If you are new to home ownership, then chances are that you have never even noticed if you have kick plates or not. This is not a normal thing that people go and buy every day, so when it is time to learn how to install kick plates, it is pretty much brand new for everyone. Therefore, before you go out and buy one and start drilling holes into your doors, you might want to learn a few lessons from people who have made mistakes before you!
Here are a few tips to learn how to install kick plates on any door in your home:
1. You might not think so, but there is a real reason for kick plates, and that is to protect your door from dirty shoes. They enable you to kick the door open or hold it open with your foot while your hands are holding something. What that means to you is that you need to pay attention to the side of the door that you put the plate on. For the most part, a kick plate is installed on the side of the door where you should kick it to push it open – for instance, on the outside of your front door.
2. If your door is 36” wide, that does not mean that your kick plate should be! Keep in mind that your door will swing within the frame and may be hidden up to one inch on each side. Therefore, when you are measuring for your kick plate, you need to do so with the door closed and then leave a little extra room on each side. The kick plate should not touch the door frame on either side.
3. The height of a kick plate is not something that you have a lot of choice in unless you are having them specifically cut and designed for you. The average kick plates in your home improvement store will run from 6 inches to 10 inches and come in a variety of widths, too. Make sure that you measure for height as well as width.
4. Once you have decided on a size, you will then have to figure out how to mount it. Some people prefer to use magnetic kick plates that adhere to the door, while other people don’t mind a little double-sided tape. The truth is though, that because that kick plate will take a beating, you are always best drilling holes and attaching it with screws.
5. The kick plate that you buy should have pre-drilled holes. Simply hold the kick plate up to your door and make little marks with a pencil through the holes. Then, drill holes and attach the kick plate with screws that are designed for the material of your door, and that are the same color as the kick plate.
Learning how to install kick plates is actually very easy, and once you are done with your first one, you will probably want to put them on every door of your house!
Others Also Viewed
Do You Need a Front Door Kick Plate?
Why a Baldwin Kick Plate Is a Great Choice?
