaintance at their home? Have you ever gotten lost because you can’t find the house number for someone’s address? This is one of those things that can happen frequently; if your house is poorly addressed it might be hard for people to find you.

Now, because we are in the cell phone era it is not hard to call and get directions once you are lost but think for a minute about the people who you really don’t want to get lost or miss your house. Emergency personnel such as plumbers, electricians, or emergency medical support can easily miss their destination because they can’t see a house number. That can be very vital in a life or death situation.

A Touch of Brass can easily remedy a hidden house number with a wide variety of address plaques. For instance, the Williamsburg Artisan Stone Address Plaque for Law or Wall by Whitehall could elegantly adorn your property. Features of the Williamsburg Artisan Stone Plaque include:

• Sized available in both Estate or Standard.

• Color options are Copper with Gold Numbers, Granite and Pewter with Black Numbers, and Limesone and Bronze with Gold Numbers.

Dimensions of the Estate-Size:

• Width: 20.5″

• Height: 12″

• Projection: 1.25

• One Line Version: Holds up to five, 5.5″ numbers.

Standard Dimensions:

• Width: 14″

• Height: 10.5″

• Projection: 1.25

• One Line Version: Holds up to five, 4″ numbers.

Another great feature of this plaque is that there is no difference in price if you want to get the two-line version. Not to mention that because it can be either a wall mounted plaque or a lawn sign, your house will certainly never be missed. If you mount your address on your wall and then decide that you would like it better on the lawn just simply contact A Touch of Brass for the instruction on how to convert it into a lawn sign (or vice versa).

If you are looking for something different, or if the Williamsburg Artisan Stone Address Plaque isn’t your style of house number/marker you can always check out the other address plaques that are offered. A Touch of Brass offers address plaques and address posts. The address plaques are offered in many different styles in both metal and stone. Styles can include arches, oval shapes, rectangle shapes, and vertically or horizontally placed numbers.

If you prefer to have your house number attached to a mailbox A Touch of Brass also has many mailboxes to choose from. Their mailboxes also have the added benefit that they can be relocated to a new address if you ever change residences. And the address plaque mounted on the mailbox can be changed to fit your new location.

Any personalized house number you choose can be delivered within two or three weeks from date of purchase.