At first glance most cylinders can appear pretty similar. A small opening in the cylinder receives the key which, when turned, will lock or unlock a piece of hardware. Beyond that you may not recognize any real differences between two brands or even between two cylinder types. Much of it remains a mystery. Let's break down some of the...

Exit devices come in many different shapes and types. Exit device trim on the outside of the door is just as important to consider as the type of panic bar that is used on the inside. In this brief article we will discuss some of the basic functions available for the exit device trim. Exit Device Trim When an exit device is...

Hollow metal frames are installed in various locations throughout a building. Many wall types are used in buildings including wood stud walls, steel stud walls, and masonry walls. Due to the different materials used for walls, hollow metal frames must be able to anchor to each wall type. Fortunately there are various methods to anchor the...

Door closers that are surface mounted generally have two or three methods for installing them at the opening. The most common two are the parallel arm and the regular arm. So which closer arm do you need? [gallery columns="2" size="medium" link="none" ids="3164,3165"] Door Closers with Regular Arm Door closers with regular arms are...