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Glossary

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Glossary



Backset
The backset of your door is the measurement from the edge of the door to the center of the bore hole.
Ball Catches
A latching mechanism consisting of a spring and bearing, with an opposing receiving "strike plate". Ball catches can be used in place of traditional spring latches where you do not want to have to engage/disengage the latch from the door-jamb. Doors with ball-catches can simply be pushed open or closed.
Bore Hole
This refers to the hole that was physically drilled in your door to allow installation of its hardware. In most cases the standard bore diameter is 2-1/8", but many different sizes exist.
Cross Bore
The main hole that is bored into a door in which door hardware is mounted. The most common cross-bore measurement is 2-1/8".
Cylinder
A portion within the locking body of door-hardware that contains 5 to 6 pins that determine key-code. This portion is normally removable, allowing the code to be reset when a residence changes owners.
Double Cylinder
A lockset/deadbolt which is keyed on both sides, requiring a key to lock or unlock from either side. Most often a deadbolt but can be an entry knob. In some locations Double Cylinder locks will not pass code due to their hindrance of quick exit during a fire.
Deadbolt
Unlike a spring-bolt (in which the bolt is held in place only by the pressure of a spring, and can easily be retracted), a deadbolt lock cannot be opened except by rotating the lock cylinder.
Distressed Finish
Sand-cast or hand-finished for a weathered/old/used appearance. Normally appears as small pits within the metals surface.
Door Closer
A mechanism installed on the doors frame to hydraulically assist with the shutting of the door. The closing strength is adjustable for different size/weight doors.
Door Stop
This item prevents the doorknob or lever from impacting with the wall, causing damage; available in many different lengths and styles to fit your application.
Door Thickness
A measurement of the physical thickness of the door. This is important when installing door hardware that is not fully adjustable to different thicknesses.
Dummy (Single)
A surface mounted knob or lever without latching function which allows push/pull for applications such as: Cabinet Drawers, Inactive Doors, Appliance Doors, Closets.
Dummy (Full/Set)
Connected by thru-bolts; A knob or lever without latching function which allows push/pull for applications such as: Cabinet drawers, inactive doors, appliance doors, and closets.
Edge Bore
The bore hole on the side of any given door that extends from the edge of the door and connects to the larger bore hole. In most cases, this measures 1" in diameter.
Electronic Deadbolt
Keyless entry; requires a password or key-code to be entered before automatically disengaging the deadbolt from the door. Most require a standard 9v battery, which can last up to 2 years depending on the model.
Emergency Egress (Function)
On a keyed or privacy style lock; this feature allows a hasty exit of the room without first having to unlock the hardware. *Required by some local fire code.
Escutcheon Plate
A plate that acts as decorative trim to cover any bored hole in the door.
Finials
Decorative "tips" for the tops and bottoms of any hinge.
Flush Pulls
Surface mounted trim used mostly on sliding closet doors.
Handing
Certain door hardware requires a "Left" or "Right" designation to ensure that they are ordered properly.
Handleset
A lockset/deadbolt which is keyed on one side, requiring a key to lock or unlock from exterior and usually a thumbturn or pushbutton to unlock from interior. Single Cylinder is used in most residential locations.
Handrail Bracket
A portion within the locking body of door-hardware that contains 5 to 6 pins that determine key-code. This portion is normally removable, allowing the code to be reset when a residence changes owners.
Hinges
The main piece of hardware that allows your door to swing in our out. Attaches to the door and door-frame. Different features include:
Butt Hinge: The standard hinge type, allows the door to be manually swung open or closed.
Spring Hinge: A small spring inside the hinge body allows the door to automatically swing closed.
Hooks
Available in popular decorative finishes to match the rest of your home; Used to hang almost anything, from articles of clothing to hats to keys.
Interior Handle Option
The interior hardware of a handleset. This typically includes the interior knob/lever, the interior portion of the deadbolt and the mounting hardware.
Interconnected (Function)
An interconnected entry set will disengage the deadbolt and lower latch simply by pressing the lower lever, rather than requiring a separate action to unlock.
Keyed Alike
Where all cylinders within an order are keyed to have matching codes. This allows one key to be used for multiple doors. All orders receive two keys for each key code.
Keyed Different
Where two or more cylinders within an order are keyed to separate key codes.
Keyed Entry
A lever or knob set that is locked from the exterior with a key, and unlocked from the inside with a thumb turn or pushbutton. Used for securing entries to any area.
Latches
The tubular "tongue" mechanism that engages the doors jamb to prevent open/closing of the door without turning the handle.
Lifetime Finish
Finished with lacquer, and normally containing a higher-grade base metal resistant to corrosion (such as stainless steel.) This allows the hardware to wish stand harsh weather and sun.
Mortise Lock
A mortise lock is the most secure form of an entry set. These types of locks require special door preparation in order to house the lock body.
Mortise Body
The actual mechanism that contains all locking parts that sits within the door itself.
Narrow Plate Locksets
Entry sets which have a very slim appearance. Their borehole is typically smaller, allowing a thinner escutcheon or trim plate to be used.
Non-Handed
A straight lever without an accent either up or down.
One Sided
This type of lock has a blank plate on the exterior side. The interior portion has a lever to engage the bolt, securing the door.
Panic Proof
On a keyed or privacy style lock; this feature allows a hasty exit of the room without first having to unlock the hardware. *Required by some local fire code.
Passage (Function)
This style of hardware is used to provide transition from one room to the other. No locking function is included. Common applications are: Hallways, Closets, and Guest Rooms.
Pocket Door
A sliding door that recedes into the wall of the home when not closed.
Privacy (Function)
This style of hardware is used to secure the interior rooms of a residence. They are locked by either a thumb turn or a pushbutton on the inside. An emergency key is the only way to unlock the door from the exterior, and is provided with each model. Common applications are: Master Bedrooms, Bathrooms, Offices/Dens.
Pull Plate
A surface mounted sheet of metal with lever, allowing doors with no latching hardware to be pulled open.
Push Plate
A surface mounted sheet of metal installed to protect swinging doors without door hardware from many forms of abuse such as impact, grease, oil, etc.
Reverse Swing
When an entry door swings towards the exterior of the home. This should only be taken into consideration when ordering a 'Mortise Lock'.
Roller Catches
Similar to ball-catches, the roller catch uses a cylinder style closing mechanism, versus a sphere.
Rosette
A plate that acts as decorative trim to cover any bored hole in the door.
Single Dummy
A surface mounted knob or lever without latching function which allows push/pull for applications such as: Cabinet Drawers, Inactive Doors, Appliance Doors, Closets.
Spindle
A star or square- shaped piece of metal which engages the latch when turned by the handle or lever.
Split Finish
Where the exterior hardware has a different finish/color than the interior portion. *The outside finish is always referenced first. For example; Polished Brass X Polished Chrome would note the outside finish Polished Brass, and the interior Chrome.
Strike Plate
A small metal plate that skirts the latch engaging both the door itself, and the door-jamb. Helps the latch engage the door-frame easier due to a slight bevel on the strike.
Surface Bolt
Used primarily to secure an inactive door to a frame, surface bolts are easily mounted on the surface of a door and latch into the jamb.
Switch Plates
Decorative covers designed to fit over many different wall-mounted switches.


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