On the surface, choosing door hardware may seem pretty easy. But, once you get into it, you will discover that certain technical aspects should be kept in mind. It is not all fun and games, and selecting the wrong kind of hardware could prove to be a waste of time as well as money. If you happen to be someone who wants to get the right kind of door hardware, this article is for you. So, without further ado, let’s get things started.

Handles or doorknobs are a couple of things that you need to consider first when it comes to picking out hardware for your doors. Locking mechanisms (called lockset) of any kind should be first on your list. Every lockset type has a different design, and each design has a different application. As soon as you narrow down your final decision to buy the lockset type and its application for your door, you can start thinking about the finish and style of the hardware. It would be advisable to buy locksets of the highest quality, which also means that you may have to pay a slightly higher price for it. Its performance and longevity will be far better than cheap hardware.

Types of Doorknobs

Whenever doorknobs come to mind, the first thought that comes in most people’s minds is a square or a round knob. There is also a possibility that there isn’t even a doorknob at all. It could possibly be a handle similar to a lever or a handle set that contains a combination handle and thumb latch that a lot of people use for exterior entry doors. Grabbing lever handles is remarkably easier than other options, especially doorknobs. Moreover, lever handles are Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) approved. They meet all the accessible and barrier-free requirements of the Act.

Doorknobs, however, are not approved by the ADA as you need to pinch or grasp the knob tightly while twisting it with your wrist. Remember that compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act is necessary for commercial construction and not for home use. But still, choosing lever handles as your door hardware will make things simple and convenient for everyone.

Doorknob Connection

There are several ways in which the doorknob connects with the lockset spindle. If you take a look at the door hardwareof older styles, you will notice that the doorknob attaches to an exposed setscrew, which fixes the knob to a spindle (square threaded). Once you turn the knob, the spindle will operate by rotating with the latch mechanism. Keeping aside the unsightly setscrew, a major drawback of this kind of attachment is that sometimes, the doorknob tends to get too lose, even to the point of falling off completely.

A popular method that is considered to be the most effective for attaching doorknobs is not to attach a screw to the spindle at all. Instead, using a concealed device known as detent doorknob would be a wiser choice. All you will need to do to remove this kind of doorknob with no screws is to use a small flat blade screwdriver.

Types of Locksets

Although the door hardware world is full of countless varieties of styles and finishes for locksets, following are the four main types of locksets that are especially useful for households:

Passage Lockset

You may be surprised to learn that there is no lock in a passage lockset. The reason for it is that this lockset is intended to provide transit from one area to the next one. Passage locksets are often used for bedroom doors, pantry doors, closet doors, and other kinds of interior doors.

Privacy Lockset

As the name implies, these kinds of locksets are mostly used for rooms that require privacy. Home offices, bedrooms, and bathrooms are some common areas where privacy locksets are used. A turn button or push button is there for locking this lockset. The buttons are mostly present on the inner part of the door. There is no lock on the outer part. However, there could be a small hole present inside the knob. This hole allows small emergency keys to be used to unlock the door in an emergency.

The emergency lock comes in very handy as it is crucial if someone inside a room is trapped and is unable to open the lock.

Dummy Lockset

Also known as a nonfunctional lockset, a dummy lockset only has a handle or knob on each side. It does not activate or turn any kind of latching or locking mechanism. The dummy lockset is mostly present on broom closet doors or linen closet doors. Dummy locksets look similar to standard passage locksets. However, they work like cabinet pulls.

Keyed Entry Lockset

This door hardware allows you to lock it from both sides and use it for exterior as well as interior applications. From the outside, you can unlock the keyed entry lockset with a key. A key or turn button is there for unlocking and locking from the inside. The keyed entry lockset is considered to be the standard for most entry doors and is a perfect option for storing items in your closet with optimum security.

Bottom Line

Choosing the right door hardware will make things easier for you. By reading about the different types of door hardware and their applications, you will be able to make a well-informed decision on choosing the one that would suit your needs the most.