Door Hardware 101 - Learn About The Best Door Hardware On The Market

In this article, we discuss the different types of door hardware available on the market today and how it can be used to make your home a safer place while accenting your home's design. From residential front door entry sets to deadbolts and door handles, we have you covered every step of the way.

Remember to check out our fine selection of decorative door hardware to see if anything in our store matches your preferences. At Bradford Hardware, we believe that hardware is the jewelry of the home, and can make any space look more uniquely you. We hope you find this article helpful and look forward to seeing you again in the future!

EXTERIOR RESIDENTIAL FRONT DOOR ENTRY & PATIO DOOR HARDWARE INFORMATION

What Is A Full Grip Front Door Entry Grip Handle Set 

Available in a tubular or mortise lockset that includes a full exterior escutcheon backplate with a grip handle, thumb latch and a keyed cylinder for a deadbolt or deadlock. The interior side can have a matching full escutcheon backplate with a grip handle and thumb latch or a partial escutcheon backplate with a choice of a lever or knob. The most common application for this type of entry hardware is for residential main entrances or front doors. Tubular entry sets usually require a 2 1/8” face bored holes at 5 1/2” center-to-center and a mortise entry sets require a special door preparation.

What Is A Partial Or Monolithic Front Door Entry Grip Handle Set

Available in a tubular or mortise lockset that includes a partial exterior escutcheon backplate with a grip handle, thumb latch and a keyed cylinder for a deadbolt or deadlock. The interior side has a partial escutcheon backplate with a choice of a lever or knob. Most common application for this type of entry hardware is for residential main entrances or front doors. Tubular entry sets usually require a 2 1/8” face bored holes at 5 1/2” center-to-center and mortise entry sets require a special door preparation.

What Is A Sectional Front Door Entry Grip Handle Set

Available in a tubular or mortise lockset that excludes a full or partial exterior escutcheon backplate but includes an independent grip handle with thumb latch and an independent keyed cylinder for a deadbolt or deadlock. The interior side has a matching rosette with a choice of a lever or knob mounted. Most common application for this type of entry hardware is for residential main entrances or front doors. Tubular entry sets usually require a 2 1/8” face bored holes not required to have a 5 1/2” center-to-center and mortise entry sets require a special door preparation.

What Is A Front Door Pull, Deadbolt Or Deadlock Entry Handle Set

Available in a tubular or mortise lockset that includes a set of independent back-to-back door pulls with an independent keyed cylinder for a deadbolt or deadlock. Additional heavy-duty adjustable roller catches are required, installed towards the top and the bottom of the door leaf, enabling it to stay in a closed position when a deadbolt or deadlock is not engaged. Most common application is for residential main entrances or front doors. Tubular entry and mortise entry sets require a special door preparation.

What Is A Elongated Escutcheon Plate Entry Handle Set

Available in a tubular or mortise lockset that includes an elongated exterior and interior escutcheon backplate with a choice of lever, handle or knob mounted and a keyed cylinder for a deadbolt or deadlock. Escutcheon plate sets are also available without a keyed cylinder, deadbolt or deadlock in a matching passage, privacy or dummy function. Most common application is for residential main entrances, front doors, patio doors, double French doors, basement doors, side doors or garage doors. Tubular entry and mortise entry sets require a special door preparation.

What Is A Passage, Deadbolt Or Deadlock Entry Handle Set

Available in a tubular or mortise lockset that includes an independent passage set with a choice of lever, handle or knob mounted onto a rosette with an independent keyed cylinder for a deadbolt or deadlock. Most common application is for residential patio doors, double French doors, basement doors, side doors or garage doors. Tubular entry and mortise entry sets require a special door preparation.

What Is A Multipoint Locking Entry Set Handle System

Multi-locking systems is a mortise type lock body with extended rails and locking points that extend towards the top and bottom of the door leaf with choice of levers only mounted on to exterior and interior escutcheon backplates. In special circumstances, a set of independent back-to-back door pulls with a keyed cylinder for the multipoint locking system may be used. Most common application is for residential main entrances, front doors, patio doors, basement doors, side doors or garage doors. Multi-locking entry systems require a special door preparation.

What Is A Active & Fixed Double French Entry Set

When a set of locking double exterior doors is present, for them to be properly secured, one door must become a temporary fixed door and the other door a primary active door. The temporary fixed door is secured by installing flush bolts, surface bolts or a multipoint locking system into the door leaf or astragal. The primary active door then secures the pair of doors with a tubular lockset, mortise lockset or multipoint locking system using the temporary fixed door as a jamb.

DOOR LATCHES, DEADBOLTS, MORTISE LOCKS, DEADLOCK & MULTIPOINT INFORMATION

What Is A Tubular Latch

Tubular latches are commonly used in our North American residential hardware lines. They are tubular in shape and use a standard face and edge bore for installation. Tubular latches can be installed in hollow or solid core door leafs, are less expensive and will accommodate a North American 2 1/8” door preparation.

What Is A Drive-In Tubular Latch

This type of wedged tubular latch is commonly used in lower quality hardware lines obtained at a local home hardware store. Higher quality decorative hardware products usually do not offer adjustable drive-in latches as they are flimsy, break down easily and are not secured with screws (not recommended).

What Is A Notch-Out Tubular Latch

This type of embodied tubular latch is used in all our higher quality hardware lines and is special ordered to your doors specifications. The side of the door must be notched-out for the installation of the door latch and cover plate that is secured with screws for longevity (recommended).

What Is A 28 Degree Notch-Out Tubular Latch

This type of latch has all the benefits of a Notch-Out Latch, including a minimal rotation of 28 degrees, providing a higher quality feel during operation. This type of latch is becoming increasingly popular and higher end hardware vendors are starting to include them in their sets or provide an optional 28 degree latch upgrade when ordering (highly recommended).

 

What Is A Mortise Lock Body & Deadlock

Mortise locks are most commonly used in our European and North American residential and commercial hardware lines. They are an enclosed lock body or cassette that has an interconnecting latch and deadlock, requiring a special face bore and pocket to be mortised out of the door leaf. Mortise locks are installed in solid core door leafs, are more expensive and require a special door preparation. Mortise locks are available in a variety of residential functions like entry, privacy or passage function and are available in a number of special commercial functions like dormitory, apartment, office, hotel, classroom and storeroom function.

Stand-alone mortise deadlocks are similar to tubular deadbolts, where a solid bolt secures the door. There are two different types of mortise lock bodies available for ordering, the European or the North American models. The European mortise body is a residential grade, is smaller in size and less expensive. The North American mortise body is a heavy-duty residential or commercial grade, is larger in size and more expensive. Both types of mortise lock bodies require a special door preparation.

What Is A Multipoint Locking System

Multipoint locking systems are an extended mortise type lock body with extended rails with multiple locking points that extend towards the top and bottom of the door leaf. The internal system is usually supplied and installed by the door manufacturer and we supply the external levers mounted on the exterior and interior escutcheon backplates or in special circumstances, a set of independent back-to-back door pulls with a keyed cylinder for the multi-locking system (i.e. G-U Ferco Automatic).

As with mortise lock bodies, there are two different types of multipoint systems available for ordering, the European and the North American system. Both systems are comparable and offered by a variety of different manufacturers throughout the world. The cylinder is the one major difference between the two offerings. In the European system, the cylinder sits below the lever and installed inside the multipoint system, allowing it to be positioned almost flush to the exterior and interior escutcheon backplates.

In the North American system, the cylinder sits either above or below the lever and is positioned outside the multipoint system, proud of the exterior escutcheon backplates. There are new residential building codes within Canada that now require tested and certified multipoint systems to be installed in all exterior dwelling doors, including front doors on all new builds. This is to improve the energy performance by locking out moisture, air drafts and thermal bowing of the door leaf including increasing overall security.

SINGLE CYLINDER, DOUBLE CYLINDER, PATIO & ELECTRONIC DEADBOLTS INFORMATION

 

 

What Is A Single Keyed Cylinder Lock

Available in a tubular or mortise lock body where a single keyed cylinder is installed on the exterior side with a thumb turn installed on the interior side of the door leaf. Most common application is for residential main entries, front doors, patio doors, French doors, basement doors, side doors or garage doors. This allows for the door to be secured from the outside with an easy exit on the inside in an emergency situation (Egress).

What Is A Double Keyed Cylinder Lock

Available in a tubular or mortise lock body where two keyed cylinders are installed, one on the exterior side and one on the interior side of the door leaf. There is no interior thumb turn present, requiring a key to secure or unlock the door from either side. Most common application is for commercial entry doors. This ensures the general public cannot lock the door behind them, locking people in when entering a place of business for mischievous reasons.

What Is A Patio Single Sided With No Cylinder Lock Set

Available in a tubular or mortise lock body where there is no exterior cylinder present and only an interior thumb turn installed on the door leaf. Most common application is for residential patio doors, French doors, basement doors or side doors allowing it to be secured or unsecured from the inside only. This is beneficial when you do not want to view a keyed cylinder from the outside or adding additional security with no exterior cylinder to penetrate. This requires no through face bores and a special preparation.

What Is A Electronic Keypad or Biometric Lock

Available in a tubular, mortise or multipoint lock body that can be energized by either hard wire or battery power to gain entry through a door. Electronic keypads, mobile devices, biometric finger scanners or home automation systems can act as the controller. Most common application is for residential main entrances, front doors, patio doors, French doors, basement doors, side doors or garage doors.

This allows entry access without a key and in some cases, has a single keyed cylinder present as an override. There is new G-U Ferco Automatic multipoint locking technology from Germany that can be controlled keyless as well.

What Is A Keyed Alike, Differently Or Grouped Cylinder Lock

Available in a tubular, mortise or multipoint lock body when ordering cylinder locks from one vendor for a project. We can request the cylinders be keyed alike, differently, or by group. It is beneficial to order this at the factory level; scheduling a third party locksmith to come to site for an additional charge.

INTERIOR RESIDENTIAL PASSAGE, PRIVACY & DUMMY DOOR HARDWARE INFORMATION

What Is A Passage Function

A non-locking latch is installed in the edge of the door leaf, enabling it to stay in a closed position. Most commonly used on living room, family room or recreation room doors.

What Is A Privacy Function

A locking latch is installed in the edge of the door leaf, enabling it to stay in a closed and locked position. When using small European rosettes, they usually do not offer a locking or privacy latch and an independent privacy bolt is installed, either above or below a passage lever or knob set. Most commonly used on bathroom, change room or bedroom doors.

Doors with a privacy latch or bolt install require a non-keyed quick release access in case of an emergency. For privacy latches, there is a privacy pin installed on the interior rosette that enables the latch to be locked and on the exterior rosette there is an emergency release access that enables the latch to be bypassed with the use of a small pin. For privacy bolts, there is a thumb turn installed on the interior side that enables the bolt to be locked and on the exterior side there is an emergency release disk that enables the bolt to be retracted with the use of a coin.

What Is A Dummy Function

A ball catch, adjustable roller latch, flush bolts or surface bolts are installed at the top and/or at the bottom of the door leaf, enabling it to stay in a closed or locked position. Most commonly used on bedroom, closet or double French doors.

What Is A Active Or Fixed Double French Interior Door

When a set of non-locking double interior doors is present, both doors require a ball catch or adjustable roller latch installed at the top of the door leaf with dummy door hardware sets surface mounted onto the face of the door.

When a set of locking double interior doors is present, for them to be properly secured, one door must become a temporary fixed door and the other door a primary active door. The temporary fixed door is secured by installing flush bolts or surface bolts into the door leaf or astragal with dummy door hardware sets surface mounted onto the face of the door. The primary active door then secures the pair of doors with a tubular or mortise lockset using the temporary fixed door as a jamb.

What Is A North American Rosette

This rosette option is larger in size and is usually installed on doors with a North American 2 1/8” door preparation. It is available in a passage, privacy or dummy function.

What Is A European Rosette

This rosette option is smaller in size and is usually installed on doors that have not been predrilled, as they require a special door preparation. It is available in a passage or dummy function.

What Is A Elongated Escutcheon Plate

This elongated escutcheon plate option can be installed on doors that have and have not been predrilled which may or may not require a special door preparation, depending on the manufacturer. It is available in a passage, privacy or dummy function.

Exterior & Interior Door Handing

Specialty door hardware may require the handing for each door when ordering. The simplest way to determine door handing is to face the door from the outside and identify the side the hinges are on the door leaf. The side the hinges are on, is the doors handing. For example, If you are on the outside of a front door and the hinges are on the left side, it is a left handed door and if you are on the outside of a bedroom door and the hinges are on the right side, it is a right handed door.

Exterior & Interior Door Swing

Specialty door hardware may require the swing for each door when ordering. If a door swings into a room, it is considered an inswing door. If a door swings out of a room, it is considered an outswing or reverse swing door. When ordering mortise locksets, most sets will require the swing of each door, as the mortise latch is usually not field reversible. When ordering tubular locksets, most sets will not require the swing of each door, as the tubular latch is usually field reversible.

Exterior & Interior Door Thickness

Specialty door hardware requires the door leaf thickness for each door when ordering. The standard door thicknesses for exterior doors are 1 3/4” or 2 1/4” thick and the standard door thicknesses for interior doors are 1 3/8” or 1 3/4” thick. Custom door thicknesses can vary for both exterior and interior doors.

What Is A Tubular & Mortise Latch Backset

For specialty door hardware, the backset determines the length of the latch and the position of the lockset on to a door leaf or the door stile. It is the distance from the edge of the door to the center of the lever, knob, bolt or predrilled face bore. The standard backset for a tubular lockset is 2 3/8” or 2 3/4” and for a mortise lockset is 2 1/2” or 2 3/4” in length. When a door stile is present, we generally suggest for stiles 5 1/4” wide and under order a 2 3/8” backset for a tubular lockset and order a 2 1/2” backset for a mortise lockset. For door stiles over 5 1/4” wide order a 2 3/4” backset for a tubular and a mortise lockset.

DOOR BOLTS, BALL CATCHES, ROLLER LATCHES, BUTT & CONCEALED HINGES INFORMATION

What Is A Flush Bolt

Flush bolt hardware is mortised and concealed into the top and bottom edge of the door leaf on a set of locking exterior or interior double French doors, securing the fixed door into place with a strike.

What Is A Surface Bolt

Surface bolt hardware is surface mounted onto the top and bottom face of the door leaf on a set of locking exterior or interior double French doors, securing the fixed door into place with a strike.

Cremone Bolts & Cane Bolts

What Is A Cremone Bolt 

Cremone bolts have a rod that runs the full length of the door leaf that is surface mounted onto the face of the door on a set of locking exterior or interior double French doors, securing the fixed door into place with a strike.

What Is A Cane Bolt

Cane bolts are surface mounted onto the bottom face of the door leaf on a set of locking exterior double, French, barn or gate doors, securing the fixed door into place with a strike.

What Is A Ball Catch

A ball catch is a metal on metal latch that is recessed into the top of the door, enabling it to stay in a closed position and used on interior doors (not recommended). Generally ball catches are used in conjunction with a dummy handle, leaver, knob or door pull.

What Is A Roller Latch

Roller latches have a spring tension, adjustable light or heavy duty nylon roller latch that is recessed into the top or side of the door leaf edge, enabling it to stay in a closed position and used on exterior or interior doors (recommended). Generally roller latches are used in conjunction with a dummy handle, leaver, knob or door pull.

Plain Bearing Butt Hinges & Ball Bearing Butt Hinges Information

What Is A Plain Bearing Hinge

Plain bearing hinges have a thinner leaf and do not have a buffer between each knuckle of the barrel, creating metal on metal wear over time that produces a fine metal dust within the door jamb. Plain bearing hinges are available in a limited number of finishes, are inexpensive, break down overtime and are unable to handle heavier door leaf loads (not recommended).

What Is A Ball Bearing Hinge

Ball bearing hinges have a thicker leaf and have ball bearings that ride between the knuckles of the barrel, removing metal on metal wear over time and eliminating any fine metal dust within the door jamb. Ball bearing hinges are available in numerous finishes, of high quality and able to handle heavier door leaf loads (recommended).

What Is A Tectus Concealed Door Hinge

Simonswerk’s German engineered concealed hinge is mortised into both the edge of the door leaf and the door jamb, providing a hidden and clean appearance when the door is in the closed position. Tectus concealed hinges are high quality, fully adjustable and are available in a number of power coated and plated finishes.

What Is A Perko Concealed Door Closer

Samuel Heath’s concealed door closer is mortised into the door jamb, providing a hidden and clean appearance when a door closer is required to be present. Perko, Perkomatic and Perko Power offer the ultimate in door control, eliminates the need for an intrusive surface mounted door closer and is available in a number of plated finishes.

SLIDING BARN DOOR HARDWARE, SLIDING LADDERS & POCKET DOOR FLUSH PULLS INFORMATION