Choosing the doors for your house can be a big decision, since there are many types
to choose from for both entryway and interior doors. Once the doors are purchased,
however, there is also the question of hardware. Door hardware includes the knobs
or pulls, which generally include a latch and may include a lock, deadbolts, hinges,
door stops, door viewers (peep holes) and door knockers. Entry and sliding doors
should always have some sort of lock to prevent unauthorized entry, and depending
on the circumstances and taste, owners may also choose to add an extra deadbolt,
a door viewer, or a door knocker. Interior doors may need only a knob and latch,
or may use knobs that incorporate a privacy lock for rooms like bathrooms and bedrooms.
Door stops are useful for any swinging door, as they can prevent damage to paint
and knobs by stopping the door gently before it hits the wall when opened.
Depending on the homeowner, the choice of hardware may be utilitarian, budget-conscious
or style-conscious, or a mixture of the three.
Door Handles
Door handles are sold as sets that may include just the handle, handle and latch,
or handle, latch and locks. These sets are commonly known as either
handlesets or
locksets. Which term is used depends largely on the manufacturer rather
than any set criteria.
The simplest type of door handles are simply knobs or pulls by which to pull on
the door, and don't even include a latch. This type is generally inexpensive since
it does not include any moving parts, although highly decorative options may cost
more.
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For interior doors, a popular option is a handle set with a latch bolt. The latch
bolt projects out from the end of the door and has a beveled edge so that closing
the door pushes it in until the door is fully shut and the latch bolt latches into
the door jamb to keep the door shut. The bolt can also be retracted by turning the
handle of the door, which allows easy opening.
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Homeowners often want some interior doors to be lockable, such as the doors to bathrooms
and bedrooms. For these doors, handlesets with privacy locks are available. A privacy
lock is one that can be engaged from the inside only, so there is no need for a
key. Privacy locks are for privacy rather than security, so they often come with
a tool or mechanism for emergency release. This can be useful in houses with children,
so that parents can easily get in to help in an emergency or if the child forgets
how to unlock the door.
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Exterior doors are equipped with locks for security, rather than just privacy. Handlesets
and locksets for exterior doors will include a lock with keys, and may also include
an integrated deadbolt lock for extra security. They are often showy, since entryways
can make an immediate impression on visitors, and are available in a range of finishes
and styles. The handle itself may be a knob, a lever, or a loop handle with a lever
or thumbturn to work the latch.
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Sliding
door handles are quite different from handlesets and locksets for pivoting
doors. They are designed specifically for the sliding motion used to open sliding
doors, and will generally include a simple latch lock that can be turned by hand
from the inside or with a key from the outside. Some sliding door handles don't
include a lock, which are sometimes used for sliding screen doors, or for sliding
doors to patios that do not need to be kept secure.
Before buying any door handleset or lockset, it is important to check that it is
appropriate for the door it is intended for. Some doors may be pre-drilled with
holes for a certain type or size of handle, while others may be customizable.
Security
While handlesets and locksets for exterior doors include an integrated lock, many
homeowners choose to add extra security measures in the form of a deadbolt and/or
door chain.
Deadbolts
Deadbolts
are separate locks that can be engaged from the inside by a lever or thumb-turn,
and from the outside by a key. Unlike the latch bolt on most knob locks, the bolt
on a deadbolt is not beveled and can't be simply pushed in by pressure on the bolt.
The bolt must be retracted by key or turn in order for the door to open or close.
Door Chains and Guards
Door
chains and door guards are attached to the inside of the door and wall,
and allow the person inside to open the door slightly while the strong metal chain
or guard prevents the door from opening any further. This opens a narrow crack through
which the person inside can look out or talk with someone outside, in the confidence
that the door can't easily be forced open any further. In order to disengage the
door chain or guard, the door has to be closed completely, which provides an additional
protection against being coerced into opening the door.
Door Viewers
Door viewers,
also known as peepholes, are installed in an exterior door at eye-level so that
the inhabitants of a house or apartment can see who is at the door without needing
to unlock or open the door at all. Door viewers are available in a range of types,
from a basic tube with glass at each end to scopes with advanced optics to provide
an easy, full view of the outside of the door.
Door hinges can be basic or highly decorative. In most cases, the two faces of each
hinge are attached to the inside edge of the door and the wall. The two faces are
joined in the hinge by either a knuckle and pin set-up, a lift-off arrangement,
or a ball bearing. This part of the hinge shows on the inside of the building or
room that the door gives entry to. Since very little of the hinge shows when the
door is closed, many buyers simply match the finish of the hinge to the more visible
handleset. Other buyers may choose hinges with decorative detailing or finials to
cap the ends of a knuckle and pin hinge.
The term door stop refers to two distinct types of door hardware that serve different
purposes.
Door Bumpers
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The first type of door stop, which are also sometimes called door bumpers, may be
mounted to the door, wall, hinge or floor, and serves to keep a forcefully opened
door from banging into the wall. This simple piece of hardware protects the wall,
preventing chips, scratches or stains on the paint or wallpaper, and also protects
the wall from developing a dent from repeated hits from the door and/or knob. This
also protects the door and knob from the same sorts of unsightly damage.
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The door bumper type of door stop is available in several different styles. One
thing that all of these styles have in common is a soft rubber surface that cushions
the door or wall from the harmful effects of being struck by forceful opening. The
other factor that is common to all styles is that the stop is mounted so that the
wall and door never touch directly.
One of the most common styles consists of a short metal shaft mounted on either
the door or the wall near the floor. The shaft is often made of a tight coil of
metal that acts as a spring, adding extra flexibility and cushioning. The end is
covered with soft rubber, and the stop is positioned so that when it touches both
wall and door, the door and wall are not touching each other.
Another version consists of a half-dome stop mounted to the floor with the flat
side cushioned with rubber facing the door to stop its swing gently. The stop is
positioned so that the door can open fully, but does not actually touch the wall.
A newer style that is quickly gaining in popularity is the hinge pin door stop.
This style of door stop has an eye which allows it to be mounted on the pin that
holds one of the door hinges. It does not interfere at all with the operation of
the hinge, but this placement is much less noticeable than other styles, allowing
homeowners the functionality of a door bumper without as much impact on the visual
presentation and style of the home.
Immobilizing Door Stops
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The second main type of door stop is not mounted at all, and is generally used to
prop a door in an open position. This can be particularly useful to keep doors from
slamming due to a tilted floor or breezes from an open window. Many homeowners with
pets also use doorstops to give their pets the run of the house while minimizing
the chances of the pets locking themselves in or out by knocking the door closed.
Because a door that is propped open in one situation may need to be closed in other
circumstances, this type of doorstop is easily movable.
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Stopping a door from moving is achieved by two main styles of door stop. The wedge
door stop consists of a wedge shaped piece of plastic, rubber, wood, metal or other
material. When the pointed end is inserted under the door and pressed in as far
as it will go, it puts pressure against the door and its hinges, preventing it from
moving from that position. Generally, the door needs to be wedged when it is fully
open, since otherwise it may loosen by sliding down the incline of the wedge. The
wedge is easily removed by pulling it out of the crack between door and floor, and
then the door moves freely again. Wedge style door stops are useful because they
can be both light-weight and visually unobtrusive. Some styles are also made to
be decorative by adding shapes or sculptures on the widest end that then show when
the wedge is in use.
The other style of door stop that can be used to keep a door from moving works by
being heavy enough to keep the door in place when set beside it. These stops are
larger and much heavier than the wedge style of door stop. Anything heavy enough
can be used as a door stop in this way, including improvised items like chairs or
textbooks. Items made for the specific purpose of being a door stop, however, may
be much more convenient and visually appealing. They are often made of metal, stone
or ceramic, and may be highly decorative.
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Door knockers originally served the purpose that doorbells serve for most houses
today, that of notifying the inhabitants that someone is at the door to see them.
While door knockers can still be used for this purpose, they are also one of the
most decorative pieces of door hardware that a homeowner may add to an exterior
door. A door knocker may coordinate with the decorative scheme of the door and house,
or may make a personal statement about the owner or their interests, such as a door
knocker in the shape of a golf club on the front door of a golf enthusiast, or a
knocker in the shape of the owner's favorite animal.
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In their most basic form, door knockers consist of a fixed base fastened to the
surface of the door, attached by a swivel to a mobile piece of some hard material
to swing against the base and produce a loud knock. In practice, door knockers can
be highly artistic, and may be shaped into any imaginable shape or form. Door knockers
may be a stylishly simple ring and base in a finish matching the other door hardware,
or may take the form of an animal sculpture or any object the owner desires.
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Most door knockers are made of either brass or bronze. These alloys provide a very
strong and hard material that produces a loud knock when struck and has the durability
to last for many years without visible wear. The various alloys and finishes provide
a wide range of colors, from a bright yellow metal, to silver, to black. Color may
be added with a green patina, or through the addition of colored enamel.
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc that is prized for its strength, durability,
and the wide variety of colors and properties that can be achieved by varying the
percentages of copper, zinc, and other additions. Brass door knockers may be gold
toned, coppery or even silver toned, and the finish may be brushed, polished to
a high shine, or antiqued.
Bronze is another alloy of copper, generally with tin, although other minerals may
also be used. It has a distinctive dark tone that works well with antiqued looks.
When highly polished, the bronze can have a warm glow to it that goes well with
many darker woods and finishes.
Price
Handlesets and Locksets
Handlesets and locksets can vary widely in price. They may cost from around $5 to
over $500 depending on quality, style, features and manufacturer.
Deadbolts
Deadbolts generally cost between $5 and over $100 depending on quality and extra
security measures.
Door Guards and Door Chains
Door guards and chains generally cost between $4 and $20.
Door Viewers
Depending on the quality of the optical lenses, door viewers may cost anywhere from
$2 to $40.
Hinges
Hinges may be sold individually or in pairs. Most household doors need between two
and three hinges. It's possible to get basic, good quality hinges for between $10
and $20 a pair, but prices can range up to $300 or more for some designer or specialized
hinges.
Door Stops
Basic door stops can cost less than $1, while highly decorative versions or models
intended for industrial use can cost $40 or more.
Door Knockers
The price for door knockers can vary anywhere from $2 to over $300, depending on
size, workmanship and the manufacturer.
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