A door handle is an indispensable accessory, the purpose of which is not only to help open and close the door, but also to complement the interior design, bringing fresh notes to it.
The modern door hardware market is filled with a variety of products produced by various manufacturers. Therefore, it is extremely difficult for the consumer to determine which door handles are better. If we only touch on the appearance, then when choosing, you should be guided by your own preferences, as well as the style in which the room is decorated. But it’s not always easy to navigate the functionality and reliability of door handles.
In this article we will talk about what kind of door handles better in terms of quality and durability. Especially considering the constant, daily load that falls on them. When choosing handles, it is important to pay attention to the material from which they are made and the reliability of the internal mechanism of the locking hardware. But first things first.
Door handles are made from a variety of materials, among which the most relevant are:
Among the above-mentioned materials, brass is considered ideal because it is quite durable, not cold and has a certain softness. Brass products reliably resist corrosion. In addition, if the product is properly processed, the brass handles become like gold. But polished handles lose some of their practicality and become more susceptible to corrosion.
If we talk directly about durability, then stainless steel products will be the undoubted leader. This material can retain the pristine beauty of the handle for centuries, regardless of the conditions in which it is used and the load it has to withstand. The only, but very significant, drawback is that such accessories have a considerable price. In this case, you can reassure yourself that buying low-quality pens can lead to constant replacement of them, and this, as can be easily predicted, will bring much greater expenses.
If you want to understand which door handles are better, pay attention, at least for the sake of comparison, to handles made of nylon and aluminum, which belong to the “golden mean”, both in quality and in price.
To give the handles a certain shine and a pleasant appearance, it is customary to use special coatings that significantly increase aesthetics. So, if a product is coated with a thin layer of titanium and zirconium, it acquires an excellent appearance, and its service life increases several times.
There are a large number of different types of door handles. Some of the most popular are stationary or so-called “taffy”, shaped like simple balls or reminiscent of staples. They are not equipped with or associated with a locking mechanism. This type of handles is recommended for installation on massive doors. Their purpose is to pull or push the door, depending on which way you are going. The undeniable advantage of stationary handles is that they are independent of the lock. Also, do not forget about the ease of installation - it is easily screwed to the door leaf with two screws. The disadvantage is that you must choose the right latch or lock for this type of fitting, since it makes no sense to install a separate rotary handle. Therefore, for “toffees”, a roller lock is best suited.
What kind of door handles It’s impossible to say for sure whether stationary or push-type are better. It all depends on the purpose for which they are installed. The principle of operation of the second type is to move the latch tongue, which locks the door in the closed position. Typically, handles of this type are sold complete with a halyard mechanism, but this does not mean that they cannot be installed separately from each other or changed if one or another part of the device breaks down. In turn, handles with a latch (push) can also be equipped with a locking mechanism that allows you to close the door with a key. Some configurations require a key to be used on both sides of the door, while others only require a key on one side because they have a turn handle on the other.
Knobs made in the shape of a cylinder or ball deserve special mention. They can be considered a certain modification of pressure devices, since they are similar in operating principle. To open the door you just need to turn the handle. The peculiarity of this type of door handles is that to close them, you must press or slightly turn the button in the center of the handle, which will lock the latch. To open the device from the other side, you must use a key. For safety, a small metal plate is supplied with the handle, which is used if the keys are lost. Because of their peculiarity, knobs have become indispensable when arranging a door to a bathroom or between rooms.
On the domestic market of door handles, many foreign companies represent their products, among which the Finnish manufacturer ABLOY stands out, which has long established itself as one of the best in the world.
It is necessary to mention Italian companies, whose door handles stand out for their unsurpassed design, and therefore remain the most fashionable and stylish from year to year. At the same time, just a few years ago, the Italians began to actively introduce innovative technologies and the latest developments, which allowed them to significantly improve the quality of their products. So, we constantly hear pens from the following companies:
German manufacturers have always pleased consumers with excellent quality products, but in terms of design they did not strive to stand out, producing strict and calm products that appeal to conservative consumers. Among German factories, companies such as
Hard to tell, which door handles are better- Italian, German or Finnish. Before making your final choice, it is recommended to familiarize yourself with the products of other factories, which are no less famous not only in Europe, but also in our country. These are companies like
In recent years, Russian and Ukrainian manufacturers have begun to produce quite good pens, however, it is not so easy to establish truly high-quality production.
Each manufacturer is concerned that its pens take first place in appearance, and therefore pay great attention to the ergonomics of their products, that is, how comfortably the pen fits in the palm. Of course, this is also done because consumers put aesthetic properties first, and only then evaluate quality and durability. As a result of this, determining which door handles are better is sometimes quite difficult and you should study in detail the specific model you like and compare it with competitive samples.
Factories in a particular country are focused on a specific material. Thus, German companies prefer to work with aluminum, steel or brass, but Italians, in addition to brass, choose stainless steel.
All factories producing door handles distinguish three main price categories for their products:
However, there is no clear gradation here and determining the price category is not so easy. It all depends on the specific manufacturer. Thus, Chinese, Polish, Turkish, as well as domestic manufacturers classify goods that cost from 15 to 120 rubles in the low price category, in the medium price category - from 120 to 250 rubles, and in the high price category - over 250 rubles.
But companies that offer consumers more expensive door handles have their own gradation and include handles costing from 200 to 500 rubles as cheap, handles costing from 500 to 2000 rubles in the middle category, and more than 2000 rubles in the high category. Naturally, the price range by category is somewhat arbitrary, since the price depends on many factors and can change, if not every month, then every year. Therefore, just by price you can determine which door handles are better not so simple, and not entirely correct.
The main criteria affecting the cost of pens are the following (presented in descending order of importance):
Models made of wood or plastic are rightfully recognized as the cheapest. Relatively inexpensive aluminum and nylon products. The most expensive will be handles made of stainless steel.
So, a set of handles made of aluminum or brass will cost 400-500 rubles, and for exactly the same set made of stainless steel you will have to pay from 4,000 to 6,000 thousand. But you can find it much cheaper - it all depends on specific factors, the list of which is indicated above.
It is also worth remembering the type of surface treatment. Thus, regular polished brass handles are the cheapest. A brass handle model finished in brushed nickel will be much more expensive. If the finishing involves a combination of coatings, then its cost will be even higher.
To understand which door handles are best, be sure to compare several models in your chosen price range when purchasing. When comparing, you should pay attention to the durability of the model, as well as the strength of the coating and design features.
The second factor that should be given due attention is the appearance of the product and how harmoniously it will fit into the interior design. The basic rule in this case, helping to understand which door handles are better, states that the type of fittings should not be too bulky (that is, stand out on the door leaf) or too inconspicuous.
Also consider the purpose of the pen and the tasks it will have to solve. This applies in particular to whether a locking mechanism or a latch is required. The configuration of each specific model depends on its main purpose.
It is also important to understand what kind of door handles It is better depending on the general shape - on a bar or rosette. The former use long screws as fastenings, screwed very deeply into the door leaf. They screw the device, usually at four points - below and above the handle. This ensures that the handle will not become loose during use. However, such door devices can sometimes be extremely difficult to choose - this is due to the fact that the color of the strip does not always match the color of the door or the tone in which the room is decorated.
Today, socket mechanisms are quite popular, they are quite easy to install and quite simple to choose, regardless of the style of the room.
We hope that this material will help you understand which door handles are better and make the best choice based on what type of hardware you need.
Play at the Pin Up online casino https://casino-pinup.com and register on the official website. Pin Up casino is not only slot machines, but also sports betting, a luxury bookmaker with the ability to place an express bet. Jackpot slot machines, fast payouts and adequate support service. | | | |
Back |
Updated: 09/18/2019 22:30:16
Expert: Boris Mendel
*Review of the best sites according to the editors. About the selection criteria. This material is subjective in nature, does not constitute advertising and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before purchasing, consultation with a specialist is required.
Many homeowners, when renovating their living space, underestimate the importance of choosing door handles. At best, this element simply will not fit into the interior of the room. It is much worse if the error turns out to be in the functionality of the product and the front door ends up with fittings made of wood or glass. Russian stores offer a wide range of door handles, which makes buyers' heads spin. Recommendations from our experts will help you find the most beautiful and functional model.
Varieties. Three types of door handles are currently widespread.
Material for production. Today, manufacturers most often use several materials to make door handles.
Build quality. When buying a shiny door handle in a store, many consumers do not pay enough attention to the build quality. After installation in the door leaf, backlashes, creaks in the mechanism, as well as elementary coating defects are detected. Therefore, do not hesitate to ask the sales consultant to remove the product from the box and show it from all sides.
We have selected 12 of the best door handle manufacturers for review. All of them sell their products on the Russian market. When distributing places in the rating, the opinion of the expert community and consumer reviews were taken into account.
Nomination | place | manufacturer | rating |
Rating of the best door handle manufacturers | 1 | 5.0 | |
2 | 4.9 | ||
3 | 4.8 | ||
4 | 4.7 | ||
5 | 4.6 | ||
6 | 4.5 | ||
7 | 4.4 | ||
8 | 4.3 | ||
9 | 4.2 | ||
10 | 4.1 | ||
11 | 4.0 | ||
12 | 3.9 |
The domestic company Apecs began its business in 1991 with the sale of door handles and locks of famous foreign brands. Gradually, the founders began to think about their own production. The result was the popular Apecs brand. Its products are supplied to 13 countries around the world, the range consists of 10 product items. The manufacturer offers the buyer a full range of door accessories, from locks to door closers. Experts note the presence in the catalog of both cheap products and elite samples. For its innovative approach (PVD technology) and wide range of door handles, the brand becomes the winner of our rating.
Domestic users praise Apecs door hardware for its decent appearance, precision manufacturing, and affordable prices.
One of the world leaders in the field of door fittings is the Italian company Comit s.r.l. She owns the Collezione Venezia brand. The manufacturer created the VENEZIA collection specifically for the Russian market. Looking at door handles, the consumer is taken back to the distant past, when products were produced using artistic casting. Thanks to timeless Italian classics and modern aging technologies, the brand manages to dominate not only in Russia, but also in a number of Arab countries. The materials used are brass, silver, bronze, and French gold.
Domestic users are delighted with the exquisite design, high-quality workmanship, and wide variety. Only the price deters people from buying.
Another Italian manufacturer makes it into the top three in our ranking. This is a trademark of Colombo Design. The enterprise was built in 1991, it was originally planned for the production of door handles. The brand immediately attracted the attention of Italian artists. As a result of close cooperation with many of them, the product range expanded within two years to include door fittings and bathroom accessories. The products are distinguished by a modern design; wear-resistant galvanic and paint coatings are used as finishing.
Experts, like many consumers from Russia, appreciated door handles in the Art Nouveau style. They are distinguished by a beautiful coating that is not afraid of scratches. But the range of products in our country is quite modest.
The Italian manufacturer of door handles MANDELLI captivates Russian consumers with its unique design. The company cooperates with famous designers, so you can find exclusive models in each collection. There is a fairly wide range of colors, sizes and styles of door handles. In the catalog you can choose products with angular or round shapes, antique or modern models. Experts also drew attention to the high quality of workmanship, which allowed the brand to be included in our rating. The continuous search for new developments also deserves praise, for which the manufacturer has its own research centers.
Most of the products belong to the premium class, so not all Russians can purchase door handles.
The Spanish brand Archie has been owned since 1994 by the Chinese company JMA. The production of door fittings has also been organized in China. The products of this brand have been supplied to the Russian market not so long ago, but due to their diversity, beauty and affordable price, door handles have become popular. Experts highly appreciated the equipment of the Chinese branch, the use of advanced technologies and the compliance of product quality with international standards. The catalog presents a wide range of accessories; they differ in style, color, and purpose.
Due to the popularity of the brand, counterfeit products began to be produced in Russia, which negatively affected the image of Archie. Therefore, you can read a lot of negative reviews on the Internet about the low quality and fragility of products.
The production site of the Italian brand RENZ is registered in China. However, the manufacturer managed to fully preserve the glorious traditions, as well as the exquisite design. Italian managers also closely monitor the quality of door handles. Experts pay attention to one distinctive feature of the products. This is a special rubber gasket, thanks to which it was possible to increase the wear resistance of the end surface. The durable springs and wide range of decorative coatings deserve praise.
About 70 years ago, the Morelli company was created in Florence, Italy. This family-owned business collaborates with renowned designers to create stylish door handle designs. Not only rich people, but also consumers with average incomes can purchase the brand’s products. Since 2008, Italians began supplying their products to the Russian market. Experts consider the company one of the fastest growing. The brand is included in our rating for its excellent decorative coating and beautiful appearance.
Russian consumers praise Morelli door handles for their exquisite style, good quality, and affordable prices. Disadvantages include the location of the mounting screw in a visible place and the presence of small backlashes.
The Italian company AGB has been working in the door and window fittings market for more than 60 years. The manufacturer has a reputation as a reliable partner in Europe and Russia; consumers in different countries trust the products of this brand. Experts consider the excellent quality of door handles to be the main reason for their popularity. Production takes place only in factories located in Italy. All enterprises are equipped with modern equipment, employees are constantly introducing innovative technologies, and the model range is regularly updated.
Buyers are satisfied with the quality of the fittings, beautiful appearance, and reliability. Both the coating and the mechanism work for many years without breakdowns. The only drawback is the very high price.
Punto door handles are distinguished by excellent quality, affordable prices and a rich assortment. The Chinese manufacturer makes fashionable modern fittings that appeal to the younger generation of Russians. In the catalog you can find not only door handles, but also hinges, cylinder mechanisms, armored linings, etc. Experts note the richness of color schemes. The consumer is offered not only classic options (chrome, aluminum, gold, copper), but also unique colors such as coffee gloss.
Consumers are attracted by the combination of reasonable price and high quality. You can select the entire collection of fittings for the door, but you should trust the installation to professionals. Users criticize door handles for dangerous sharp corners on square parts.
The Italian brand Armadillo is distinguished by its narrow specialization. The company produces door fittings. And in this direction the company has managed to achieve serious success. Experts appreciated the innovative technologies for producing alloys developed by the company's employees. That is why door handles have increased strength and retain their original sophisticated appearance for a long time. As for the model range, the consumer is offered square and round shapes, elegant classics, imitation of antiquity and ultra-modern high-tech.
Domestic users like the luxurious design, good quality and affordable prices. Disadvantages include noise in the mechanism when opening and difficulty during installation.
The only German representative in our rating was the Abbel company. It produces not only door handles, but also furniture fittings. Experts highlighted several advantages of the brand. This includes a wide range of products, a wealth of styles, and the use of high-quality and environmentally friendly materials. Most often, the manufacturer uses metals (aluminum, copper) and alloys based on iron and nonferrous materials. To develop new designs, the company attracts entire bureaus. Therefore, each door handle has impeccable taste and refined elegance.
Domestic consumers highlight such advantages of the brand as attractive prices and good quality. Finding a suitable product will not be difficult for all categories of Russians. The disadvantages include a modest presence in the retail chain.
The leading domestic manufacturer of door and window fittings is Palladium. The manufacturer provides a full range of services, from the development of new models to warranty service. Despite the youth of the company (founded in 2000), it has already become the largest Russian supplier of accessories. Product quality meets the most stringent requirements of international standards. Experts liked the beautiful appearance, practicality and durability of door handles.
Russian consumers, along with easy installation, affordable price and attractive design, also identified some disadvantages. They did not allow the brand to take a higher place. The noisy mechanism and poor build quality are criticized.
When choosing interior doors, you also have to select fittings for them. The final element of the overall ensemble, not only in functionality, but also in design, are handles. We will discuss today which handles for interior doors are best suited to a particular model of door leaf.
First of all, you need to decide for yourself what type of fittings you would like to put on the door of a particular room. These can be samples with a latch, a lock, or just for opening. It is important to consider what kind of material the handle is intended for - light and simple, or massive. A heavy and large model will not look entirely in tune with the hollow and light canvas of the old generation. Therefore, harmony must correspond to this indicator.
Let's get acquainted with the types of pens - they vary in material, type, size, and come in different colors. And, of course, aesthetic appeal and harmony in the overall ensemble with the door play an important role. When selecting fittings, outline what criteria it should meet for the purchased or existing door in your apartment. And also in what room you want to install it.
By installation method:
Stationary handles- these are overhead products designed to control the canvas - I took it and opened and closed the door. These are the simplest models, presented in the form of an arc, U-L shaped modification, and other forms.
Stationary modelsAs a rule, they are installed where the latch is; a lock is not needed at all. But this does not exclude the installation of a separately embedded lock or latch. Manufacturers today produce interesting models that can transform the appearance of the canvas.
Finding out which handles for interior doors are best to install, let’s get acquainted with other varieties.
Lever handles- the most common, they are easy to use. These are mortise products, and a movable tongue secures the blade in the closed state. Such models are also used on the front door.
Push instancesWhen you press the handle, the tongue hides in a secret compartment and the door opens. If necessary, a lock can be provided. There are subspecies of them according to the method of execution.
The handle is attached to the base in the form of a strip or rosette.
The sockets have a round, square appearance, they are original and not bulky. Selecting a locking mechanism is not a problem.
The handles on the bar are more impressive and not so elegant, and it is better to purchase the locking mechanism as a kit.
Knobs(rotary options) - the principle of operation is identical to the operation of the push button, only there you lower it down and the tongue hides, but here you turn the round head and the blade opens. These mortise products are very compact and neatly designed.
KnobsKnobs are produced to suit every consumer’s taste:
Having gained an idea of the principle of operation and appearance, we will get acquainted with the materials from which they are made in order to decide which handles for interior doors are best for you to choose.
Metal handles– have the highest strength characteristics and are most wear-resistant. Steel, copper, aluminum, brass handles for interior doors, bronze and other alloys are not only durable, but also aesthetically attractive.
HardwareThe only “but” is that they are cool to the touch, and with inexpensive models the top coating can gradually wear off, and under heavy load it can even break off.
Wooden handles– a great combination with wooden, veneered doors. This is an environmentally friendly product, warm for hands, and can be plain or carved.
Wood is used as valuable species on exclusive models, or simpler ones - from spruce, for example, but this is a less wear-resistant option.
In terms of external design, there is a small assortment compared to metal ones; in terms of shape, these are round handles for interior doors, of a different shape.
In bathhouses and saunas, it is better to install wooden ones, since metal ones are subject to heat, and you can even burn your hand.
Plastic- although inexpensive, they are used mainly for utility rooms and built-in wardrobes, since the aesthetic side is not up to par. They are coated with compounds that imitate metal, for example, but the coating wears off, and the plastic does not withstand heavy loads and breaks quickly.
Which handles for interior doors are better is only your preference and a purely individual choice specifically for your case.
Glass handles– very fragile, it is better to handle them carefully so as not to break them. Externally they are very beautiful, have an elegant appearance, look elegant in any interior, lighting is often used.
Glass handles for interior doors are mostly round in shape, except for combined models with metal. They are original, but short-lived due to the joining of two different materials. The assortment is less diverse than that of metal counterparts.
It is difficult for the average buyer, who buys accessories quite rarely, to distinguish a cheap analog from accessories of good quality. The bulk of it is manufactured in China. For economic reasons, many European manufacturers also produce it in China under their own brand. If these are licensed branded products, then these accessories are of good quality, since production is carried out on modern equipment in compliance with technological processes. You can buy such accessories.
If production is carried out in mini-productions, on outdated equipment, from cheap raw materials, then, naturally, it is of low quality and cheap in cost. You need to beware of such fakes and when choosing, determine which handles for interior doors are better. It is preferable to purchase fittings on the recommendation of specialists, specialists in installing door panels in certain stores, so as not to buy a low-quality product.
I’ll tell you how to try to determine the quality factor of a product yourself. When purchasing, perform a visual inspection of the handles. There should be no burrs on them, as they are cast in molds. The core should be made of iron, heavy, and not silumin (light weight and short service life) - that is, weight is also an indicator of quality. If the handle is inserted into the mechanism, it works smoothly, without jamming or clicking. The tongue should gently fit into the groove, while the spring stiffness is required. The lock mechanism is lubricated. A warranty is provided for the product.
Today you can purchase fairly high-quality products from Russian, Belarusian, Ukrainian, and other manufacturers, including foreign companies. I will name some of them. These are CONVEX (Greek), Italian - Colombo, Almar, Linea Cali, Mandelli, Spanish Archie, others. When choosing, be guided by the fact that you are purchasing the product for more than one year. Compare the price factor, ease of use, quality according to the given criteria, and the appearance that will decorate the door. Then decide which handles for interior doors are best for you. Recommendations can be found in the video.
As long as the door handles in the house are in good condition, no one notices them, but as soon as these elements fail, this immediately causes a lot of inconvenience. Although door handles are small in size, they play an important role in creating a harmonious and attractive interior; the comfort and coziness of the home largely depends on them.
Diagram of a door handle with a push handle.
In order to choose the right elements, you need to understand what materials are used to make them, what shapes of handles exist. There is a wide variety of types on the construction market, which allows you to choose door handles based on cost and quality of workmanship.
In order to open the lock, you need to turn such a door handle, which is why they are called turn-type door handles.
This type of handles is quite common; they can be installed on entrance and interior doors. To close the door, a latch is used, which allows you to close it easily and tightly. To open the entrance, the handle is simply pressed down.
This design works thanks to the presence of a spring, which allows the latch to move. Their repair is quite simple. If there is a need for replacement, then you need to pay attention to the size of the latch; if you take a larger latch, you will have to cut a new hole for it in the door frame and door leaf.
This design can have continuous or separate linings. If the lining is solid, then it comes with the lock. Separate escutcheons can be used without a lock, only as a door handle.
If replacement is necessary, pay attention to the manufacturer, since depending on the company, the design may change, and such handles will not be interchangeable.
Related article: DIY Abyssinian well
Dimensions and shapes of stationary door handles.
To attach handles with a solid overlay, a rod is used, the length of which must correspond to the thickness of the door leaf; if it is longer, the rod can be shortened. In this case, the lock and linings are replaced at the same time.
If the linings are separate, they are not included in the lock kit. Typically, this design is used when there is no need to close the room, and you can use the system with or without a lock.
Such structures have a round shape, and the door opens by turning them around an axis. The lock can be located in the center of the ball, on one side there is a place for a key, and on the other there is a latch for fixing the handle. These door handles are typically used indoors in rooms such as the toilet or bathroom.
If in the two previous versions the door handles had a complex design, then the stationary handles are very simple and are fixedly attached to the door leaf using self-tapping screws. They are not connected to either the latch or the lock. The design of these handles can be different, for example, in the form of the letter “P”, round or other shape.
Wooden handles can withstand heavy loads and have a long service life, so they can be used both indoors and outdoors.
The service life of any product largely depends on the material from which it is made. Door handles are most often made of metal or alloys of steel, aluminum and other metals.
The most popular products are made of brass, in addition to the fact that they have a fairly high strength, this material is pleasant to the touch, looks beautiful, can withstand heavy loads and last a long time, can be used both indoors and outdoors. An important factor is that, in addition to the indicated advantages, brass handles have a reasonable price.