Screen Doors are Made for Country Cottages

I have to say I am very happy how my latest screen door for the bunkie turned out.  My previous screen door was a disaster!

But I learned from my mistakes... this time...

1) I built a porch to protect the door from the elements, and

2) I am using a composite (material) door

The previous door lasted about two seasons before it totally rotted and was not functional.  This door is not only protected from the rain but also is a composite door -- meaning it won't rot!  Added bonus is that the door requires no painting (aka maintenance).

Isn't that a cute screen door?

Now our guests can enjoy the bunkie even when it is raining -- either inside with the door open (and the screen door keeping the bugs out or sitting under the porch.

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The Cottage Front Door Goes Electonic

The number of people who are and will be using the cottage is huge for the Cottage on the Edge.  They include:  my children, eventually their children, my parents, my brother and his family, my wife's family (she has 13 brothers and sisters), and many friends and other relatives.

I can't imagine how I would manage the keys necessary for that army!

For a while I played around in my mind the idea of a key hidden in some secret 'hidey' spot.  But that could become a nightmare as well - lost keys, forgetting to put it back, etc...

To the rescue is the new electronic door locks with both a standard key and a keypad.  So now I have only four keys, one each for key family members, and yes, one in an ultra secret hidey spot to be used only in emergency.  But I now have series of key codes:

• One code for each of myself and my three sons, 
• One for the local person I have watching over the cottage, and
• A few general use codes that I give out to people that have a lower volume use of the cottage.

The beauty of the key codes is I can change them when I wish and not incur the expense of having a key made or the lock changed.  Plus no one has to get a physical key.  Getting access to the cottage is as simple as calling me by phone.  Can't remember the key code, a simple telephone call will solve the locked out syndrome!

Attributes of a great electronic lock:

• A deadbolt latch that allows direct truning of the tumbler once the key code has been entered
• A lighted key pad (a must in the dark) - one that turns on pressing any key
• A quick lock sequence - where you do not need to enter the code to lock up.
• Allows the programming of multiple key codes (not just a few)

 Where do get one?  All the big box stores have them:  Home Depot, Lowes, Rona, Canadian Tire, Home Hardware to name a few.

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A Tip for Maintenance Free Doors

Well if not totally maintenance free... at least low maintenance!

Let's be totally honest with ourselves.  We built our cottages to relax, kick off our shoes, NOT to supply ourselves with endless jobs for the rest of lives.  It serves us best then to make the cottage and the finishes in the cottage as tough and resilient thus maintenance free as possible.

Thus using an appropriate finish for the doors makes a lot of sense.  Consider the bathroom door - it will likely be, next to the front door, the most used door in the cottage.  Lots of grimy hands, kicks, banging, and hot showers will be attacking that door.  A tough coat of paint that is easily wiped down is the way to go.

Check with the professional in your local paint store or paint department in a big box store for you particular set of circumstances, but you can't go wrong with a gloss or semi-gloss latex paint formulated for bathroom or kitchen use.

The first paint on a new door is not an issue as the door will be primed, but for subsequent paint jobs make sure that you lightly sand the old coat of paint to make sure the new one sticks well.  AND if you are going over an oil-based paint of some sort applying a primer paint may be in order.

With these few tips you will get a paint job that will last longer than you can remember the last time you painted...

;-)

Build a Simple Laundry Closet for the Cottage

It is our plan to eventually install a washer and dryer up at the cottage.

That probably won't happen for at least a year, however, I deem it necessary to provide a bit more self-contained living at the cottage. We have already left several changes of clothing, and of course sufficient changes of linen for all the beds. But for now we cart the laundry back and forth to town. I bit of a pain for now, but necessary.

The laundry facilities will come necessary when the family each start taken turns up at the cottage. The rule will be that each is responsible for making sure the linen gets a cleaning before they leave.

Modular, Accessible & Compact:
In order to consume as little space for the laundry facilities we built a laundry 'Closet'. It is essentially just enough room for the washer, dryer, maybe a laundry tub and some storage area. To make the space very accessible, and modular, we closed it in with three sections of folding door.

In our approach we used three 32-inch folding door sections (96 inches wide by 82 inches tall). A tricky decision, without having the washer and dryer in place, was imagining how to access the appliances -- and hence in what configuration to mount the three door (that is hope they should open).

As you can see we choose to have the double open sections to the right side.

Turned out quite nicely if I may say so myself -- With the doors closed the laundry gear will be nicely hidden away!
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How to Build Interior Doors Fast!

I learned a lesson!

From now on I will always use pre-hung doors.

It took me the better part of a day to do the two interior doors on the main floor - and less than a half day to do all five doors in the basement.

What was the difference? Simple! the basement doors were all pre-hung doors. Installing the pre-hung doors was a snap - just level, install the door and then the door knob.

The prehung doors were a lot of work, and not being a pro door installer they a a bit 'sticky'.

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