Door Handles - Delightful Variety Door handles have become like fashion statements at the top end of the market, as some variations come in intricate and ornate designs to add glitz and glamor to the over-all look of your home.
While retaining its main functionality of opening and closing doors, variations in handle design often come in relation to particular needs and requirements such as: for nursery rooms, handles sometimes come in cheerful cartoon designs; for kitchen doors, some have fruit embellishments; for a girl's room, pink handles are also available.
These are fancy handles: but for permanent and lasting use, most homes use the more versatile materials such as brass and metal handles, which can withstand repeated use, and can adapt to most household interiors.
Internal and External Door Handles There are two types of handles, when it comes to general use: external or outdoor handles which are utilized on all main entrances to the home, be it front door, back door, side door or service door; and internal handles which are used for the doors inside the house such as bedroom doors and toilet doors.
One of the most popular broad types of external door handles is the lever type, which is commonly used in European homes.
External latches are normally bigger as they frequently come with key-in locks for security, and are called lever lock handles.
Indoor handles (or lever latch handles) are smaller, as they come without locks, and key-in locks are normally installed separately on the door.
There are also external handles with combined door knockers, a very practical alternative when your electric door buzzer is out of order.
Lever Door Handles Lever operated door handles are very popular in European homes, as they are easier to use.
This makes them suitable for elderly people, as this design of these handles does not require a tight grip; unlike the door knob, which may slip from the user's hand.
The door knob is more commonly used in the United States because of its practicality and dual functions: it functions as a door latching mechanism and a lock at the same time.
However, U.
S.
commercial and business establishments have woken up to the practicality of using the lever style of door handles.
Aside from easy operation, they are less likely to jam.
Further, the lever operated handles are more robust, and can withstand constant use.
Door Handle Materials In terms of materials used, these are the types of handles commonly found in use: • Cast Brass - can be copper finished; nickel or chrome plated; bright satin finished; antique finished; • Cast or sheet aluminium alloy - usually anodized; with matt, dyed, satin bright or natural finishes; • Metal sheet - can be copper oxidized or stove enameled finish, both black; • Wooden handle - made of solid wood with some intricate and ornate carvings in base plate (in lever latch types); others are plain solid wood for a minimalist design.
Handle Hygiene Considerations As door handles easily catch germs and bacteria because of the variety of individual hands that touch them in the course of a day, it is important to consider the materials used.
It is believed that certain materials like brass, copper and silver discourage the growth of bacteria and germs through some kind of electro-chemical effect; while other materials like aluminum, stainless steel, glass and porcelain do not have the same action.
However, this belief has remained just that...
a belief: and studies have not been extensive enough to confirm or disprove this possible effect, except in the case of silver.
Hospitals in particular are experimenting with handle materials as they continue their fight against infectious disease within their wards.
Door Handle Design - The Choice is Yours Clearly there is more to the choice of your next set of door handles than first meets the eye.
From levers to knobs to latches the variety of types is staggering.
Add in the individuality of designers and the variety of different materials that are now available, and you have an unbelievable catalogue of choice.