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Period property hardware gets talked about as if every old house needs the same thing, whilst new-builds barely get talked about at all. This guide takes the two ends of the spectrum together: the Edwardian home with a century of character to protect, and the new-build where the developer's hardware budget ran out at the front door. Different houses, same buying logic. For more information on other home types, check out our Victorian homes and 1930s semis guides in the series here. Edwardian Hom …

Door furniture finishes seem like a small decision, but when you have to use it and see it every day, it becomes a big one. The same lever, letterplate, or knocker works completely differently in chrome, gold, black, or white, and once it's fitted, it's the first thing a visitor, or you, notice. This guide compares the four main finishes: what they suit, how they wear, and how to keep them consistent across doors and windows. Why Finish Is Worth Deciding First Most mismatched houses got that way …

Choosing door and window hardware for the classic British semi-detached (1930s) home is a balancing act between tradition and modernity. The bay-fronted semi went up in its hundreds of thousands between the wars, and nearly a century on, most of them have swapped their original timber casements and panelled front doors for uPVC and composite replacements. That's good news for draughts, security, and heating bills, but it leaves a question the original builders never faced: which modern hardware …

Restrictors are small, inexpensive devices that limit how far a window or door can open. They do two jobs at once: they keep a home ventilated on a warm day, and they protect against falls, which is why they matter most in homes with young children and in rented and commercial buildings where safety is a legal duty.  This guide explains what restrictors do, where the UK building regulations apply, and how to pick the right type for each situation. Our guide is written to help you decide wh …

uPVC door summer maintenance is one of those jobs that quietly creeps up on homeowners the minute the weather turns sunny. The garden comes back into use, the French doors and patio doors get opened properly for the first time in months, and suddenly the handle won't lift cleanly, the door swings into the wall in a breeze, or the glazing's gone misty, and you can't see the lawn through it. Most of these problems aren't new. They've been brewing all winter while the doors sat unused, and the warm …