Door Hardware Functions

Exterior   Locking These door hardware products will provide a locking function in the way of a “deadlatch” or “deadbolt” that keeps the door from being opened on the exterior side of the door. They can come keyed on the exterior side with a turnbutton or thumbturn on the interior side or with an emergency release hole on the exterior and turnbutton on the interior. Examples Single Cylinder Deadbolt A single cylinder deadbolt is typically used on a front or back exterior door and is operated with a key from the exterior of the home and a thumbturn from the interior. Double Cylinder Deadbolt A double cylinder deadbolt is typically used on a front or back exterior door and is operated with a key from both the exterior and interior of the home. Double cylinder deadbolts are recommended when a window is in close proximity to the door. The interior keyway prevents an intruder from accessing your home by breaking the glass and turning the thumb turn to open the door. Handleset A handleset is operated with a key from the exterior of the home and a thumbturn from the interior. Exterior Keyed Knob or Lever These can be used in places such as entry doors, garage doors or in combination with a deadbolt product.

Interior   Locking A type of locking interior door product is most commonly called “privacy” or “bed and bath”. This product provides a turn button on the inside and comes with an emergency release on the outside that allows the door to be unlocked by inserting an emergency release tool.   Non-Locking Non-locking products are typically called a passage or hall & closet. These products have a latch that retracts when they are turned and allow entry but do not provide a locking function.   Non-Functional A product that is considered non-functional is static or stationary. These products do not have a latch and do not turn or perform a function other than for decorative purposes. An example of this type of product is an entrance door handleset that is installed on the stationary double door.

Interior versus Exterior

Exterior doors

Exterior doors can be made of wood, fiberglass, wood composite material or metal. Most wood or composite doors are sold as "solid core". This is where the thickness of the door is composed of the door material used. These doors should be able to withstand the elements of nature such as wind, rain, hot and cold temperatures. Metal doors are usually sold as hollow core. It is best to look for the best quality product that meets your budget constraints, but remember, this door and the appropriate security door hardware are your barriers to theft and burglary.

Interior doors

Interior doors can be made of the same material as exterior doors, however, they are usually sold as "hollow-core" doors. These "hollow-core" doors have bracing inside to make them durable, yet are light and easy to open and close. Make sure you find the right door that fits your needs.

There are many types of new doors at home project centers. Some doors are sold with pre-drilled holes from the door manufacturer, others are sold as slabs and need to be prepared for installation. Doors can be sold with or without the door frame.

Pre-drilled doors Most Kwikset products fit the doors with the standard 2-1/8" door preparation. On the edge of each door, there is a door latch cut-out. (see figure 1) This cut-out usually comes in "radius edge" or "square edge". Less common but more prominent in certain areas of the country is a "drive-in" door preparation. If the door has approximately a 1" hole drilled in the edge, a latch is "driven" into the door, wedging it into the core of the door. Kwikset recently introduced its 6 way latch that can be adapted to all three types of door preparations. However, not all Kwikset products are packed with this type of latch. In some cases, it may be sold as an accessory. It can also be special ordered through your home center or hardware store.   Door preparation needed Kwikset believes that with the right tools, you can accomplish most tasks. However, we want to stress that drilling a door is a complicated process that can lead to mistakes. In our instruction sheets, we include a template for this process for those individuals that are experienced with homebuilding and rennovation. For the novice, we recommend using professional door shops or locksmiths to complete the job.

When replacing a lockset, most Kwikset products can be installed with just a Phillips head screwdriver. If a new door is to be installed, you will need several other tools to complete the job. Black & Decker, DeWalt and Porter Cable offer quality products for the home repair enthusiast.

There is nothing worse than getting in "over your head". Although we believe that most homeowners can easily replace door hardware, there are many situations where questions need to be answered. Take a look at the new Customer Service FAQ's section of our website to help answer your questions.