When it comes to maintaining the home furniture hardware, we prefer the levers or door knobs without even knowing their practicality and understanding which one is the better. They might vary in design, but there are many factors that make one good and the other compromised in most situations.
The door knobs vs door handles is something you should know so as to install the ones that are highly functional and adds to the home interior design. This article will distinguish both of them and will tell you which one is more practical in case of usage.
So let's differentiate the key features of a door handle and door knob and see which one fits best to your requirements.
What Is A Door Knob?
It is a door hardware that is used to close/lock the door. It is circular in shape and requires rotation in an anticlockwise direction for opening and closing the door. The best thing about them is that their basic need and elegant style adds to the classiness of the house and keep it modernised.
The door knobs that are not only functional but also suit the surrounding furniture are the best fit for your doors. The different door knobs, like brass door knobs and glass cut-out knobs, are getting into appearance in different homes because of their practicality and unique design.
What Is A Door Handle?
It has been in the market for decades as it is among the first of its kind. The door handles are very common because of their extensive use and likelihood. With the new technology, they have been transformed into door levers that have various designs, textures, colors and materials used to provide an elegant look to the house.
The types of door knobs and handles to use for heavy doors are the levers. Unlike the door knobs, they are pushed down to activate the latch mechanism within the door lock to open and close the door. Being used in the external doors such as patios and front doors, they provide extra security to the house.
Door Knobs Vs Door Handles: 5 Differences
It is important to understand the difference between the door knob and handle set to understand which one suits your requirement and adds practicality to the house. Thus, we have listed below the 5 main differences between the two:
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Design
The door knobs have a design that is circular or spherical, which means that the user needs to have a good grasp over them to turn it so as to open and close the door. If the door is heavy, then it might get harder for the people to turn it with a weaker hand strength or grip.
On the other hand, the levers provide a much more practical advantage over door knobs in terms of grip and functionality. It is pushed downward to open the door. It requires less effort to open the heavy doors. It provides a contemporary and elegant look to the house.
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Functionality
Although the main job of both the door handles and the door knobs is the same, they vary in the mechanisms. A spindle-in knob connects it from both sides of the door. Turning it would retract the latch, which ultimately opens the door. A twist lock on the interior knobs is used in these knobs to enable the lock mechanism.
The lever in the door handles is connected to the spindle, which we call the latch mechanism. Unlike doorknobs, we have to push down the lever to retract the latch and open and close the door. For the lock mechanism, these kinds of door handles have a keyed cylindrical loo on the interior side.
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Compatibility
As far as the security of the house is concerned, the door knobs require additional adaptation for the security systems. This is the reason why most people avoid using them for external or front doors. They are much more practical when used in internal doors like bathroom or storage room doors.
The door handles are compatible with most types of doors within a household. The best thing about them is that they can be used for thick and heavy doors. They could also be integrated into high-access control systems, providing versatile applications.
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Durability
In high-traffic areas of the household, like kitchen doors that see frequent use, the latch bears all of the strain. When using an unsprung mortice knob, the absence of an internal spring mechanism means that the knob itself is very durable, as it relies entirely on the latch for functionality. However, if the mortice knob is sprung, the load is distributed between the knob and the latch.
When using a sprung mortice knob, it's important to avoid pairing it with a heavy-duty sprung latch, as the combined strength of both springs can make it difficult to turn the knob, especially for children or when your hands are wet. This could lead to a less user-friendly experience, so it’s best to choose a latch with a lighter spring in these situations.
If you are using an unsprung mortice knob, it’s important to pair it with a heavy-duty latch to ensure that the latch reliably returns to its normal position after each use. We recommend using the JL-HDT latch, which has been tested to withstand 200,000 cycles, providing assurance that it will not fail under regular use.
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Fitting
It is yet another major difference between the types of door knobs and handles. They might have different fixing requirements. While the door knobs need to be installed away from the edge of the door, the door handle needs to be fitted close to the edge of the door for opening the larger and heavier doors.
Also read, how to install a door handle?
There are door knobs that can be installed with just screws that need holes in the door. The door handles also require tightening up against the door, which could be done by drilling holes in it and then screwing it up firmly. They both can be installed perfectly by reading the installation guide that comes along with them in the packing.
Conclusion
Do you want to know the door knobs Vs Door handles differences? This article is a must-read from their compatibility and design to even the fitting requirement. It differentiates both of them so that you can choose the one that is more practical within the household. To sum up, the door handles are more beneficial for heavy-weight doors and security systems, while the door knobs are a little less durable but more versatile in their designs.
FAQs
Are door handles better than door knobs?
The door handles provide a much better grip as compared to the door knobs. They are not only used for heavy doors but also in the front doors with security control. However, if your preference is design and not durability, then the doorknobs with brass, stainless steel finish can also be used within the house.
Also read about how to protect your brass door handles?
What are the benefits of using door knobs?
Door knobs are pretty easy to install. It is because they required the drilling of a single hole in the door. They not only offer convenience but have many kinds of designs and textures that could match your home's aesthetic and provide it with a more luxurious look. They are available in different sizes so that you can buy the ones that fit best your requirements.
What is the difference between the mechanism of the doorknob and the door handle?
The door handles have a lever that requires you to push it down to engage the latch mechanism and enable the door to open. At the same time, the doorknobs are circular and require turning the knob in the anticlockwise direction to rotate the spindle for sliding the latch into the striker plate, which closes the door.