23 Mar Commercial Doors and Hardware Comparison Guide
There are several options pertaining to commercial doors and hardware. You need to know what you’re looking for and understand the available different types of hardware. In this post, we cover the most common types of commercial doors and hardware so you can make the right choice for your business.
Types of Commercial Doors and Hardware
Types of commercial doors
The most common commercial doors are metal, hollow metal, fiberglass, sliding glass, rolling steel, wood, and fire-rated doors. So which door is right for you? It depends on what you’re trying to accomplish with your door. For example:
-Metal Doors: Metal is durable and heavy-duty. They are traditionally used in cold storage facilities to withstand frigid temperatures. Metal is also resistant to rusting or corrosion over time, making it a good option when durability is essential. However, they are more costly than other materials due to their weight and thickness.
-Hollow Metal Doors: Hollow metal is lighter than metal, so it’s easier to transport and install without assistance from others. Hollow metal doesn’t provide the same level of insulation as metal, so this might not be the best option in colder climates or in areas where extreme temperatures may change throughout the year (i.e., Florida). They provide some degree of soundproofing that could come in handy if noise levels are an issue.
-Fiberglass Doors: There are also fiberglass doors available – these doors are lightweight and offer an affordable alternative to steel or aluminum.
Types of hardware
To understand the different types of hardware, it’s essential to know what each part does. The door hardware is the locks, latches, handles, hinges, and other devices attached to the door itself.
The door frame is the material that surrounds the door. It can be wood or metal. The jamb is the part of the door frame that rests against your wall when you close the door. The threshold is the bottom piece of wood or metal that sits on top of your flooring when you open or close a commercial door. The sill is another bottom piece in between where your doorway meets with your flooring. It, too, helps with closing and opening a commercial door.
The lockers are components inside your doors that secure your entranceways through locking devices like knobs and cylinders. They’re usually made of metal but can also be plastic or even glass in some cases. Latches are used for smaller entrances, and they hold the door closed by latching onto something on either side of it (usually a doorknob). Handles are also found inside doors, and they help to open them by turning them counterclockwise, so they unlatch from their position on either side of the doorframe.
Locks and latches
Locks and latches are the mechanical parts that keep your door closed. While there are many locks and latches, this post will focus on the most common – the knob/latch lock.
There are three basic types of knob/latch locks:
– Knob style, which has a round shape and is mounted on the door.
-Finger latch style is installed in a small rectangular plate attached to the door’s edge.
-Floor latch style adheres to the floor or baseboard through a hole in its center.
A knob/latch lock can be keyed or keyless. Keyless locks are operated by turning one or more knobs on either side of the door until you hear the click indicating it’s locked or unlocked. Keys are often used to unlock knob/latch locks. With this type of lock, there is usually only one key necessary for all doors.
We Can Help
When choosing a commercial door and hardware for your business, there are several things to keep in mind. Many factors can affect your decision, from material to door style. We hope this guide has helped you, but if you have additional questions regarding your options, please get in touch with us today at (510) 279-0232!