Industrial Door Knobs 101: How Are They Installed?
We all know about the importance of door knobs and what they do to protect our homes. They allow us a quick entrance into the rooms they protect, while also offering reliable protection against any unwanted guests.
However, industrial door knobs are a different matter. Door knobs for industrial doors are made to handle certain needs, and if they aren’t installed properly you could end up creating more problems than solutions.
So what exactly do you need to know? How different can industrial knobs really be? This article goes in-depth with what you need to know about how industrial doorknobs are installed, so you can do your own knobs right the first time. Keep reading to find out more!
What’s so Different About Industrial Door Knobs?
When you work in the industry, you’re used to dealing with things that are big, durable, and long-lasting. The same should be said about door knobs for industrial doors.
You have a big building full of valuable materials that you need to protect. As sturdy as they are, residential knobs aren’t enough. industrial knobs offer the power you need to be assured your building is protected.
That being said, with great power comes great responsibility…or in this case, great complexity. It’s not uncommon for those installing an industrial door knob to be left scratching their heads and feeling frustrated.
Luckily, the way to do it is much easier than you may have imagined. Have a look at these simple steps and get your door working properly in no time.
1. Make Sure You Know How to Remove the Old One
Look, we know you want to get the whole removal of the knob over with, but that doesn’t mean the answer is to kick down your door from your efforts.
Before you accidentally break something, you’ll want to figure out how to remove the old doorknob. Of course, different knobs will probably require different measures to remove, but in most cases, they tend to be fastened with screws, bolts, and other similar components.
Take a look at the types of tools you’ll be needing before you get started on the job. This is also the time to make sure your new doorknob is the right fit for your door. The last thing you want is to go through the trouble of removing the old and not having a proper replacement.
2. Install the Latch Plate
Now that you’ve successfully removed the old knob, you can get to work on installing the new one. The first thing you’ll need to do is install the latch plate. This is the piece that acts as a connector for the knob itself, so you’ll need it to have a working unit.
Make sure that the tapered side of the latch plate is facing towards the door frame, then secure the plate into the door (tip: you don’t want to bore it into the door frame from overtightening, but make sure the plate is pressed firmly against the frame.
3. Install the Exterior Face
The exterior face (a fancy term for the piece of the door knob that you utilize when entering a building) is the next piece that you’ll need to add to your door frame. This part requires you to use your precision skills.
First, you’ll need to align the exterior face of the door knob with the borehole. Check to confirm that the spindle on the exterior face is aligned with the hole in the center of the latch, so upon completion, you can twist the face and open the door.
When you see it’s aligned, insert the spindle through the hole and press it against the door.
4. Install the Interior Face
Of course, you can’t secure the exterior face in place without having the interior face to connect with it. You also can’t exit the house if you don’t add it to the door.
The interior face is easier to align than the exterior one because everything is already in place. Connect the interior face to the spindles extending from the exterior face, then slide it towards the door.
When both the interior and exterior are aligned against the door frame, secure the interior bolt with a screwdriver.
5. Install the Strike Plate
The last thing that you need to do to wrap up the job is to install the strike plate. This is the part of the door knob that helps to hold the door in place when you close it back. Without it, you may as well have a swinging door.
Thankfully, the strike plate is easy to install. First, insert the strike plate into the door jamb opening (that’s the hole present on the surface facing opposite the door frame). Then, you simply use your screwdriver to fasten it into place, and voila! Your door has a new doorknob!
Again, when it comes to installing door knobs, there are many options, and not all knobs are created equal. You’ll want to make sure that the knob you pick for your door is not only able to fit the door frame, but also offers the security and reliability you need to give you peace of mind.
We’ve Got What You Need
Now that you know the ins and out about industrial door knobs, you can generate an expert decision as to what knobs you need to add to your business. Now, you need to figure out where to get the doorknobs you need for your business. We can help you out with that.
At Accurate Door and Hardware, we make sure to give our customers the quality goods and services that they deserve. We offer plenty of doorknob products, as well as hardware, bathroom accessories, lites and louvers, hospital safety equipment, and more.
Ready to get started? Just give us a call or send us a message to find out more about how we can help you. We look forward to helping you and your business grow and succeed!
Industrial door knobs are very simple to install if one just takes their time and follows the instructions. As a locksmith I see most folks get in trouble when they attempt a level 10 job with no experience. In the end hiring a true pro is worth it. Great article and well written.