Espagnolettes: types and their parameters, design options and a master class on installation

Of course, full-fledged locks are usually only needed for front doors. But interior doors often require latches to help keep them closed. This is especially true for household premises: bathrooms, toilets. In such situations, a simple sliding device, the latch, helps out.

A door bolt is a latch-shaped locking device, the so-called small bolt.

According to GOST, these mechanisms are made from various metals and their alloys, among which the most common are aluminum, steel, brass and copper. Also, plastic latches are currently being produced.

There are quite a few models of these simple latches, and you can easily purchase the option most suitable for your doors.

Door latches can be divided into several types, let's get acquainted with them in more detail.

• Mortise latches. The most popular type among sliding devices. Installed inside the door body during installation. Does not spoil the appearance of door structures, it is usually used for doors with two leaves. The only drawback is that in the event of a breakdown, you have a rather laborious replacement process.
• Embedded. They are mounted along the height of the door leaf, opening both from the top and from the bottom of the door is possible. To install them, you must prepare a groove in the door leaf. In addition, the products are almost invisible from the outside.
• Overhead. They are attached to the surface of the door body and the jamb with self-tapping screws. They are very noticeable, therefore it is recommended to select such devices in harmony with the color of the door material and the rest of the fittings. They are distinguished by extreme ease of installation, low cost and a variety of models suitable for any door material.

Also, latches are produced as additional elements for hinged locking mechanisms.

According to the principle of operation of the valve, products can be divided into mechanical and automatic; by design type - open and closed. Mechanical mortise models are equipped with a rotary handle for closing and opening the bolt. Automatic latches are often spring-loaded, with a button for fixing the position of the bolt. For open mechanisms in any position, all structural details are visible, including the locking rod, and for closed mechanisms, only a part is visible.

According to the material of manufacture, only two types of latches are distinguished: plastic and metal. Naturally, the service life and strength of metal products is much higher than that of plastic models.

To increase the attractiveness, many models of latches are coated with aluminum, copper, brass, imitate gold and silver plating. The base of the device is usually made of stainless steel.

Product dimensions vary from small ones for cabinet doors, wardrobes and other furniture, to large latches installed at the entrance gates.

When choosing valves, pay attention to the dimensions of the door leaf, in particular, to its thickness. If the door is thin, then only the overhead type of latches will suit you. For thick doors made of solid wood or metal, devices of a mortise or built-in nature are recommended, they are more reliable and durable than overhead ones.

The design of the latches varies greatly - from retro-styled decorative latches to simple metal locking devices. When choosing latches for your doors, take into account the general design of the room - if it imitates an old house, you must admit that ordinary overhead latches will not fit into the interior. In this case, you can use either hidden mechanisms - mortise or built-in, or, in consultation with the designer, order exclusive valves.

When choosing latches for a door structure, first of all, you need to pay attention to its material, the thickness of the door leaf. Then choose the method of controlling the mechanism - mechanical or automatic, the material from which the device is made, the model and dimensions of the product. Then, taking into account the color scheme, choose the model you need.

Espagnolettes for plastic doors have their own characteristics. Most often, they use a closed-type overhead mechanism. Each door structure is equipped with its own locking device. For reliability, it is recommended to duplicate it, for example, install it at the top and bottom of the door leaf. An important point is complete harmony in color solutions with the door material.

For PVC door structures, you can choose the following types of clips.

• Roller. They are a ball in a hollow cylinder / box, supported by a spring. These latches do not require much effort to open or close the door.
• Magnetic. Such pressure catches act by magnetized elements. They are characterized by durability and reliability. They function normally even with a slight distortion of the door body.
• Fale. Such devices are designed with a spring-loaded transom. When it gets into the prepared recess, the tongue is fixed and the door structure is closed. To open it, you need to turn the handle.

For door structures made of metal, it is not recommended to select overhead latches. After all, such doors are most often mounted as entrance doors, and a mortise or built-in type of product is most suitable for them. Also, for such doors, so-called night latches are increasingly used - for additional fixing of the closed position of the door leaf.

Any type of latches are suitable for wooden doors, here the choice depends on the purpose of the door structure: whether it is an entrance door, an interior door, or to utility rooms.

For glass doors, only overhead sliding mechanisms are used. Most often, the design of such devices is extremely simple - a hook-shaped latch bolt or magnetic latches. The most popular location for these latches is at the bottom of a glass door.

Do-it-yourself installation of an overhead bolt on a wooden door is very simple.

Step by step process:

1. precisely mark the place of attachment of the main part and the striker;
2. prepare recesses for fasteners;
3. attach the main part of the mechanism and check its functioning - if the latch moves smoothly, go to the next step;
4. attach the striker;
5. close the door and test the operation of the latch again.

To install an overhead latch on a metal door, you must use special pins made of the same material. You can buy them in the same place (store, shopping center) where you purchased the valve itself.

Two latches are usually installed on double doors: at the top and bottom of the door leaf.

Installation of mortise vertical models for double door structures (including sliding ones) is recommended to be carried out before the door is hung on the hinges.

It is produced as follows:

1. you need to attach a side latch from the edge of the door body (from the top - for the upper latch, from the bottom - for the lower one) strictly in the middle of the end face, and circle the outline with a chalk, pencil or pen;
2. cut a groove with a router or chisel;
3. insert the latch into the recess;
4. fix its position with screws.

It is recommended to mount the counterpart of the latch after installing the door on the hinges. Close the door, mark the location of the groove for the bolt pin. Drill a hole to the required depth slightly wider than the diameter of the rod.

Close the door, check the operation of the latch. If the bolt closes smoothly and without much effort, screw the counterpart of the mechanism with self-tapping screws.

For information on how to make a bolt with your own hands, see the next video.