Door knobs or lever handles?

carolina23 · 4 Apr 2019

Hello everyone! I need some advice.

I'm new here so I'm not sure if someone has asked this question.

I'm changing my front door and I thought of also buying new door furniture. I started having a look around for door handles and there are way too many options. I could go for a lever handle like my old one or I could buy a centre door knob or even a cylinder pull from what I can tell.

I saw this centre doorknob which I loved https://ironmongeryexperts.co.uk/from-the-anvil-black-82mm-octagonal-centre-door-knob-83779.html but I'm not sure yet. I'm very indecisive which is terrible when I want any renovate any part of the house.

What type of handle do you have in your front door? Is it easier to use a door lever than a centre doorknob or is the difference mainly ornamental?

Thank you for your help.
Carolina

JohnD · 4 Apr 2019

A centre doorknob is for pulling the door shut. It does not operate the lock or latch.

On an older house with a panelled door, it adds to the grandeur

for example

the door in the picture does not have a keyhole or external handle, it cannot be opened from the outside.

Ian H · 5 Apr 2019

I’ve got a knob but would prefer a handle:

crank39 · 5 Apr 2019

You must have one of those fancy slam locks too, what's your thoughts on them, good bad indifferent? I have one on my composite door as it's got a 1200mm pole handle, I'm impressed on how it works

Ian H · 5 Apr 2019

I think it’s a Winkhaus.

I like it, but, I haven’t locked myself out yet. I have gone to answer the door and forgot to take the key which I find anoying, i’m going to swap the lock for one with a thumbturn on the inside.

crank39 · 5 Apr 2019

Yes I have thumbturn on mine, and yes it's winkhaus as well, AV2 I think, you can get them in remote control, push button code and key fob too

crank39 · 5 Apr 2019

Here's my effort....

Ian H · 5 Apr 2019

Very nice!!!

JohnD · 6 Apr 2019

Ian H said:
I think it’s a Winkhaus.

I like it, but, I haven’t locked myself out yet. I have gone to answer the door and forgot to take the key which I find anoying, i’m going to swap the lock for one with a thumbturn on the inside.

I see the letterbox is conveniently close to the lock, which will save effort for anyone wishing to operate the thumbturn with a simple home-made tool.

Ian H · 6 Apr 2019

JohnD said:
I see the letterbox is conveniently close to the lock, which will save effort for anyone wishing to operate the thumbturn with a simple home-made tool.

Yes but there’s another door after that which would be harder.

crank39 · 6 Apr 2019

Is it me or is the letterbox on the p?

Ian H · 6 Apr 2019

Yes it is, that’s how it came but I haven’t bothered to look how it’s fixed yet.

I still haven’t finished the roof

phatboy · 7 Apr 2019

crank39 said:
You must have one of those fancy slam locks too, what's your thoughts on them, good bad indifferent? I have one on my composite door as it's got a 1200mm pole handle, I'm impressed on how it works

I have the same sort of setup, with the same lock.

I'm not a massive fan in the end. The door has needed endless adjustment, and still isn't right. A push from inside, or a pull from outside is required to get it to unlock easily, or you are fighting with the end of a thumbturn.

Also unless you slam it shut quite hard, it doesn't fully catch, and you then need to lean on the bar handle to get all the points to 'click'.

Also, as it's anthracite, things get worse when the sun has been on it for a while.

Kicking myself for not spending more and getting an aluminium setup.

crank39 · 7 Apr 2019

Ah none of those latching issues on mine, wonder if because yours is a PVC door with an infill panel its flexing more without latching, where as a composite is more solid. Mine is directly south facing too

phatboy · 8 Apr 2019

crank39 said:
Ah none of those latching issues on mine, wonder if because yours is a PVC door with an infill panel its flexing more without latching, where as a composite is more solid. Mine is directly south facing too

More likely because of the sidelights and toplight? The frame has steel in it, but I guess as it's not welded in there its of little help. I can flex the frame if I push on it, so that could be the issue. I really wish I'd gone ali frame now, lower profile too!

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Door knobs or lever handles?

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