Everyone knows that the front door is key to curb appeal. Want to turn your house from a home to an estate? Yes! Well it is all in the details. This is all about one very small detail with major impact- changing the numbers on the front entry.
House Numbers
Duct Tape
Painter's Tape
Level
Sharpie Marker
Drill
Masonry Bit
Clear Silicone Caulk
These are the numbers I used for this project. My numbers came from Design Within Reach- Neutra Modern, 6", black. They are Modern, clean and of course, simple. I chose black to compliment the painted door and shutters on my house. These numbers come in three different finishes (colors) and two different sizes. I like the look of the 6” numbers, bold and easily seen from a distance.
Drill and Masonry Drill Bits. You will need a high power drill. Depending what type of surface you are drilling into will determine the type of drill you need. We chose to use a hammer drill because it is a powerful drill designed to drill into masonry, concrete, stone, bricks, etc. Drilling with this drill was like slicing butter, it made the work quick and easy. The size of the drill bit we used was 3/16", the size recommended for installation for these numbers.
Line the numbers on the baseline and match the registration marks. These marks are for ideal and recommended spacing between the numbers.
Measure the length of the numbers.
Remove the former numbers. No turning back now!
On painter’s tape mark the length of your numbers-start, middle and the end. Make a smaller strip with just a center mark. This is the time you can decide exactly where you would like your numbers to be, move the tape around until you find just the right spot. I was thinking of placement slightly off center, a bit more to the left (closer to the door).
You can tape the numbers up just to get a visual idea for placement.
Once you are sure the exact location of your numbers, remove the longer length of painter's tape. Leave the short strip of painter's tape (the center mark) up on the wall. Directly under the short strip of painter's tape, place a length of duct tape (I have used white tape) as the baseline for the numbers. Use a level to make sure it is level, check the entire length of the duct tape.
With duct tape, tape each number template up. I started with the #6 using the center mark. Then I taped #1, then #9 then #8. Duct tape will hold the template up, secure. Painter's tape is not sticky enough on brick, the slightest breeze and the templates will blow off. Double check the top and bottom of each template to be sure they are level.
With a sharpie marker, place a dot onto the wall through the holes in the template. This will be the drill holes. Repeat for all numbers.
Remove the templates. Time to drill. They say measure twice, cut once. Same philosophy applies for drilling holes in mortar and brick.
Sometimes with a new project you never know what to expect until it happens. I decided to start with the last number and work my way back up to the first number. Miss Nervous had to double check by placing the #1 template back up, just to be sure the dots were correct.
Once the holes were drilled for #1, thread the mounting rods into the back of the number. Slide the spacers onto the rod. Still holding breath.
Check by sliding the number in place. Exhale.
Place the mounting rods and spacers on each number. Slide all the numbers in place just to make sure.
Remove the numbers and place a small dot of clear silicon caulk into each hole.
Slide the numbers in the holes, brush/wipe away any excess caulk.