When renovating your home, often the smallest changes make the biggest impact. This can be simple additions, such as the improved lighting and style that comes with understated yet stylish floor lamps, or the security and safety offered by a wide selection of door hardware.

Underrated and often overlooked, these are just two examples that complement bigger renovation projects, including exterior and interior doors to highlight entrances or increase security, open-plan living spaces for free-flowing movement and updated kitchens or bathrooms for boosted comfort, functionality and comfort.

When to Upgrade Your Door Hardware?

Door hardware is the collective term for durable door accessories and parts that ensure proper functionality, security and aesthetics. Common items are hinges, locks, latches and handles used to open, grip, close and keep doors firmly shut; bolts and smartlocks for enhanced security and backplates, strike plates, rosettes and levers that meld style and functionality. All parts endure wear and tear over the years and will at some time be replaced.

Aside from outdated looks that put a blemish on your renovation efforts, door hardware is replaced due to rust, visible damage, loose fasteners, and failing parts. Latches and locks can jam or come right off, hinges start squealing, doors sticking and sagging… the list goes on. To ensure privacy, security and doors that just work, replacement hardware restores door functionality with smooth operation, a tight fit and improved insulation. And it can boost aesthetics with a choice of different materials, colours, and surface finishes to blend with other styling elements.

Common Replacement Parts

Latches

Latches are common hardware components used to secure doors in a closed position and ensure privacy. They consist of a spring-loaded mechanism that engages the door strike plate and can be operated from both sides. This prevents intentional opening or tampering.

Latches come in dozens of designs and types. Tubular latches are common indoor fixtures. They’re cylindrical and are operated by a handle or knob, retracting a bolt when turned. They’re easy to install, reliable, inexpensive and offer secure opening and closing functionality for years.

Mortise latches are another common type, praised for their security (often requiring a key or turn-knobs), durable construction and versatility. They’re seen in offices, schools and hospitals and as secure residential options in bedrooms and bathrooms.

Other types include cam latches, seen in industrial doors, cabinets and enclosures and requiring a 90-degree turn to operate; sliding-bolt latches in sheds, fences, closets and bathrooms; deadbolt latches that can only open or retract by turning the knob or a key (often located on different sides); deadlatches that automatically lock a door on closing and seen in exterior doors, and dozens more.

When upgrading from your current setup, consider the location and type of door, the required level of security, door thickness and build, and the look you’re after.

Ball Catches

Ball catches are another common door hardware replacement part or upgrade. The simple design, consisting of a spring-loaded ball and strike plate, is common in interior doors where a more secure latch mechanism isn’t needed. The two parts mesh together when the door is closed and ensure it stays in place. Ball catches are frequently seen in closet doors, wardrobes, pantries, double doors with no centre jamb, cabinets and doors with no knobs or handles.

This door hardware is preferred for its simplicity, high durability with few moving parts, and minimal maintenance. Most also offer varying degrees of adjustability, ensuring a clean fit and the required tension in the spring mechanism to keep differently sized doors tightly shut. While simple, ball catches don’t necessarily need to be tacky or cheaply made. Choose from blasted or chrome stainless steel for minimalist looks, or brass and die-cast zinc for classic door fixtures.

Slide Action Door Bolts

Door bolts are door accessories part of the manual locking mechanism that slides into a strike plate or the frame to secure the door. While there are dozens of types with varying degrees of security to suit a wider selection of door designs (barrel, surface, tower, transom, etc.), for a clean, low-profile design in double doors, choose flush, slide-action door bolts.

These are mortised into the face or edge of the door, are common fixtures in French, closet and external double-door variants, are easy to use with a simple slide action, and can secure one or both door leaves as needed. Choose from types with varying bolt lengths, a selection of finishes (polished, brushed, matte, etc) to suit metal or timber doors, and with manual or automatic operation.

Other Door Hardware to Consider

Besides latches, door catches and bolts, upgrade home functionality, security and aesthetics with thumb turns, rebates and stoppers. Thumb turns are locking mechanisms operated by a knob or lever on the inside of the door, usually in bathrooms and bedrooms. They’re simple to operate, with a quick twist of the thumb, and can be combined with external locks for enhanced security.

Rebates (or rabbets) are grooved or channelled cuts in door frames that create a tight, interlocking fit with the door closed. They increase insulation and security in double doors and provide a clean look with a flush fit. And stoppers are simple yet practical accessories that ensure doors don’t open or close too far, thus protecting doors, walls, furniture and fingers. Choose from magnetic or floor and wall-mounted types.