Article Written By: martincooper53
Sometimes most people don't believe door hardware is an important consideration in home design, but more often than not it is due to the fact that most consumers aren't aware of all the options they have available to them as far as budget and decor is concerned. One of the first considerations that a homeowner has to make when choosing door hardware is the function of the door that it is going to be installed on. Door hardware is designed according to the function of the door. For example, a closet door may not need to have a locking mechanism on it, while a front door knob will usually need to have a locking mechanism. When choosing door hardware for your home, it is good to keep in mind that there are three functions of a door knob. These three functions are privacy, access and design. Door hardware that concerns itself with privacy contains some form of locking mechanism. These are used for front doors and bathroom doors. Thee sets that are only concerned with access are usually a little larger than normal sets and have no locking mechanism. These doors are easy for children to open or those with disabilities. The sets that are concerned with design are highly decorative, have no locking mechanisms and aren't functional as regular door knobs. For this reason, these sets are usually called dummy sets and are normally placed on false doors.Another important consideration to keep in mind is the size of the door that the hardware is going to be installed. Before installation, it must be measured to make sure that the hardware is going to fit correctly. While the standard modern door has a uniform depth of 1 3/4"" there are exceptions to this rule. Doors that are custom made may deviate from the standard depth.It is now time to consider the cost. What most people don't realize is that there are two basic types of door hardware: tubular lock sets and modular lock sets. Tubular lock sets are made of three basic components. They have the doorknobs for both sides of the door, and a latch that inserts into the door. This is the standard door hardware that is sold on the consumer market. These are easy to install and are usually inexpensive. Mortise lock sets require a pocket to be cut into the door and generally contain more pieces. These lock sets are usually used for the front door or for older homes. Mortise lock sets are generally harder to install and costs more.The last consideration that the consumer needs to make before buying and installing door hardware is its design. The consumer should make sure that it compliments the style of the door that they are installing in on. A set that has an antique style will look out of place on a modern door. Likewise, a modern set will look out of place on a hundred year old door. The door hardware should blend in with the door and not distract from the beauty of the décor.Utilizing these tips should allow you to purchase door hardware that will not only fit in with your individual decorating style, but will also serve the function that it was intended to serve in the correct fashion.
This Article Has Been Published on Thu, 9 Dec 2010 and Read 133 Times