Door Stops, Latches, Closers and Window Hardware

Door stops, latches and hasps for the job at hand

Door stops come in several styles. Dome and soft bumpers stick to the wall or baseboard, spring-and-tip stops screw in and need replacement rubber tips, and hinge-pin stops fit on the hinge. Choose by where the handle hits and how hard the door swings. Glide pads for furniture legs are listed here as well, so check which item a title sells. A push-button or spring latch lists a spacing, such as 1-3/4 inches, that must line up with the mating strike.

Solid brass, die-cast zinc or plated steel

Solid brass resists corrosion outdoors but tarnishes unless it is lacquered or coated, while zinc die-cast and plated steel are common but can pit or flake if the surface is scratched. Hinges must match the size of the old leaf and the shape of its corners, square or radiused, or the mortise needs recutting. Closers and window hardware add weight limits and mounting patterns. Use screws suited to the material, in the length and finish supplied, so the hardware stays tight.

Questions about Door Stops, Latches, Closers and Window Hardware

What size hinge does a standard door use?

Interior doors commonly take 3.5 inch hinges and heavier or exterior doors often 4 inches, usually three per door. Measure the old hinge leaf, thickness and corner radius, since square and rounded corners are not interchangeable without recutting the mortise.

What does non-handed mean?

Non-handed hardware works on a door that swings either way, so the same part fits left-hand and right-hand doors. Handed items, such as many latches and closers, are made for one swing direction and must be chosen to match the door.

How do I stop a door handle from marking the wall?

Fit a stop that halts the door before the handle reaches the wall. A baseboard stop catches the door near its foot, a wall dome sits on the wall exactly where the handle would strike, and a hinge-pin stop needs no wall fixing but suits light interior doors, since leverage near the hinge can strain it.