Door Hardware
The Basics
You spend so much time, effort and money on keeping the interior of your home updated, clean and to your liking. It seems simple, but the roof, walls and doors of your home are your defense against weather and other people being able to walk right in. Even within your home, you have doors that lock or don’t lock on certain rooms for a reason. Let’s explain how those knobs keep your home separated into distinct areas. 
What is a door knob? A door knob is a type of door handle used to open or close a door. When talking about a knob, most people are usually referring to the round mechanisms, but the term might be used to describe any door opening and closing fixture such as door levers or door handles. Door knobs keep doors closed by using a latch or bolt mechanism that keeps the door closed until the knob or handle is turned.
Door Hardware Types and Functions
There are different types of door knobs and handles for different types of doors. Some are meant to securely close and latch a door, while others are just decorative because many people believe a door would look incomplete without a knob, even if it can just be pushed open. Here are the different types of door knob functions:
Entrance: These are used on the outside of a front door or other door that leads into a building or home. They are keyed for that specific door or all the doors on that home, and if locked they cannot be opened without that key. These may also be called exterior knobs. These are keyed entry door knobs, and may have a single cylinder deadbolt to go along with the set.
Privacy: A privacy knob locks from one side but is not keyed, meaning that they can be unlocked by turning the lock mechanism from the side of the door on which it was locked. These are often used inside the home for bathrooms, bedroom and garages.
Passage: Passage knobs can be opened from either side of the door because they do not lock at all. They don’t have a locking mechanism or need a key. These knobs are used on many rooms within the house where privacy is not a concern, usually hallways, closets and pantries.
Dummy: A dummy knob is used for decoration or just to give the user something to hold onto as they push open a door, even though the door has no securing or jigger mechanism. They are not needed to push the door open or closed, but are often placed on a door so that it looks the same as the others around it in the home.
Deadbolts and Cylinders
Single Cylinder: A single cylinder deadbolt means that it that locks with a key from one side, and the other side is locked or unlocked using a latch. These could also be called keyed entry locks.
Double Cylinder: A double cylinder lock means that it locks and unlocks with a key from both sides. These are far less common than single cylinder.
How A Door Knob Works
Parts of a Door Knob:
Knobs, Handles and Levers – These are an external part of the door hardware set that a person uses to grab and turn to open the door. The stem, or shank, of the knob attaches to the door on the knob rose, or circular washer that connects the knob, shank and door panel.
Screw Posts and Spindle
2 or 3 screw posts connect the two outer handles together through a hole in the door. A spindle is in the very center and is what allows the knob to turn. If a door is able to be locked, the spindle is on the locking side and is what makes it impossible to turn the knob when locked. The spindle is what turns the latch, or bolt, in and out from the side of the door and in or out of the hole on the door frame.
Latch or Bolt
The latch is the part on the side of the door that you can see and push in and out when the door is open. It’s what keeps the door closed. It will always stick out unless the knob or lever is turned, so when someone turns the lever and the latch retracts, that’s what allows the door to be opened.
The Strike Plate
The strike plate is the casing for the latch hole in the door frame where the bolt goes into when the door is closed. The strike plate keeps the door frame from wearing out, because it is made of metal in the finish of the handleset. The metal strikeplate keeps the wood door frame from being worn down after constant use of the door knob being turned in and out of the hole.
History of Door Knobs
Doors have been made of different materials and levels of security in different cultures since homes were built. They may have been made of wood, textiles, heavy animal hides, or plant materials and likely were just pushed or swung open. As civilization and home building progressed, door knobs were made from stronger materials like woods, stones and metals. Door knobs have been in use for centuries, as they became a functional and integral part of a door, but the “modern” door knob that we know was first produced in America in the mid-nineteenth century.
Before its production in the States, people used simple latches and strings, wooden knobs, and glass knobs. Door knobs and handles were mainly imported from European countries in the 1800’s and were made from china or ceramic materials.
Composite metal doorknobs were patented in America in the mid 1800’s as an alternative and cheaper product than cut glass knobs or soldered cast metal knobs that had been used until that point. Through the late 1800’s, patents came out for the spindle and screw posts mechanisms we know today, and also for the common privacy lock. These patents continued to be developed to make smoother opening and closings using ball bearings to reduce friction. Today’s locks are also more smooth and easy to open and close and have been upgraded for added security with deadbolts and even electronic user-identified entry.
What Materials are Door Knobs Made From?
Most commonly, door knobs are made of brass, which is an alloy of zinc and copper. Copper by itself is too soft of a metal, but when combined with the zinc makes a strong brass. The quality of the door hardware will also depend on the thickness of the brass, which can be heavy or thin gauge. The heavier the gauge, the higher quality the brass hardware will be.
The desired finish is then coated over the brass to get the smooth look and feel that the owner thinks matches the home the best. Common coating finishes are satin nickel, oil rubbed bronze and matte black.
Finishes
Door knobs and handles are made in many of the same finishes as cabinet hardware. The selection of finishes for door hardware are less than cabinet hardware, as door hardware is more prominent and used for functional purposes more so than for decoration and eye catching detail. Nevertheless, you can be sure to find door knobs and handles in a finish that matches your home or room’s theme and color palette.
Finishes for door knobs also come in matte or satin finishes. Matte finishes have a flat look, while satin finishes give a sheen to the hardware. Aged and antique finishes are also popular for exterior door hardware & locks, but are not seen as often for interior doorknobs. Though they aren’t as common, aged bronze and antique brass finishes inside the home would look very nice with a rustic style or old world feel.
Common door hardware finishes:
- Matte Black – a strong but soft black color. It does not have a sheen and works well with any room that carries black throughout the room.
- Oil Rubbed Bronze – a soft bronze finish with copper undertones. It looks nice with neutral toned walls, but also with earthy colored walls.
- Dark Oil Rubbed Bronze – much darker bronze that can sometimes look black, but with slight copper undertones. Looks nice with most almost any combination of colors.
- Polished Brass – shiny, bright and golden. Polished brass looks nice with lighter toned doors and walls, or else the shine could draw too much attention to the door knob if put against a dark door. Polished brass was the most commonly used finish and is still a popular choice for many home owners who like the traditional home look.
- Polished Chrome – shiny, bright, and cool silver toned. Chrome looks nice with modern style rooms that have light colored doors and silver accents.
- Satin Nickel – Satin nickel is one of the most popular finishes for hardware today and matches just about any room. It looks good with neutral tone doors and walls but is also muted enough that it can go well on a colored door or wall as well. Satin nickel is a good choice if you are looking to blend hardware finishes within a room, because it is soft and easy to match with many styles.
- Pewters – they are in the same family as satin nickel and would look nice with the same tones, but are offered in a slightly different shade than the satin nickel. They may be a bit darker but the same general color family.
Exterior:
The finish you choose for your door knob should depend on the area of the home the knob will be seen in. If you are buying a new exterior entrance knob or handle, you can choose something bigger and bolder. A strong finish like matte black, polished chrome or polished brass is common and suited well for a large door with its own distinctions. Because many people choose a colored door for the outside of their homes, a polished brass or chrome set often looks nice against it. Many exterior doors are rust colored, green, brown, black or another bold color. The polished chrome or brass add a pop of color that is ok for the largeness of the door and house from a street view.
This article from Southern living gives a few examples of exterior door styles and how they work on different homes: Exterior Door Styles
Interior:
Once inside, the interior door knob sets are often more muted and less eye catching. Softer finishes like oil rubbed bronze or satin nickel are popular because they are set against neutral tone doors that are usually painted white, cream or variations of tan. You can choose to keep the same finish all the way through the house, or to change handlesets based on each individual room, keeping in mind that the handleset should be the same on both sides of the door and may be leading into a different room that may be better suited for a different finishes. In this case, using all one finish for the entire house is a good choice because the consistency may make up for a mismatching finish within a room. Also, if you have a muted door hardware set, it won’t stand out enough to make a big difference in a room even if the room uses a completely different finish for its other hardware. The most modern door knob sets are usually purchased in satin nickel or oil rubbed bronze for inside homes.
Styles
Some people choose to purchase ornamented or carved door knobs, especially door hardware & locks for the exterior of their homes, but more commonly a very simple set is used.
Doorknob Shapes: 
- Egg Shaped: Egg-shaped door knobs have an oval shape and are the best ergonomic fit for the users hand, but are the least common purchased.
- Round: Round doorknobs are the most common and desired shape in the United States. They are simple and match well with all rooms because of their basic and small design.
- Mushroom: Mushroom knobs are round but have a flat face. They are very common.
- Ball: Ball knobs are completely round and would be grasped in the hand like a baseball. Ball keyed entry door sets were the foundation for modern door hardware.
- Handle or Lever: Lever door hardware is the most common shape in Europe, and has a different look and feel than round knobs. They have a handle length slightly longer than the palm grasps, with a curve in the middle that fits the hand nicely. Because of this shape, they cannot be used on any side of the door interchangeably. The installer needs to be careful to order the correct number of left hand or right hand levers so that the handle is pointing the correct direction, away from the close door frame and towards the center of the door.
Exterior:
- Round: Many exterior handlesets consist of a small round knob with a dead bolt above it, but some are more decorative and larger.
- Handles or Levers: A handle or lever that usually sits below a dead bolt.
- Latch style: A stationary vertical handle with a latch pulled down by the thumb to open the door. May also have a dead bolt above it.
Each of these styles of door knob or handle is available in all the finishes. Because they are simple and usually not ornamented, you won’t have a hard time matching finish to the style, or the entire set to your exterior door or interior rooms. Choosing door hardware & locks is easy once you know what typing of keying and functionality you need.
This Old House talks to designers and manufacturers of door hardware at a Kitchen and Bath Industry show about some of the newest exterior door handles – see the video. http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/video/0,,20057655,00.html
Choosing Door Hardware Online
As long you know what function and keying you need, buying door knobs & locks online is very easy. It is cheaper than buying in a physical hardware store and you can shop around for reasonable shipping prices.
Brand Quality: You might search for a brand like Schlage or Master Lock, who have been trusted door hardware suppliers for many years. Kwikset and Better Home Products are also solid manufacturers that you can look into. You don’t need to worry too much about the brand, because your knob or handle is not likely to wear out, and many come with a warranty. They are made from strong metals and the finishes are resilient.
Size: Door hardware and locks come in a standard size so you don’t need to be concerned with measurements unless you have special needs.
Finish: The finish of your door hardware is important, but as long as you go with the finish that you have in the rest of the house or that you choose for that room, you will likely find that it matches fine. There are not as many finish colors to choose from or variance between manufacturers. Simply choose the finish that you like and it will probably match well, but you could contact a customer service representative if you want to check on its tone.
Shipping: The weight of your purchase may determine your ship cost. Some internet stores offer a flat rate shipping cost, meaning that no matter how much you buy it will be sent to you for one price whether you buy a little or a lot. The shipping time will depend on your location from the store’s warehouse, but you will likely receive your item between 2 days and 2 weeks. Be sure to ask for a quote if you are an international buyer.
Customer Service: If you have any questions about the size, color, shape, quality or style of the door knob you are looking at purchasing, most online stores have knowledgeable people available to answer questions. Check for an internet chat function that would allow to speak with someone immediately, or make a phone call to a service department. These staff will know about your product and help you make the right choose if you don’t know what to look for.
For Home Remodelers: If you are a builder or renovator, you may be able to buy your necessary hardware items online at a better price than at a supply store. Check to see if the item that you need has a discount price that is cheaper than the supplier and if its specifications match those that you need, ordering online might be a very wise decision. Online stores take customer needs seriously!
Replacing Door Knobs
Replacing old door knobs is easy as long as the new set correctly matches up with the positioning of the old set. You can follow the old set’s template and simply replace it piece by piece if they were the same size. You may also want to replace the strike plate if the old and new are different finishes. See info under How To Install a Door Knob.
How to Install a Door Knob
- First, remove the old door knob that you’ve purchased a replacement for. Unscrew the screws that are holding the door knobs on either side in place and gently pull each off of the door. Do the same for the strikeplate if you have a replacement strikeplate.
- When you’re putting on the new door knob, make sure that if it is a privacy set you put the locking side on the correct side.
- The first thing to put into place on the new set is the latch housing and simply screw it in, making sure it is aligned well. Make sure that it lines up correctly with the old switchplate, or screw in the new switchplate first if you got one.
- Then place each of the new knobs on either side, matching up the screw holes. Insert the long screws that connect the knobs. Tighten them so that the door knobs and the rose (circular backplate) are flush and well aligned.
- Test out both sides of the door to see if they are working smoothly and that the if it is a privacy knob, the lock is working correctly.
More Information on Door Knobs:
There are tons of resources available to you as you look for information on door knobs and other door hardware. Check out these websites for tips on how to update or freshen your home’s look with door hardware ideas:
Do It Yourself Network – see 100 completely doable door projects and get tutorials on how to install hardware
This Old House – more home improvement ideas and ways to freshen an entryway or old door
Good luck selecting, ordering and installing new door knobs or other door hardware! Remember that you can call to ask questions anytime you need assistance.
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