builderbill

An illustrated door glossary. The terms used in relation to doors, door building and door hardware.

Hint: Hit "Ctrl + f " to search this door glossary page.

0-9  A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z    "  


A
[Back to Top]
Accordion Doors
A folding door often used as a room divider, same as a Concertina Door
Acoustical Door
A solid door constructed to reduce noise transmission. It normally has gaskets around the top and sides and with an automatic door bottom. A door that has an STC rating
Active Leaf
In a door frame containing more than one door, the separate parts are named Leaves. The active leaf is the one that is opened first. It has the handles and the locks.
Adjustable Butt Hinges
Butt hinges that can be adjusted for door movement while the door is in place.
Air Locks
Two sets of doors with a space between to stop the loss of conditioned air etc.
Astragal
The joint between the meeting stiles of double doors.
Automatic Door Bottom Seal
A moveable strip inset into or face fixed to the bottom of a door that drops down automatically when the door is closed to seal off draughts, moisture or sound.
Automatic Sliding Doors
Doors that are opened and closed by machinery. Most often a sliding door that is triggered by an electronic sensor.
B
[Back to Top]
Backset
The distance from the edge of the door to the centreline of the cylinder and or the spindle.
Backset Extension
An extra lock fitting that places the lock handle farther from the edge of the door.
Ball Bearing Hinge
A hinge that has a ball bearing race between each knuckle joint
Band and Gudgeon Hinge
A solid strap type of hinge used on external door. The gudgeon is a vertical pin that fixes to the door frame and the band is a long flat strap that has a circular bend on the end to fit onto the gudgeon pin.
Batten Doors
A simple wooden door consisting of vertical boards and horizontal battens. Can be with or without bracing.
Batwing Door, Saloon Door
Pairs of short doors hinged with double actions that have the meeting stiles shorter than the hanging stiles to aid viewing the other side.
Bi-Fold Lift Hinge
A wall cabinet hinge system that uses bi-folding doors, rotating upwards on an horizontal axis to open the cabinet
Bi-Parting Sliding Door
A sliding door unit with two sliding panels, moving in opposite directions providing one door opening.
Bifold Door
Doors having two pairs of leaves, the inner leaves are fixed to the frame and the outer leaves are hinged to the inner leaves, and further supported on by rollers in a top track.
Black Japan
An old metal finish to hardware items consisting of an ashphalt base in turpentine or naptha that is baked in an oven to 200 Degrees Centigrade. AKA Japan Black
Blum Cabinet Hinges
Spring loaded hinges, that are designed for cabinet doors to frameless cabinets or full access cabinets. Also known as European Hinges or Euro Cup Hinges.
Butt Hinge
A door or window hinge in various sizes consisting of two equal rectangular leaves, a knuckle and a pin joining them. Probably the most common hinge in use today on residential work.
C
[Back to Top]
Cabinet Door Hinges
Hinges specifically designed for kitchen cabinets and the like.
Concertina Doors
Doors with narrow leaves jointed with fabric.They hang from an overhead track and slide sideways to open or close. Used as room dividers and privacy screens.
Construction Cylinders
Used by builders in the construction phase of a building they are keyed alike.
Continuous Hinges
A hinge that is one single unit cut the the length of the joint to be hinged. Modern ones are geared and are used for doors that have high open and close rates.
Cylinder Escutcheon
A small cover or face plate around a lock cylinder, recessed for the cylinder.
D
[Back to Top]
Deadbolt
A type of door lock, the main operating part of which is rectangular in section. It is activated by key, lever, knob or by electronic switch.
Deadlock
A lock that is equipped with a deadbolt only, or a lock in which a bolt is moved by means of a key or a turn knob.
Door
A door is a moveable barrier for closing or opening an entrance to a building, a room or a cupboard etc. An introduction to the types of doors.
Door Blanks
Large solid core door sections that do not have finish edge strips. They are used for making up non-standard doors.
Door Hardware
Metal products used in conjunction with doors. For example locks hinges and handles.
Door Locks
Door hardware devices to keep doors secure from entry by unauthorised persons. Can be operated by keys or electronically.
Door Mullion
A vertical member fitted to a door frame to divide a pair of double doors. Sometimes they are made removeable to allow the passage of vehicles etc.
Double Acting Doors
A door that will swing both ways and return to the closed position from each side using special hinges.
Double Acting Hinges
Spring Loaded hinges that have a 180 degree opening action.
Double Action Roller Bolts, Catches and Locks
Hardware items that allow opening and closing from either side of a double action door.
Double Doors
A pair of doors hung in the one door frame.
E
[Back to Top]
Entrance Set
A lockset with a key on one side and a snib or turn button on the other side
Escutcheon Plate
A small protective plate around a keyhole.
F
[Back to Top]
Faceplate
In door furniture or hardware a metal plate that covers the body of a lock, latch, flush bolt or other fitting .
Fanlight
A semicircular window over a doorway. Sometimes they are semi-eliptical.
Fixed Leaf
In a door frame containing more than one door, the separate parts are named Leaves. The fixed leaf or leaves is or are the one(s) that is (are) opened last . It is bolted to the frame, usually top and bottom.
Fixed Pin Hinge
A hinge that has the pin firmly fixed so the two hinge leaves can not be separated
Flush Doors
Doors with smooth surfaces.
Folding Doors
Doors with multiple leaves hinged to each other to fold flat against the side of the opening when they are open
Forend
The front plate of a mortice lock or similar. Also called a Faceplate
Frame and Filled Doors
Wooden doors consisting of a frame that is filled in with boards. May or may not also have bracing
French Doors
A door consisting of a frame and rectangular glass panels. Also known as a French Window. Many times hung in pairs on an external wall leading to a patio or verandah.
G
[Back to Top]
Garage Doors
Doors made specifically for domestic and commercial garages. For the passage of vehicles.
Gate
In building construction, an opening in a wall or fence usually with a movable barrier for opening and closing it. Also called a gateway
Gate House
A building enclosing or attached to a gateway to a far larger building.
Gate Operators
An electric powered mechanical device for opening and closing gates.
Gate Post
A post at the side of a gate that is used to support it or the aid in securing it.
Grand Master Key System
An extension of the master key system where groups can have master keys and the grand master key can open every one.
H
[Back to Top]
Hasp and Staple
Hardware fitting designed to be used with Pad Locks
Hinge Arm
The part of a modern Euro Cabinet Hinge that joins the hinge Cup and the Backing Plate
Hinge Cup
The part of a modern Euro Cabinet Hinge that fits into a 35mm dia hole in the back of a cabinet door.
Hinge Knuckle
The circular part of a hinge containing the pin about which the leaves rotate.
Hinge Leaf
One part of a hinge, can be the fixed leaf, on a door jamb or the active leaf on the door.
Hinge Mounting Plate
The part of a modern Euro Cabinet Hinge that mounts on the side of the cabinet body or carcass.
Hinge Pin
The central circular pin that is the pivot of the hinge. Can be classed as a fixed pin or a loose pin.
Holdback
An internal feature of some mortice locks to enable the latchbolt to held in the retracted position.
Hollow Core Doors
Wooden flush doors that are lightweight with a perimeter frame an a lightweight hollow core.
I
[Back to Top]
Industrial Hinges
Heavy duty steel hinges used for swing heavy doors. Often weld-on fitting with ball bearings.
Inset
In Cabinet Doors, the doors are set inside the frame so that the frame is seen when the door is closed.
K
[Back to Top]
Key in Knob Locks
Budget priced locksets that contain tubular locks or latches that are packaged together with knob handles.
Key in Lever Locks
Budget priced packages that contain tubular locks or latches together with lever handles.
Key System
Various arrangements of the locks in a building to allow one or more keys to open multiple locks. For example a Master Key System.
Keyed to Differ
Every lock has a separate key. There is no keying system.
L
[Back to Top]
Latchbolt
The spring loaded bolt that performs the functions of a latch and also a bolt. It has a beveled face pointing to the closed position.
Lift Hinge
A butt hinge that has a bevelled interface between the leaves that causes the door to lift up as it opens.
Lift Hinges
Spring loaded hinges, that are designed for wall cabinets that lift upwards rather than swing sideways
Lift Off Hinges
Hinges that allow a door the be lifted off the frame when it is opened. They do not require the removal of screws or loose pins.
Lock Set
Budget priced packages that contain tubular locks or latches together with knob handles.
Loose Pin Hinge
A hinge that has a pin that can be removed to allow the two halves of the hinge to be separated.
Louver Doors
Doors with sections of louver frames for ventilation and the passage of air.
Lych Gate
A roofed entrance gateway to a churchyard or cemetery. Also spelled Lich.
M
[Back to Top]
Maison Key System
A keying system that is used in apartment blocks and office building and the like. Each apartment will be keyed to differ, but those same keys will be able to unlock communal doors like gates, garages and storerooms.
Master Key
A keying system that is keyed to differ but a single key will open all the locks
Mortise Hinge
A hinge that is set into or mortised into the door and the jamb. Also called a Recessed Hinge
Mortise Lock
A lock that is fitted into a mortise in the edge of a door rather than fixed to the door surface.
Mortise Lock
A lock that is fitted into a mortise in the edge of a door rather than fixed to the door surface.
Multifold Door
A door with many panels hinged to each other, the weight of which are mainly carried on rollers in a top track.
N
[Back to Top]
Night Latch
An extra lock on a door in addition to the main lock. It is fixed to the face of the door and it has a spring loaded latch bolt.
O
[Back to Top]
Operable Wall Systems
Movable walls or partitions that consist of hanging sliding panels and doors.
Overhead Panel Doors (Garage)
Doors that swing or slide in panels from a vertical position when closed to an overhead position when open.
Overlay
In Cabinet Doors, describes the method by which the doors overhang or cover the frame from sight when the doors are closed.
P
[Back to Top]
Padlock
A portable lock designed to hang on hardware fittings.
Padlock Shackle
The "D" shaped moving part of the lock. Made out of high strength alloys to resist cutting.
Panelled Doors
Doors consisting of a frame that is filled in with panels. Traditionally out of wood but can be made out of other materials.
Parking Area
A space set aside to store the panels in moveable panel partitions systems.
Partition Doors
Panels that slide on tracks that can divide larger rooms into smaller areas. When not needed they can be rolled into pockets leaving unobstructed large open areas.
Passage Set
A lockset with no key cylinder or button, they just perform as a door latch which can be opened from any side at any time. Also known as a Corridor set.
Piano Hinges
The name is taken from the type of hinge fitted to the lid that covers a piano keyboard. Any hinge that is continuous for the full length of the join. Also called continuous hinges.
Pivot Hinge
A hinge that works on simple pivots that are offset either from the face of the door or offset from the edge of the door.
Pivoting Doors
This type of door uses pivot type hinges that are fixed at the top and the bottom of the door. Examples are seen on refrigerators and commercial shop front doors.
Portcullis
A heavy defensive vertical grating of iron or timber set into a fortified gateway.
Porte Cochere
A doorway into an inner courtyard large enough to allow the passage of vehicles and goods. From the French for "carriage porch".
Postern
A back door, a door at the rear (posterior), a small door or gate often near a larger one. Used in fortifications for a door away fromthe main entrance.
Privacy Set
A lockset with no key cylinder but an emergency button that can be opened with a coin or the like.
R
[Back to Top]
Restoration Hardware
Any items of hardware that are used in restoration work. Particularly refurbished original items or replicas.
Revolving Doors
Doors consisting of four leaves at right angles that revolve on centre pivots inside a vestibule.
Rim Latch
A surface mounted door latch, often combined into a combination lock and latch. Very simple ones are used on gates and batten doors and the like.
Rim Lock
A surface mounted door lock.
Roller Door
Door made out interlocking horizontal slats mounted in side tracks and fixed to an overhead horizontal drum. The rotation of the drum raises and lowers the door.
Roller Shutter
A lightweight Roller Door or grill used for security to door and window openings.
Rose, Rose Plate
In door furniture or hardware a metal plate fixed to the face of a door at the lock which the lock spindle passes through. It sometimes provides a bearing surface for the handle or door knob.
S
[Back to Top]
Screen Doors
A lightweight external door that allows the passage of air though it while excluding insects with a woven screen material. It may also incorporate security mesh. Also called a flyscreen door
Security Hinge
A type of butt hinge fitted with anti-lift securing studs.
Shackle Protection
In a Padlock the body of the lock extends up the sides of the lock to add further protection to the shackle.
Shoji Doors
Japanese style simple wood and rice paper sliding doors.
Side Lights
Glass panels to the sides of door frame.
Sliding Doors
Doors that are opened and closed by sliding sideways in a line parallel to the wall. Usually operate suspended from of rolling on tracks.
Snib
A small button control on a nighlatch that can hold the latchbolt open or override the spring loading and turn the latch action off making the latchbolt in effect a deadbolt.
Solid Core Doors
Wooden flush doors that have a solid wood or composite core.
Sound Transmission Class (STC)
A rating system to measure sound transmission
Spindle
In door furniture or hardware a metal shaft usually of square section that passes from the handles or door knobs through a lock or a latch.
Stable Door
Also called a Dutch Door, a door that is split into two sections horizontally.
Stay Lift Hinge
A wall cabinet hinge that rotates the door upwards on an horizontal axis supported by stays.
Strap Hinges
A surface mounted hinge that has symmetrical tapering flaps either side of the knuckle.
Strike Plate
In door furniture or hardware a metal plate that receives and holds the moving section of a lock, latch, or bolt etc. .
T
[Back to Top]
Tee Hinge
A face fixed hinge that has a long strap that fixes to the door and a wider but narrower section that fixes to the door jamb.
Tilting Door (Garage)
A door that is opened by tilting up and overhead on spring loaded pivots sometimes assisted by pulley and counterweight.
Transom Lights
Glass panels to the tops of door frame. More often just described as transoms.
Trap Door
A door set flat into a floor or ceiling.
Tubular Bolt
A small, cheap type of dead lock.
V
[Back to Top]
Vertical hinged doors
By far the most popular door type, used internally and externally both for commercial and domestic applications the hinges on the door are arranged in a vertical direction, oe above the other.
Vertical Lift Hinge
A wall cabinet hinge that lifts the door upwards while keeping it in a vertical position.
W
[Back to Top]
Weld On Hinges
Heavy duty steel hinges used for heavy steel framed doors and gates.
Wicket
A small entry door or gate, most often set into a much larger gate or door, or set close by to a larger gate. Also called a wicket gate.
Wrought Iron
The word wrought means made by hand and when coupled with iron it means any iron object made by forgework. After 1700 a particular form of iron that includes slag and is very ductile. Also known as Ductile Iron. Known for it's corrosion resistance.
Wrought Iron Door Hinges
A hinges made in a decorative style. By blacksmith type handwork in contrast to cast work.

Not found it yet? Try this FAST SITE SEARCH or the whole web


coates hire
Hire Equipment
hafele
Furniture Fittings - Architectural Hardware - Electronic Locking Systems - Technical Hardware
BuilderBill sponsorship

BuilderBill Books


building maths
Building Maths

Stair Design
asbestos ebook
Asbestos Book

Calculator Pages.

Concrete yardage calculator

Reader's Questions.

Questions and answers.


 

 



Please Note! The information on this site is offered as a guide only!  When we are talking about areas where building regulations or safety regulations could exist,the information here could be wrong for your area.  It could be out of date!  Regulations breed faster than rabbits!
You must check your own local conditions.
Copyright © Bill Bradley 2007-2012. All rights reserved.
Page copy protected against web site content infringement by Copyscape