Tips for choosing door fittings

Not a single entrance or interior door can do without additional fittings - locks, hinges, as well as handles and door closers. At the same time, the functionality of the door is greatly influenced not only by the material from which all these elements are made, but also by their technical features.

Door hardware is a set of special accessories, without which the normal functioning of the door leaf is unrealistic in principle. In addition, these beautiful elements can become stylish accents and a godsend of the design concept of the room. Let us dwell in more detail on the main types of fittings that are used for wooden and iron doors.

These elements are needed so that the door can be easily and simply opened and closed. Let's consider the most popular models.

• Push-on - they are directly connected to the latch, so they are actuated quite simply: to open the door, you just need to press the button.

• Swivel - they are also called nobs, such handles, as a rule, have the shape of a cone or cylinder. To open a door with a similar handle, it must be turned. Usually there is a key hole or a small button on the back side, thanks to which the door mechanism can always be locked, this is especially true when it comes to a door in a bathroom or shower room.

• Stationary - the most standard types of handles that have nothing to do with the lock. To open such a door, you need to push the handle, and to close it, pull it towards you. These models come in a wide variety of shapes and are made from metals, alloys, wood, glass or plastic.

These accessories are used to secure the door leaf in a closed state. They are mounted in the end of the canvas, when the device is closed, the latch enters a special groove that cuts into the box, and thus the door is kept from unauthorized opening from the back side. The latches are available in different weights and dimensions, and in each case the mechanism is selected individually.

Hinges are considered one of the most important door elements. They are designed so that the canvas can move freely and as quietly as possible. Depending on the design features of the hinges, several types are distinguished:

• detachable - allow you to quickly and easily remove the door;
• one-piece - can be used on any models of interior doors - both right and left-sided, however, the canvas can be removed only after dismantling such hinges.

By design, door hinges are divided into:

• card - this is a variant of loops, which are a pair of small plates fixed on one axis;
• pin - consist of 2 paired parts with a threaded pin attached to them;
• secret - they are also known as hidden, characterized by a hinge device and "recessed" in the canvas, making them almost invisible, especially if they are masked with stylish overlays to match the canvas.

The lock is the most important element of the door construction hardware, which protects the door from uninvited guests and unauthorized entry. The quality requirements of such devices largely depend on where the door is installed. For example, the lock at the entrance should be as reliable as possible, since it is the main "talisman" of the dwelling.

And in the interior doors, the most simple and uncomplicated mechanisms are enough, the only exceptions are, perhaps, the doors of offices where safes, expensive collections are located, or any confidential information is stored.

These are additional elements that are installed in order to securely fix the doors in the open state, and, in addition, so that the handle cannot damage the interior decor items and furniture located next to the door. Usually the need for such accessories arises in families where children live, because such a mechanism does not allow the door to slam shut and pinch the crumbs' fingers.

If there are pets in the apartment, and the owners like to keep the windows and vents open, then you should also attend to the installation of such elements, since in a strong draft the door can slam shut and cause serious harm to the animal if it crossed the threshold of the room at that moment. Limiters can be installed both on the door itself and on the floor; models that are mounted on the wall are less common. Such fittings can be magnetic or mechanical, stationary and portable varieties are also distinguished.

These are special structural elements, thanks to which the door closes quietly, smoothly and very softly. In the old days, they were used only in office rooms, however, today industrial enterprises have established the production of miniature models that are optimal for living quarters.

Closers are:

• overhead with a sliding or gear type drive;
• hidden - in this case, they simply cut into the body of the canvas or box;
• floor-standing - they are fixed on pendulum doors and therefore are rarely used in apartments;
• built into the door hinges - this is a device that involves the connection of the hinges and the closer in a single mechanism, outwardly they do not differ in any way from the door hinges, but they act like closers, they are optimal for lightweight structures.

Certain variants of door closers for swing structures have the peculiarity of fixing the door in different positions, so that it is not necessary to install a lock and a latch at the same time with them. In addition, in most modern models there is an option to adjust the force that needs to be applied to close the sash.

The modern door hardware market offers products from various manufacturers. Let's take a closer look at the most popular brands.

• AGB. This is an Italian company that has established itself as one of the leaders in its segment. The assortment list of the manufacturer includes not only door, but also window fittings, as well as blinds. The company has been producing products for more than six decades and during this time has managed to achieve recognition and trust of buyers all over the world.

Today the AGB company is engaged in the production of door locks, hinges, as well as latches and various other accessories. All products are created only at production facilities located in Italy itself, which distinguishes this company from many others, in which most of the work is carried out in China, Malaysia and other eastern countries. The holding has a certificate of conformity to the ISO 2001 standard, which is yet another proof of the highest quality of products and thoughtfulness of the organization's management.

• "Tiara". This is a Russian manufacturer that has been on the market for about two decades. All products are sold under the Guardian brand and are in no way inferior to their Western counterparts in terms of their level.

The production technology is based on the principles of stable quality improvement, compliance with the changing demand of the population and the production of durable and functional accessories. The assortment list of the company includes a huge number of model names of accessories - handles, door closers, hinges, locks, overlays, as well as blanks for keys

• Mandelli. It is another world famous Italian brand that has received massive acclaim for its exceptional quality and unique design. The designers of the company work tirelessly to increase the aesthetic appeal of their products, therefore, with the release of each new collection, the number of exclusive products that can truly decorate any interior only increases. All manufactured products belong to the elite category, however, and the price tag for it is appropriate.

• Archie. Many people believe that all products made in China are low-quality products with a rather short lifespan. This is far from the case, and Archie door hardware is an example of this. Chinese experts use only the most advanced equipment in production and offer a very wide assortment, which, given the democratic prices, makes buyers increasingly choose this particular brand.

• Mottura. Another Italian company that operates in the heart of the industrial part of the country - in Turin. The enterprise differs in that it uses the latest technologies, which are most often developed by the employees of this particular concern. This approach, focused on the daily improvement of the quality of manufactured products, and allowed the brand to gain a foothold in the positions of one of the world market leaders in its segment.

Also in our country, products from Finnish manufacturers are popular.

Usually, the hardware is not included in the set for the door leaf, therefore, it should be purchased separately. The quality of products directly depends on the materials from which they were made. Most often, fittings are made from durable brass, stainless steel, zinc and aluminum alloys or plastic. Experts recommend purchasing power elements (such as locks, door hinges and door closers) made of steel and brass, and all other parts can be anything you like, even plastic.

In addition to the material of execution, the type of coating of the door leaf elements also differs. Depending on the type of surface treatment, there are:

• polished;
• chrome plated;
• polished;
• anodized;
• oxidized;
• powder-painted products.

The fittings also differ in their appearance. So, products created for interior doors are much lighter, more elegant and more stylish than mechanisms designed for entrance analogs.For interior doors, you can even use forged fittings that will perfectly fit into a classic or romantic interior design.

When buying, you should take into account the following factors:

• dimensions of the canvas itself;
• the material from which the door is made;
• ease of use;
• functionality;
• fortress;
• resistance to corrosion and mechanical damage;
• aesthetic design and compatibility with the interior of the room.

Traditionally, fittings are bought separately, so it is necessary to think over its design in advance. It is very important that all elements (handles, hinges, locks and latches, stoppers and other designs) are made in the same style and shade.

In order to install the necessary door hardware, you need special working equipment - a tool:

• screwdriver or screwdriver;
• manual milling cutter;
• hammer;
• chisel;
• knife;
• marker;
• ruler.

The most important stage in the installation of any door hardware is considered to be the installation of the lock, as well as the hinges and door handle. The work is considered to be done in due quality if the hinges and all the necessary strips are fixed at the same level with the surface of the door itself. To make the installation correctly, you should prepare the places for all the elements as accurately as possible, the permissible gap according to the standards does not exceed 1 mm. Typically, a manual router is used for this type of work; in the absence of one, a simple chisel and a hammer will do.

When installing hinges, the actions are carried out in the following sequence.

• To begin with, the area for fixing the loops is determined. As a standard, they are placed 25-35 cm from the uppermost and lowermost parts, the loops in the indicated places should be attached to the desired places and circled.
• In the marked areas, using a chisel and a small hammer, it is necessary to carefully excavate the wood to the desired depth, which should be equal to the thickness of the prepared loop.
• When all the sections are ready, it is necessary to fix the hinges on them and attach them with ordinary self-tapping screws.
• If all actions are performed correctly, the doors will open smoothly and fairly quietly, and the gap along the general contour will not exceed 2-5 mm.

When installing the lock and handle, the procedure is slightly different.

• Usually they are fixed at a height of 95-100 cm from the floor. In the desired place, markings are made with a pencil, and then small recesses are formed at the end of the door leaf for installing the side bar of the lock. To do this, create several holes with a drill at the desired depth, and then remove all the wood. You can also use a chisel here.
• On the front side of the door, holes are formed to secure the handle and fix the keyhole, for this you need a circular drill.
• A locking mechanism is inserted into the pre-prepared holes and fixed with hardware. Then the lock cylinder is attached directly, as well as the rod and handles from all sides and secured with protective and decorative overlays.

The performance of door fittings must be checked from time to time, because it is much easier to eliminate the problems that arise than to replace the elements in the event of their final failure. As a rule, any trouble is associated with one of the following problems:

• disruption of the loops;
• strong deepening of the hinges - if it becomes necessary to raise them to the level of the door leaf, you need to remove it and fix the plate of the required size from below;
• protruding hinges - in this situation, the door will not be able to close tightly enough, so it is best to unscrew all the hinges and then deepen their landing areas;
• creak - as you know, all dust and debris accumulate in the hinges, because of this, corrosion processes can begin, in this case special lubricants should be used;
• sagging - as a rule, such problems are caused by loosening of fasteners, in order to correct the situation, you just need to tighten them.

Locks and handles should also be checked periodically, as the shutter and pivot mechanism of the structure may fail over time. If trouble is found, then the part should be removed and repaired. If you take care of the elements of the door structure and fix problems immediately after they appear, then the door will serve for a rather long time, and all the elements of the fittings will regularly perform their functions.

For information on how to choose the right door hinges and handles for interior doors, see the next video.