Door locks can have over 50 locking functions available that meet any number of situations. There are 5 door lock functions that are essential and that you will see used on 99.999% of all projects. Door Lock Functions Depending on the type of door lock you are working with (i.e. cylindrical, mortise, or exit device), these functions may...

Long ago, in a construction industry not that far away, there was confusion about the countless number of finishes available in the hardware community. In an effort to provide the widest variety of colors and options for Architects, hardware suppliers went to great lengths to create unique finishes. Fortunately, standards were eventually...

Exit devices have been around since the early 1900's after several disastrous events took the lives of hundreds of people trapped inside buildings. Exit devices are now required by code at certain openings based on a room's occupancy type and load. Getting the right exit devices can be critical for life safety. You may have heard an...

Gasketing is another term used for perimeter seals or weatherstripping. But what the heck is it? Gasketing for doors has to do with the seals that are installed around the perimeter of the opening. Doors do not create a perfect seal against the door frame when they are shut. Depending on where the door is located, there may be an...

Steelcraft hollow metal doors are made of a variety of components. One of the most important parts is the core material. Here are 5 of the standard core types used in hollow metal doors: Honeycomb Polystyrene Polyurethane Steel Stiffened Mineral Core Standard Cores 1. Honeycomb Honeycomb cores get their name from the...

In this quick guide to wood doors we'll focus on some of the basics that can often be overlooked or missed on commercial projects but that should be addressed early in the project to avoid delays. A lot of specifications will be so generic that they miss the important pieces required for ordering the doors. Sometimes a "copy and paste"...

Openings in commercial buildings that require heavy duty durability and security are where you will typically find hollow metal frames. Metal or wood doors are most commonly installed in hollow metal frames. The frames are considered "hollow" due to the open throat that allows the frame to anchor to the wall around it. Here we will...

Our discussion on the door hardware basics concludes with this final article which will cover part 4: protecting the door. Protect The Door Hardware that will protect a door is crucial for the longevity and endurance of the door in the opening. Protecting the door can also protect the building and individuals going through that opening....

So far you've learned about the first 2 door hardware basics that must be covered for a door to function properly: to hang the door and to secure the door. The next step in meeting the 4 basic needs of a door is to control the door. Control The Door Controlling the door mostly deals with what happens to the door after it has been...

We began this four part series briefly reviewing the 4 basic functions of door hardware: To hang the door To secure the door To control the door To protect the door We previously covered the first function that needs to be taken care of before anything else which is to hang the door. In this article we will cover the next...