Entry doors give a glimpse of the personality and aesthetic to your home or business before entering.

There are 3 common scenarios encountered when making hardware selections for entry doors , to what extent each scenario can be customized and what we look for when specifying. These scenarios include new entry, existing entry, and condo entry doors. Hinges and accessories will be highlighted in later entries. Stay tuned!

New entry doors give us the opportunity to start from scratch with selections. Mortise, tubular, grip by grip, levers, knobs, escutcheon plates, sectional trim, electrified, and more. The options are endless!

When the budget allows we recommend the use of entry mortise locks. We prefer to sell mortise lock sets for entry doors because mortise locks hold up better over time. There are more configurations and have a higher security option when compared to tubular systems. In some markets, such as Minnesota, we find that many new entry door come from the millwork configured with multipoint locking mechanisms. Multipoint mechanisms aid in the prevention of warping, but often limit the trim and functions that can be fitted.

What We Look For When Specifying:

• Trim preference.

• Door thickness, including any decorative paneling.

• Stile width.

• Door dimensions when purchasing hinges.

When we have a renovation project where an entry door is due for an update and not being replaced, we inherently have less options than when working on a brand new door. There is little that is impossible, but what is can be quite costly from both a hardware and labor standpoint.

If door is painted or stained, the color behind the existing trim will be different due to the lack of exposure to the elements. Ideally, new trim needs to cover all imperfections when re-painting or re-staining are not in the budget. Where smaller trim is wanted to replace the existing hardware, a contractor will need to take the door(s) off to carefully inspect for any surface issues. They may need to patch and re-paint / re-stain before installing new hardware and reinstalling the door. Keep in mind that temperature and humidity may cause patches to swell/contract and crack paint.

Location of bottom hole for new grip sets is quite often different than older sets. Grip by grip sets can often cover up drillings from previous trim and other patches. Manufacturers don’t maintain distances throughout their own collections. Baldwin and Emtek use several different sizes.

What We Look For When Specifying:

• Compatibility of existing lock with new hardware -or- What work may be needed to make sure new hardware will cover the original installation.

• Center to center dimensions of cylinder and knob/lever hub (exterior) turn piece and knob/lever hub (interior).

The third scenario is selecting hardware for entry doors in condo and high-rise buildings where the building/HOA do not allow replacement of the exterior trim or have other stipulations relating to the unit entry. In these situations, we specify trim that is swapped out on the interior side only. These entry doors often require more time to correctly coordinate trim to match the existing lock. We recommend a site visit to confirm the door details.

The center to center measurement between the turn piece and lever/knob are not standardized between manufacturers. This will be an initial indicator as to whether changing the trim is possible and worthwhile.

Due to building codes and fire rating requirements, we try not to change out hinges or closers when it is unnecessary for the project. Routinely we’ll recommend any chain locks or similar security items be removed as well. Auxiliary deadbolts or Segal-style locks can often stay as-is or can be swapped out to match the finish along with the aesthetic of the interior hardware.

What We Look For When Specifying:

• Existing manufacturer of lock (not always same as trim).

  • Spacing between hubs (turn piece to lever/knob).

  • Spindle size and orientation for knob/lever and turn piece.

• How the existing trim is fastened to the door.

  • The interior trim will need to securely fit to the existing exterior trim so that it does not pull off when operating.

Don’t be afraid to show your style through your hardware. Our main objective is to serve the project and turn the vision into reality.

 Keep in Mind

• Are you starting from scratch with a new door, replacing the hardware on an existing door, or changing out the interior hardware on a condo/high-rise unit?

• Backset

• Door Thickness

  • Be aware of panels and offset lock installations as these may affect the length of cylinder needed.

  • Offsets are more common in MP doors, but can occur when paneling is applied.

  • Condo units may have panel applied to 1-3/4” fire rated doors for aesthetics.

• Strike

• Center to center dimensions of cylinder and knob/lever/grip hub on the exterior and turn piece and knob/lever/grip hub on the interior.

• Modifications to an existing door are highly likely when updating locks and trim!

Schedule An Appointment With One Of Our Expert Account Managers To Discuss Entry Door Options For Your Next Project: