Door Hardware: The Essentials Explained

Getting the correct hardware is essential to installing a door and guaranteeing its long-term performance. Whether looking to outfit a standard door, a sliding door, or a pocket door, a full selection of quality hardware will help you get there. The term “door furniture” is also sometimes used to describe the array of handles, hinges, and locks needed for each door.

Standard Door Hardware

A standard door will be hinged on one side, with a handle or plate on the other side allowing it to be opened. Within this category you’ll find everything from a secure front door to a swing door, to double french doors or emergency exit doors. A wide range of hardware is sold for standard doors:

• Hinges: Hinges are bracketed metal components designed to be fastened to both the door and the frame, holding the door in place and allowing it to swing open. Doors will typically be hung with three pairs of hinges.
• Handles: The handle is used to open the door, with a range of lever handles and door knobs used throughout buildings. Lever on plate handles will have a larger panel that can include a lock, while lever on rose handles will feature a smaller backing plate. Pull handles can be used in situations where the door is not on a latch, such as doors in commercial buildings.
• Locks: A lock will be used to secure a door closed. They can be key activated, handle activated, or in some cases, keypad or security card activated.
• Latch: A latch is a device to fasten a door, but will not necessarily involve a lock, such as a handle door that cannot be secured.
• Bolt: A bolt will also keep a door closed, sometimes as part of a lock. Internal bolts will move a metal piece into a jamb, the hollowed-out section within the door frame. Latch bolts are made with an angled surface allowing them to close without the handle being used. Deadbolts are activated through a lock in the door and will only open again when unlocked. Bolts can also be a type of lock installed on the outside of a door in locations like toilet cubicles.
• Strike Plate: A strike plate is designed to fit around the jamb on the doorframe, helping to keep the latch in place and also to protect it from intrusion attempts.
• Door Closer: Commonly used in commercial environments, door closers ensure that doors cannot be left open. This helps to avoid draughts, while also ensuring fire doors remain effective.
• Letterbox: These will be installed within most front doors, with some models including draught excluder brush strips which keep homes warm and deter intruders.

All standard doors will require hinges, but other door hardware is largely optional. An internal office door for instance might be a simple swing door with a pull handle and door closer, but no latch or bolt. A door in a toilet cubicle could be hinged, with an external bolt on the inside allowing for security. On the other side, a front door will likely have a handle, a lock and latch, and maybe a letterbox.

You’ll have a range of options whether installing hardware on internal veneer doors or external uPVC models. We have a further article on door handles to help you choose the best options and materials for your project. 

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Sliding Door Hardware

Sliding doors possess completely different hardware from standard doors, as they are hung on one side of a door with a track allowing them to be slid open.

• Track: A sliding door will be installed on a track above the doorway, usually double the width of the door to allow it to be fully opened. The track will be attached to the wall with brackets and fitted at either side with stops to ensure the door is secured within it.
• Fixing Plates: The door will be connected at the top with fixing plates, which will typically be drilled into it.
• Hangers: Either steel or nylon wheels will go within the track, connecting to the fixing plates and allowing the doors to move each way.
• Bottom Guide: These will slot into the bottom of the door, preventing it from swinging during operation, which could cause it to fail.

Pocket Door Hardware

A pocket door is similar to a sliding door, but it will be installed within a cavity, meaning the door will slide away from view. This also means that it has slightly different hardware.

• Track: Pocket doors will operate on a similar track system, except that the track will be installed within the frame and door cavity.
• Frame: Pocket doors will often have a stronger frame within the wall to ensure that it is structurally sound.
• Hangers: These will also be comparable to sliding doors, with fixing plates attached to the door.
• Bottom Guide: While the frame will help to keep the door in the right position, guides are still crucial to ensure the door remains usable.
• Latch: Unlike sliding doors, pocket doors can be fitted with sunken handles and latches, letting them close similarly to a standard door. Sunken handles and locks must be used so the door will correctly fit within the frame and cavity.

Doors and Door Hardware Delivered Across the UK

We stock a wide range of door hardware through our website, alongside internal and external doors and frames. We work with both professionals and DIYers, offering everything you need to securely install a door. Everything we sell can be delivered across the UK. For those working in the industry, our trade accounts offer huge benefits. 

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