Glossary
Aluminium
A strong light, robust material used for producing door handles and other door furniture, a favored material in
the 1960's and 70's domestically, but now less popular except in commercial areas. Silver in appearance, aluminum
is usually anodized in a satin or a polished finish.
Anodising / Anodisation
Anodisation is the process whereby the thickness and density of the natural oxide layer covering the surface of
an aluminum object is increased. In essence, through anodisation the surface of an aluminium door furniture is
made more resistant to corrosion and can be given a colourful, decorative and reflective coating.
Antiqued / Antiquing
Antiquing is the process by which an object - a piece of door furniture, for example - is treated to give it an
impression of age. The object is often darkened or tarnished in one way or another; there are innumerable
effective techniques to achieve an antiqued effect on brass, steel or pewter.
Back Plate
On a door handle, the back plate is the metal plate, often rectangular, out from which the handle protrudes. It
is this plate which is screwed to the door during installation.
Back Set
The term used to describe the distance from the edge of the door to the centre of the knob or lever fixed to it.
On the lock or latch used it is the distance from the forend to the centre of the operating spindle or key
hole.
Bathroom Deadbolt
A bathroom deadbolt is often tubular and operated by a separate turn and release. It can be confused with a
tubular latch. Most bathroom deadbolts have a 5mm follower, but are available with an 8mm follower.
Bathroom Lock
A bathroom lock is full height lock which incorporates a deadbolt operated by a 5mm square spindle. Most levers
on a backplate require a full mortice bathroom lock. Some budget levers, described as 'Privacy' only require a
tubular mortice latch.
Bolt
The term 'bolt' is the generic term for a simple locking mechanism on a door. Examples are surface bolts, flush
bolts, barrel bolts, monkey tail bolts, mortice bolts and bathroom bolts to name a few.
Brass
A zinc and copper alloy, used particularly for door handles. It is also used more specifically in latches and
locks, due to its property of low friction.
Casement Window
A casement window is a window which is side hung on hinges and closes into its own frame. Normally opening out
it will require a window fastener and a stay.
Chrome Plated
Chrome plating is a decorative plating technique whereby an object is bathed in a hexavalent chromium bath,
whose main ingredient is chromic anhydride. The result is a bright mirrored effect finish.
Deadbolt
The part of a lock which is thrown in order to lock the door usually made from brass or hardened steel.
Deadlock
A deadlock is a specific kind of lock that offers additional security to any door. A simple deadbolt is used to
secure the door in the locked position.
Dolly Switch
A dolly switch is a switch which has a short lever protruding from the back plate. They are operated not by
pushing the switch inwards towards a wall - as most contemporary switches are - rather the user places their
finger under or over the switch and levers it up or down.
Door Stud
Generally used to decorate wooden doors, door studs are cast from iron and screwed into the door. They are
usually black and provide a little character to more mundane doors.
Escutcheon
With reference to door furnishings, the escutcheon is a plate of usually brass or iron that surrounds the keyhole
in the door. They date back to the Middle Ages and prevent damage to the wood of the door and can be highly
decorative.
Fleur-de-lys
The fleur-de-lys has been popular in design since antiquity. A common feature of European coats of arms and
territorial flags, the fleur-de-lys is particularly associated with the French royal houses. It translates
into English as "flower of lily", and is usually taken to be an abstraction of an Iris pseudacorus. There is
however wide ranging debate over the fleur-de-lys' exact origins.
Forend
The face plate of any lock or latch, which is visible once it is morticed into the door.
Galvanisation
Galvanisation is the process by which steel or iron is dipped in and coated with zinc. This metallurgic process
prevents rusting and other corrosive effects, since zinc is far more resistant to corrosion than iron or even
steel. Primarily used to protect the base materials, galvanisation also can be employed for aesthetic
purposes.
Georgian
A style of architecture and interior design inspired by the trends in those areas which were dominant in England
during the reigns of George I, II and III. The style itself was originally influenced by the architecture of
Andrea Palladino during the Italian Renaissance and was brought to Britain by such luminaries as Inigo Jones and
Sir Christopher Wren.
Gothic
'Gothic', amongst other things, is an architectural style developed predominantly in France and spreading through
Europe between roughly the 12th century and the 16th. It is generally characterized by high, pointed arches,
ribbed vaults, flying buttresses and slender vertical piers. The style is echoed today throughout interior
design, and many door attachments are produced in the Gothic tradition.
Handle
The handle is the part of the door opening assembly which is specifically designed to be operated by hand. A
handle is distinguished from a knob by their respective shapes; a handle is long and designed to be pushed or
lifted vertically whereas a knob is designed to be rotated. See 'Knob'.
Handforged
Handforged is the overarching term that describes any metal object which has been shaped and styled by hand, by a
process of plastic deformation. It is distinguished from machining since the metal is shaped by hand using
handheld tools, and distinguished from casting by the fact that the metal is not poured into a mould.
Hinge
The hinge comprises the flexible plates of metal on which the door is mounted and which are fixed to the
doorframe. It allows one half of the hinge to remain stationary while the other half swings to open or close
the door.
Kite Mark
The kite mark is the stamp given to products which have been certified by BSI British Standards, a division of the
BSI (British Standards Institution) Group. The logo itself incorporates the 'B' and the 'S' from that group, and
indicates that the product has been tested and passed by it. There are no grades; either a product passes the
test or it fails. An example of the standard in use is BS 3621:2007, which dictates the requirements for theft
proof locks.
Knob
Made form a variety of materials such as stainless steel, brass, porcelain, glass, wood etc., the knob is the
round part of a door handle that is turned by hand to open a door. See
'Handle'.
Knuckle
A term used to describe the joint of any hinge.
Lacquer
Lacquer is the general term for a hard and durable coating, which can be coloured or clear. More specifically,
lacquer is made up of a resin which is dissipated in a quick-drying solvent, which in turn consists of naphtha,
xylene, toluene and ketones including acetone. In the UK, to distinguish lacquer from varnish, the general rule
"if you spray it, its lacquer - if you brush it, it's varnish" is applied.
LED
Light-emitting diode: a small diode that emits when it's electrically charged. They can be used to great effect
for subtle lighting techniques. Available in a range of colours, well-placed LEDs can complete the theme or tone
of a decorative style.
Matt
A non-glossy finish. It's often referred to as 'satin', since it has a very low level of reflectivity.
Mortice
The mortice is the slot, groove or cavity carved into the style of the door to receive the lock or latch. The
lock or latch which slots into this cavity is called either a mortice lock or a mortice latch.
Porcelain
Porcelain is a decorative ceramic material which is ideal for the decoration of more classical, traditional
handles and knobs.
Powder Coating
Powder coating is a technique which applies a tougher, harder 'skin' to an object - such as a piece of door
furniture - than ordinary paint can provide. Applied as a free-flowing dry powder, this type of dry coating
does not require a solvent to keep the binder and filler parts in a liquid suspension, as liquid paint does. Most
processes of powder coating employ the use of electrostatic charging and high-temperature curing.
PVC
Polyvinyl chloride is a very widely used thermoplastic polymer. More than 50% of the PVC produced worldwide
goes into the construction industry. It's cheap, durable and easy to work with.
Radius
The measurement from the centre of a circle or sphere to its outer edge.
Retro
A style of furniture design which consciously and deliberately takes its inspiration from past styles, fashions
and trends; particularly those of the very recent past.
Rose
The rose is a small plate, often round but also available in other shapes such as squares or abstract shapes, to
which the handle or knob is affixed and which, in turn, is affixed to the door. The rose is considered more
modern than a standard back plate (see 'Back Plate') the standard size
is around 50mm diameter, but this varies drastically depending on style and shape.
Rust
The familiar term for iron oxide, or the result of the oxidization of iron, rust is the reddish-brown matter that
indicates corrosion of metal, usually due to exposure to moisture and oxygen.
Rustic
A style of back plate, latch and handle or knob which is considered in some way 'traditional'. Often constructed
from iron, or materials reproducing an iron effect, they are usually highly textured, painted black and have a
swirled flourish at the end of the handle.
Stainless Steel
An alloy of carbon and iron with at least 10.5% chromium. Stainless steel doesn't rust, corrode or stain as
easily as conventional steel which, alongside its decorative qualities, makes it a popular choice in
construction and design.
Strike Plate
The plate which is fixed to the door frame and designed to accept the latch and/or deadbolt of any latch or lock
fitted to the door.
Stud
See 'Door Stud'
T-Hinge
The T-hinge (or tee hinge) is a hinge that, as its name suggests, looks like a 'T' when it's opened. They
are more frequently used for external doors, heavy doors, or simply for decoration.
Thumb Latch
A thumb latch is a piece of door furniture whose assembly is operated by the thumb to facilitate the opening of a
door. It's a little simpler and a little more old-fashioned than modern door handles and knobs, so it's a good
choice if you're trying to recreate a traditional or rustic ambience.
Tubular Mortice Latch
A tubular mortice latch is the most common way of opening or closing any door. Operated by either a handle or a
knob, the latch bolt is retracted to open the door and automatically returns on a spring to close the door.
uPVC
Unplasticised Polyvinyl Chloride. A hard, durable plastic used throughout the construction industry. Healthier
for humans than the unplasticised PVC, since it's the plasticizers that cause problems.