We know some of our products can be confusing to the new or inexperienced DIY-er especially the term 'Euro' escutcheons or 'standard' escutcheons.

EURO LOCK HANDLES AND EURO ESCUTCHEONS (keyhole covers)

We get a fair amount of feedback about euro handles, locks and escutcheons.  If you see the word 'Euro' in a title or description then this means that you need a 'cylinder lock' in your door for these items to fit.

There are Door Handles on a Euro Backplate and Euro Escutcheons.  They have a large keyhole shape in them and this fits around a 'cylinder lock'.  Here is an example of a Door Handle on Euro Backplate and a Euro Escutcheon:

Euro on a Backplate

Euro Escutcheons

STANDARD LOCK DOOR HANDLES AND ESCUTCHEONS (keyhole covers)

All door handles that fit on to a Mortice Lock, are called a Door Handles on a Lock Plate. They can also be a Door Handle on  a Standard Lock Plate.  If someone is referring to an Escutcheon, they mean a Standard Escutcheons.  Here are some examples.

All types of escutcheons are used to cover the keyhole cut-out in the door, to create a nice neat finish.  They would be used if you have a Door Handle on Rose or a Door Knob on the door.  This type of door handle or knob is not mounted onto a backplate which would have the keyhole cut-out, so the escutcheon has to be a separate component.

If you are every unsure of anything, please feel free to get in contact with us. We have a great team who are specialists in our technical department, who will always be happy to help you. You can call us on 01252 786510 or email us a customerservices@handles4doors.co.uk and someone from our tech team will come back to you as soon as they can.

We have many other articles which may be able to help you as well. Some of these are -

Who's been upcycling - https://www.handles4doors.co.uk/blog/blog/whos-been-upcycling/

Help, I already have fixing holes - https://www.handles4doors.co.uk/blog/blog/fixing-holes/

Top Tips for saving you money - https://www.handles4doors.co.uk/blog/blog/top-tips-saving-money/

Whats behind the door - https://www.handles4doors.co.uk/blog/blog/whats-behind-the-door/

Is there something that interests you, that you would like us to write about? Just let us know!

We don't just do a fantastic spend and save scheme here at Handles4doors. Are you in the trade? You could save 15% on every purchase with us going forward! Let's explain how it works...

Whether you're a builder, an interior designer, an architect, a headmaster or maybe you're a project manager? We can offer a fabulous 15% off purchases to all of our Trade Account Customers.  Sound good? Let's tell you what you need to do now!

Yes I'm in the Trade, what now?

All you need to do is to get in contact with us and let us take a couple of details from you and set you up a trade account. This is free of charge and we will provide you with a login and password. Now you can shop online, with your permanent discount of 15%. You can get in contact with us by telephone or email - 01252 786510, customerservices@handles4doors.co.uk.

What if I'm not in the Trade?

Even if you are not in the trade business, we can still offer you savings. We have a spend and save scheme;  if you spend over £100 you will automatically get 5% off your shopping. If you spend over £200 you will automatically save 7.5%. If you spend over £300 you will save 10 %, and spend £500 you will receive 15% off your shopping. We also give free UK delivery when you spend over £95.

You can always call and ask us if we have any offers on 01252 786510, or take a look on our website. We often have various offers ongoing, or discount codes you may be able to use.  We also wrote a blog on how to save as much money as you can on your purchases, take a look here.

Upcycling is a huge industry nowadays.  Whether your upcycle projects are a hobby or a business venture or even both, they are becoming more and more popular. Cabinets, shelving, hooks,  coffee tables, chests;   you name it, we want to make our own. It makes us unique and helps us to stand out from the crowd, as well as giving us a great sense of achievement by creating our own pieces. In this article, I wanted to share with you some ideas of where to start if you're new to upcycling.

Here is my finished creation! This was a very old, very orange wooden sideboard, which has been painted along with the fish tank. The handles are by Hafele and can be found here

So where do you start with your upcycle?

I'm going to break it down into three small steps for you -

• Where to buy furniture or items to upcycle
• Where to buy materials
• How to care for your upcycle

Where to buy items to upcycle

You want to make your expenses as low as possible, especially if you're looking at selling your refurbished item. To do this you want to source your furniture smartly. Here are some ideas -

• Family and friends wanting to get rid off old or unused items
• Car boot sales
• Ebay/ Gumtree / selling sites
• Facebook marketplace
• The local tip
• Charity shops
• Local shops for wooden crates

* Set yourself a budget and stick to it!

Where to buy materials for you to upcycle

Now you have found your item, you need to try and visualize the end result. Colour, finish etc. Remove any handles, hinges, hooks or studs that will be in the way of painting.

For most upcycles you will want to - clean, sand, prime, paint, wax, add fittings. You can buy most of your materials from various hardware stores or online. Any new ironmongery needed you could purchase from a local or online ironmongery specialist. We happen to be a leading supplier or top quality ironmongery if you wanted to take a look here:

www.handles4doors.co.uk.

Cleaning your upcycle

When cleaning most items, you will just want to use something gentle such as warm water and mild detergent and a soft cloth. Always try this first and if it doesn't remove any stubborn dirt then there are other stronger cleaners out there, but you do want to try and avoid these as they can cause damage (I suggest testing a small area first). If you need to use something harsher than a soft cloth, then steel wool is a good option or you can use a toothbrush;  just don't rub too hard!

Once you have chosen your desired cleaner, use gentle up and down strokes following the grain of the wood. You must wait for the material to dry thoroughly before moving onto the next stage.

Priming your upcycle

The first thing you will want to do is to sand down the surface, make any chips, marks or peeling paint disappear to a smooth flat surface or the best you can. This also creates a rough surface for the paint to stick to and will last longer.  It will also remove any scratches or chips or at least make them less obvious. Use a clean, dry soft cloth to remove any dust the sanding has created.

There are many different brands and types of primers out there.  Primer helps to hide imperfections and create a smoother finish. Most well-known stores will have a wood primer and it will say on the tin how far it will go. There will always be people there to help assist you if you need help choosing the right one. There are some that only require one coat as well which will make the step quicker. Always make sure the primer is fully dry before moving onto the next step.

Painting your upcycle

There are a few different ways to paint your item, so try and use the way you think will be easiest for you. Spray paint, tinned paint, brushes or rollers.   Whichever way you choose, just make sure you get a good brand. Apply thin layers and allow to dry thoroughly in between coats. I normally do 2 or 3 thin coats. You can lightly sand in between each coat making sure you remove all dust before applying the next coat. Doing these steps should ensure the best quality results.

Finishing Wax/ Finishing Lacquer your upcycle

Now you don't want all of your hard work priming and painting to not be protected the best way you can, do you? So the best way to do this is to get a good branded finishing wax and use a soft cloth to rub it on your furniture. The instructions on the tin will tell you how long to leave it to soak in. You normally then rub it off with small circular motions. Some brands suggest doing this process twice.

How to care for your upcycle

If you want to keep your upcycle at its best for the longest period, then my best advice is to gently dust very regularly. Keep it out of the sunlight if you can, as it may fade the colour over time.

Sometimes, things can get spilt onto our creations;   if they do, go through the gentle cleaning process mentioned above. When your item is an antique and you are unsure of how to care for it, please speak to an antique specialist and they will be able to guide you. If you are slightly worried, always test a small area at the back or inside to see how it will react.

If you get stuck or you are unsure of something, give us a ring and ask us 01252 786510. or email general@handles4doors.co.uk

This is something we are asked all the time regarding fixing holes. There are some occasions where you can reuse door handle fixing holes, and unfortunately there are situations where you WILL need to make new holes for your fixings. Let me break it down for you.

Fixing Holes Sizes

• Once you have measured the size of your previous back plate, you can then pick a back plate big enough to cover it or the same size.

We have a new and exclusive filtering system to narrow your search. Most people try to order the exact same size as before. Measure the distance between your current fixing holes and between any marking where your Backplate will have been, then follow these simple steps below -

• If your previously drilled fixing holes are in the four corners of the backplate you could buy a new backplate which requires just two fixing holes at the top and bottom. This way you can drill two new holes in the middle of your pervious holes. Measure your Backplate to make sure you purchase one big enough to cover all markings.
• If you need to drill new holes, you can either do the above or drill new holes and make sure the backplate is big enough to cover the previous holes.
• Worst case scenario;  you may need to start afresh and buy a new door.

Always ask if you're not sure as I said above!

New and Exclusive

NEW AND EXCLUSIVE to us at Handles4doors, we now have implemented a new filter system where you can filter the size of your backplate. None of our competitors have this option, so we offer the fast way to search for what you need.  Narrow your search today by using this new filtering system.

We are proud of being experts in the ironmongery industry and are happy to answer any questions you have.  We are currently scoring 9.5 and shown as excellent on Trustpilot, with thousands of very kind reviews from our customers.  If you would like to take a look at our reviews or even leave your feedback on your experience with us, click here for more details... https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/www.handles4doors.co.uk?

01252 786510

Unit 26, Waterfront Business Park, Fleet, Hants, GU51 3QT

www.customerservices@handles4doors.co.uk

Here at Handles4doors, we have many different ways to help with saving you some money. Here are some top tips just for you!

Spend and Save

How to gain the biggest saving

We are asked a lot about what can be used on an external door, so we thought we would give everyone some information on what you can use internally and externally. Hope it helps! Let us know!  We've chosen the brand 'From the Anvil' to highlight the type and finish of ironmongery available for a very traditional look.

A lot of thought, care and research can go into choosing the ironmongery you want to add to your property. These finer touches enhance the look of any room. From period to contemporary finishes, there are many ways to achieve the looks you desire. What helps is that there are many types of finishes to choose from: Pewter, Black, Beeswax, Unlacquered Brass and some of these finishes also come in polished or antique. What you need to look into is which can be used internally and which are for an external door.

Firstly what door do you have?

External Doors -

This should be the first question. If you have an external door it may be a composite door, which is made from various materials.  Some composite doors will have a multi-point locking system which would require a specific handle;  these can be found in our uPVC  Door Handles Category.  It could also be a double boarded door or any style of wooden door. Double boarded doors can be fitted using thumb latches and T hinges or lever handles and butt hinges. From the Anvil have some stunning finishes that can be used internally and externally and these include pewter patina, black, antique pewter, antique brass and polished brass.  If you have framed external doors, they are normally around 44mm thick and would have a 5-lever mortice lock with a lever lock handle.  In addition, one or two 5-lever deadlocks would be required for insurance purposes.

Internal Doors -

The most common internal door in a traditional style, often seen in old cottages, is a plank door which is usually around 25mm thick. They can be fitted with a thumblatch and T hinge or a privacy latch. Your internal door could also be another popular style which is  the framed door. These vary slightly in size ranging from 30mm - 44mm.  As they are thicker they need to incorporate a lock or latch that is recessed or morticed into the door.  For this type of door you should use a lever handle or a mortice knob and these would require butt hinges.

Once you have found your door type

So now you know what types of ironmongery you need you can look at the finishes and which can be used internally and externally.

Whilst the following can be used outside, be aware that they still need looking after and will still wear.

External materials - Pewter, Black, Antique Brass, Antique Pewter, Polished Brass.

Internal materials - Pewter, Black, Beeswax, Antique Pewter, Antique Brass, Polished Brass,

• Pewter

Internal and external use. The texture of this steel is beautiful with a pewter finish. It has excellent anti-erosion properties due to the complex process that goes deep into the metal. We recommend wiping this product with a lightly oiled cloth every now and again.

• Satin Black

Internal and external use. Durable and corrosion resistant. It is especially resistant to moisture and can be used in bathrooms and damp conditions. This finish is baked in a high-temperature oven.

• Beeswax

For internal use only. The beeswax is used to preserve the beautiful authentic finish for steel. You can preserve the beeswax finish by using From the Anvil maintenance wax.

• Antique Pewter

Internal and external use.  This unique finish is achieved through a complex process which is applied to a solid brass metal giving it excellent anti-corrosion properties. It differs from pewter by having a smoother surface. As with the standard pewter, maintain the finish with a lightly oiled cloth every now and again.

• Antique Brass

Internal and external use.  Treated to speed up the natural tarnished process. Giving an antique feel and look, it is burnished making it smooth in appearance.

• Polished Brass

Internal and external use. All From the Anvil brass products are manufactured to the highest standard and come unlacquered, which can be maintained by polishing with a good quality metal polish. If the intention is to allow the surface to age through oxidization, then polishing is not required.  The brass will acquire a darker and more aged patina over time.

If you are ever unsure of what to buy or how to maintain your products, just ask us and we can guide you through it. We have a live chat on our website or you can call us on 01252 786510. Email customerservices@handles4doors.co.uk

There is an awful lot of information out there, but it is still easy to miss something when it comes to fire regulations. I wanted to go through some of the basics with all of our followers, and try and make us all as safe as we can be.

The Fire Regulations

Ever watched one of those videos at work, of a cheesy actor not leaving the building when the alarm went off? Think we have all had to stomach one of these at some point! They are right in what they are saying though. Jokes aside, Its everyone's responsibility to keep safe, but from an employee's point of view it's even more important. The top things to make sure you are compliant with are -

• carry out regular fire risk assessments;
• regular alarm testing;
• plan for an emergency;
• staff are made fully aware of any plans or rules in place;
• everyone is to keep alert of their surroundings and report anything if they think it would be a hazard.

One of the places you can find the information is here -

https://www.gov.uk/workplace-fire-safety-your-responsibilities.

The other fire safety adjustments you can make

One thing I feel strongly about is educating staff to know where the fire extinguishers are and which ones to use, also more importantly, when to use them and when to just get out. Sounds simple but in the face of a fire, some people may not be able to think clearly. It's worth going over this at least once a year (maybe get one of those cheesy videos, as boring as they are, they are informative).

There are a few very simple things you can do to the workplace or home to make them a lot safer. Especially the items you can purchase to prevent a fire from spreading. This can seriously save someone's life.

So, first, make sure you have good quality fire doors throughout your building. We have a large range of fire doors here. These can be used in the office or at home -

You can purchase fire doors unfinished or prefinished. My advice would be to always buy the doors prefinished. The reason is, that if you are doing the finish yourself, it may be hard to get it looking consistent, and it is time-consuming. Buying prefinished doors is slightly more expensive, but worth it in my opinion.

So...what else can you do to stay safe in a fire

The are many different things you can add to your door or surroundings that can improve the safety of your home or workspace.

Latches and hinges can be brought having been fire rated. These are highly recommended for use with you fire door into your garage from your home. Along with a mortice latch which is required by your insurance company.

Pictured here is the Eclipse 102mm x 102mm Door spring hinge. It is a single action hinge with only opens one way, and the tension of having the spring mechanism will close the door. Spring hinges have gained popularity in dwellings which require self-closing fire doors, such as flats and multi-storey townhouses. They can be used on fire doors up to 1/2 hour rated.

A Dorgard is handy to have for when you want to hold a fire door open. Although make sure that staff are aware when it is appropriate to do this, or the door will not keep you safe in a fire.

Door closers are another product you can buy fire tested. Most are suitable for a 30-minute fire door. Featured here is one of our Hydraulic Fire door closers by Eclipse. Both the closing speed and latching speed are adjustable.

The other option you have is to use signage to make sure everyone is aware of the different things. Here are some of my suggestions;

So, as you can see, there are many things we can do to our doors to make them extra safe. If you have any questions you would like to know regarding our fire doors or fittings please get in touch, we would be happy to help. You can ask us on our live chat or call 01252 786510. You can also email us at customerservices@handles4doors.co.uk. Hope you found this helpful!

Not only can we handle your doors and cupboards, but we have a huge range of other products that we can help you with for your home or office!

Yes we do sell an excellent range of door handles and knobs, but this is not all we provide.

Can you Handle our Kitchens?

We are now selling top of the range kitchens and kitchen fittings. An added bonus is that our kitchens come assembled for quick and easy installation.  Cupboard doors attached, ready for you builders or busy working mums and dad!

The designs range from contemporary to traditional, and the ever-growing popular shaker style kitchens. Once you have decided your style we then have a large selection of finishes to choose from. Whether oak is your thing or, like me, you prefer high gloss.

An idea for a kitchen style would be great in our Europe range featured in high gloss, using white for the cupboard doors and light grey for your drawers. Sleek, modern and a little different without going too weird and wacky. Taking it up a notch;  order each door in a different colour and mix and match your kitchen doors and drawers. Paint the walls white and create a modern, colourful creation with some personality.

So what else can you handle?

We have many different signs to guide people where to go in the workplace.

Shower Signs

Male and Female Changing Room

Baby Changing Facilities

Push and Pull

Keep Shut

We also have a large range of door fittings to go along with your shiny new door handles. The most popular are -

Kick Plates

Finger Plates

Doors

Door Closers

We can even supply the doors if needed.

You can kit your external doors out with our selection of external door hardware. Some of the range we can supply you with are as follows -

Door Bells

Letter Boxes

Door Viewers

Door Studs

House Numbers and Letters

Last, but not least, are our best selling locks and latches! We have everything from bolt through latches, insurance rated mortice locks, 3-lever mortice locks and bathroom deadbolts.   Try out our night latches for staying safe as well as our speciality locks for the office.

If you have any questions regarding any of your internal or external hardware please get in touch. We have our live chat on the website, you can call us on 01252 786510 or even pop down and see us in our showroom at Unit 26 Waterfront Business Park, Fleet, Hampshire, GU51 3QT. You could even ask us if we have something you need in store and come and pick it up that very day if it is available for next day delivery.

Right, let's set the scene, put the James Bond music in your head and imagine two dogs sneaking along the floor so you can't see them! This is what these guys do to get under the desk! You don't know they are there until you kick them, whilst crossing your legs!

Either that or they come bumbling in and frighten the life out of you! Absolutely full of life and personality, we love having them in the office!

Anyone that knows us, will know that we have a couple of furry friends that join us in the office most days. These dogs are Ruby and Raymond!

They are our little helpers!

Our little helper dogs are always helping out;   if you pop into the showroom you may even get Raymond serving you! Just kidding, I don't think you would get much sense out of him. Ray is our more laid back and easy going dog;  he is black and white in colour and absolutely loves tomatoes.  He'll let all of our customers stroke him with no exceptions!  Ruby, however, is a little more selective.

Ruby is liver and white and is definitely the alpha female and loves to boss Ray around.  They are both really affectionate and Ray is the super-softie of the two, loving to be stroked continually and really good at nudging when you lose interest. Ruby has her soft toy called Cat in the office which she brings to you when she's pleased to see you and she really enjoys playing with it,  shaking her head wildly when she's beyond excited.  She's also brilliant at opening the outside fire door by jumping up on the handle and pushing it down when she fancies a little stroll.

Both dogs are crazy and absolutely full of life with masses of energy.  They can sniff out food even if you're a couple of miles away.  Woe betides anyone who leaves their lunch bag on the floor!   They sneak up on you like 'doggy' James Bond characters!

Warehouse Dogs

This picture of Ruby shows how her tiny little ears look like they have a bobbed hair cut. I think you will all agree that she is very cute! She is trying to be put in this box and shipped off to doggy holidays!

The Dark Secret of the Door Knocker

Do you own a Door Knocker?  Most of us don't know that it has a deep dark history!  The door knocker was first created by the Athenians thousands of years ago in ancient Greece. However it wasn't really a knocker, it was a slave attached to a chain which was then attached to the door by a metal bar.  The slaves were then chained to the door to greet any guests.  The chain was there so they couldn't walk off, and the bar was to wake the slave up if they had fallen asleep!

Eventually, people realised that the bar could be used as a weapon.  Because of this, it was quickly converted into a metal plate with a large ring.

The English take the Door Knocker to Heart

When the Door Knocker came to England, it was relatively simple. Made of cast iron and painted black.

In the 1800's the door knocker became much more common and it became fashionable to be different, using Lion Heads in a brass and bronze finish.  A lot of people believed that they could bring good luck, or give protection to the home.  Below is one our lion head door knockers made by From the Anvil in a pewter finish.

Many of these symbolic symbols are Hands,  Lions Head,  Gargoyles and Horse Shoes. The Lions Head became most popular in the 19th century, signifying power, strength, pride and protection. It is still very popular to this day! 10 Downing Street has the very English Lions Head door knocker on its front door.

The Doctor Knocker

In the late Georgian times, people introduced this as a brass door knocker which was used to identify the home of a doctor. It also symbolises wealth and authority. These door knockers are still popular today,  just for their beautiful shape and design.  Below is a picture of one our doctor's knockers. 

We have a lovely selection of door knockers in our Showroom in Fleet, Hampshire.  You can also shop online at www.handles4doors.co.uk.

If you have any questions regarding any of our door knockers, handles or other products, please get in touch.  We would be happy to help you!  You can contact us on our Live Chat, call us on 01252 786510, or visit us at Unit 26, Waterfront Business Park, Fleet, Hants, GU51 3QT.