Door Hardware Glossary

28° Latch: A more ergonomically friendly latch mechanism requiring less rotation on the handle to disengage the latch than on a typical latch mechanism.

Backplate (also known as a Rosette or Escutcheon): A decorative trim plate that goes between the handle and the door.

Backset: The measurement from the door edge to the center of the bore hole. Most latchbolt backsets are 2-3/8” or 2-3/4”.

Bore Hole: The large diameter hole through the face of the door where the door handle is mounted.

Center-to-Center: The distance between the centers of a pair of existing pre-bored holes in a door intended for a door handle/deadbolt combination. This dimension is critical in selecting Keyed function doorsets. Standard pre-bored door preparation for handle/deadbolt combos typically includes two 2-1/8” diameter holes bored into the stile, each with a 1” diameter hole cross-bored into the edge of the door and extending through the bore hole. Most pre-bored center-to-center preparations are 5-1/2” or 3-5/8”.

Concealed Fasteners: A feature that eliminates exposed backplate screws allowing for a more minimal and refined appearance.

Deadbolt: A non-spring loaded keyed cylinder locking mechanism that may only be disengaged by rotating the lock-cylinder via key or thumbturn. 

Door Prep: The dimensions that a door must be bored or mortised in order for a doorset to be installed.

Door Thickness: The measurement of the door thickness is most accurately taken along the top edge of the door. Please refer to product details and installation instructions to ensure door hardware is compatible with your door thickness.

Dummy Function: A non-turning and otherwise non-functioning doorset that has no latch and is surface-mounted, requiring no bore hole. A dummy set is typically installed to balance the look of double doors.

Edge Bore Hole: The small diameter hole through the edge of the door where the latch is installed.

Face Plate: The metal plate installed on the door edge that holds the latch securely in the door. Our face plates feature square corners.

Handing: The direction the door swings. Handing is always determined from the exterior or “outside” of the door (for example: porch to entry, hallway to bedroom, bedroom to closet). When facing the exterior of the door, whichever side the hinges are on will determine the desired handing. If the hinges are on the left, choose Left handing. If the hinges are on the right, choose Right handing.

For interior doors where the outside of the door isn’t obvious (for example: a door between two adjoining rooms), the outside of the door is the side from which the hinges are not visible when the door is closed.

Interconnect Device: A mechanism that provides an emergency egress function on locking tubular doorsets. When the deadbolt is in the locked position, simply turning the handle will open both the latchbolt and deadbolt.

Keyed Function: An entrance doorset with an internal keyed deadbolt locking mechanism. Consists of a latchbolt, spindle, deadbolt, and a pair of handles and backplates. A keyed set is primarily used on an exterior door requiring a secure lock.

Passage Function: A doorset without an internal locking mechanism. Consists of a latchbolt, spindle, and a pair of handles and backplates. A passage set is primarily used on an interior door that doesn't require privacy (for example: between a living room and a kitchen or closet). May also be used in combination with a separate coordinating deadbolt on an exterior door.

Passage/Privacy Latch (also known as Tubular Latchbolt): A standard spring loaded mechanism that slides its bolt into a strike plate on a door jamb, securing the door shut, and disengages when the handle is turned. Used for most door hardware installations.

Pre-Bored: A door that is already prepared for door hardware installation. Standard pre-bored door preparation typically includes one 2-1/8” diameter hole bored into the stile and one 1” diameter hole cross-bored into the edge of the door and extending through the bore hole.

Privacy Function: A doorset with an internal locking mechanism that secures the door shut. Consists of a latchbolt, spindle, a pair of handles and backplates, and either a privacy pin or thumbturn mechanism. A privacy set is primarily used on an interior door that requires privacy (for example: between a hallway and a bathroom). 

Privacy Pin: A pin that engages the privacy feature on the latch from the interior side of the backplate. May be disengaged in an emergency by inserting a narrow object (such as the end of a paperclip) into the emergency release hole on the exterior backplate.

Projection: The furthest distance an object extends off of a surface such as a door.

Schlage C Keyway: A type of key cut on a generic key blank compatible with a 5-pin keyway, a standard in the industry and common residential option. 

Single Cylinder: A deadbolt operated by a key on the exterior and thumbturn on the interior.

Spindle: A length of metal bar which passes through the tubular latch to connect the door handles on either side of the door. 

Stile: The vertical portion of the door on which the hardware will be mounted.

Strike Plate: The metal plate installed on the door jamb that receives the latchbolt when the door is closed. Our strike plates feature full lips and square corners.

Thumb Press: The flat stub located above the handle on an entry handleset that disengages the latchbolt when pressed.

Thumbturn: The turn piece located on the interior trim of a deadbolt or thumbturn privacy mechanism that engages and disengages the locking mechanism when rotated by hand.

Tubular Lock: A locking doorset requiring round bore holes rather than a chiseled rectangular mortise door preparation.