Handle
A handle, knob, or lever is the component of door hardware that is used to unlatch the door panel and pull it open or push it closed. There are many styles and finishes to choose from. There are three types of door handles:
Entry handles
are operated with a key cylinder on the exterior side of the door and a push or turn lock button on the interior.
Bed/bath handles
have a push or turn lock button on the inside but not on the other.
Passage handles
have no locking mechanism.
Latch
A door latch is a shaft that protrudes from the edge of a door panel and into the door frame securing the panel in place. When the handle is turned, the latch retracts allowing the door to be opened.
Deadbolt
Similar to a latch, a deadbolt is a shaft that protrudes from the edge of the door panel and into the door frame securing the panel in place. Residential interior doors are not equipped with deadbolts, and not all exterior doors have them either. Deadbolts are considered an additional form of security and are most often set apart from the handle assembly, which means that a door with a deadbolt needs an additional bore hole. Multi-point locking hardware systems provide even more protection than a latch and deadbolt combination, and new home automation systems are available.
Thumb turn
A deadbolt is operated by turning a thumb turn on the inside of a house and by a key cylinder on the exterior side.
Mortise plates
These plates add strength to latches, deadbolts, and the door panel, which helps prevent a forced entry.
Your door frame may seem pretty straightforward, but there’s more to it than meets the eye. In fact, most people tend to take their door frames for granted. While door frames can get tricky depending on what type of door you’re working with—interior doors and exterior doors or sliding doors and patio doors—let’s assume we’re looking at an average entry door frame and the basic door frame parts you’ll need to know.
Head & Top Rail
The head is the top of the door frame, sometimes called the “door header.” It may look straightforward or have simple molding. It also includes a stop at the lower edge, along with weatherstripping, to make sure the door closes firmly and creates a proper seal.
Located just beneath the head, the top rail is the top section of the actual door panel.
Threshold
Located at the bottom of the door frame, the threshold is the area you cross to pass through the door. It contains the door sill.
The bottom rail is the bottom section of the door panel that moves across the threshold. If you have weathersealing issues, your bottom rail, sill, and/or your threshold may be to blame. Having the proper seal between your door and threshold can lead to a more energy efficient home.
Hinges & Hardware
Door frames come with a lot of hardware. Here are a few of the basic components:
Jamb & Margins
The door jambs are the vertical components of the door frame on either side of the door. You may also hear them described as the hinge jamb (for the side with door hinges) and the strike jamb (the side that contains the strike plate and works with the locking mechanism).
Margins (sometimes also called “rebates”) are the spaces between the door and the door frame. These are often important if you’re looking at issues with your hinge jamb. Again, these spaces can be broken down into specific types: the hinge margin, strike margin, top (header) margin, and bottom (sweep) margin.
Beyond the Frame
Again, other doors may have components we haven’t discussed. (Don’t even get us started on French doors and astragals). While we’ve covered the essential frame components, here are a few more common elements you might like to know.
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