As a door parts and hardware dealer, you need to consider door handles, exterior door hardware, commercial door hardware and even industrial door locks for your business. The doors and hardware industry is changing, and it can seem overwhelming because there are so many products when you contact a distributor of door supplies. However, you can take advantage of industry information available to help you obtain the information you need.

Understanding the door parts and hardware industry overview provides knowledge to help you in your door hardware business. Use these tips to get started.

1. Look at the products offered by leaders in the door parts and hardware industry.

2. Remember that smaller companies also have some great ideas you can use in your own business.

3. Join industry associations to learn from other door hardware dealers.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Study the products offered by the industry leading door parts and hardware manufacturers

Search for door parts and hardware from well-known door parts manufacturers to ensure you and your customers receive a high quality product. You can usually determine the quality of reputable door parts manufacturers by their availability across the United States and around the globe.

I recommend: Kwikset is an industry leader, offering handle sets, levers, deadbolts and knobs. Businesses nationwide sell Kwikset products. Johnson Hardware is a leader in the pocket door, sliding door and folding door hardware industry. You can find Johnson Hardware products in the US, Canada and Europe.

Read up on door parts and door hardware companies that aren't as big

You don't have to be one of the largest companies in the nation to be one of the best. Some door parts and hardware companies are small, but their reputations pack a big punch.

I recommend: Hardware Hut offers a variety of functional and decorative door parts and hardware that you can use on your interior or exterior doors. First Impressions International offers door hardware for doorways, plus door parts for cabinet doors, refrigerator doors and shower doors.

Join industry associations for door parts and hardware dealers

Industry associations and home building groups can help you keep up with the door hardware industry. Make plans to attend local and national meetings to network with other members of these associations.

I recommend: Join the Door and Hardware Institute and take advantage of membership benefits. As a member, you can attend their annual conference and expo to network with other DHI members. The Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association allows you to network with manufacturers and dealers across the U.S. and Canada. As a dealer, you qualify for a Full Membership.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  There's been a big push towards energy efficient products in the door parts and hardware industry. Look into this area for items such as weather stripping as you research items to feature in your business.

You can spend all the money in the world on a good-looking, high-quality door, but if the door parts and door hardware aren’t aesthetically pleasing, the look you are trying to achieve will be lost. Even worse, door parts and hardware that don’t operate well will turn a beautiful interior or exterior door into a source of frustration for your client, not to mention a potential security risk.

Fortunately, reputable door parts manufacturers are out there, and many will sell parts of a door online so the distributor of door supplies doesn’t even need to be in your area.

When choosing door parts and hardware:

1. Find door parts manufacturers that specialize in the style you prefer;
2. Look for buy-in-bulk discounts for basic door hardware like closet and bathroom doorknobs; and
3. Create custom looks for your clients by exploring unique, top-of-the-line doors and hardware.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find your niche in door parts and hardware

Often a distributor of door supplies will focus on a certain style, such as traditional brass or ultra modern. Search for door parts that jive with your decorative style.

I recommend: Rejuvenation specializes in vintage looks. For reproduction antique door handles and door hardware, check out Renovators Supply, Inc.

Make safety a priority

While a good-looking door and fancy door hardware can make a great first impression to a home or business, if the door doesn't lock properly, it's useless. Don't skimp on quality when it comes to industrial door locks and other door hardware.

I recommend: M&K Lock Distributors sell such top brands as Baldwin and Schlage. Emtek can provide something to suit almost any need.

Look for deals on door parts

Discount door suppliers can be found online, offering deals on best-selling door handles, door knobs, door hinges and more. You'll have to search a bit for what you want, but the savings might be worth it.

I recommend: Doorknob Discount Center sells more than just discount knobs–you’ll find deals on handle sets, dead bolts . . . even cabinet hardware. Find residential door hardware discounts at ebuilderdirect.com.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Create a cohesive look for your residential clients by coordinating interior and exterior door hardware styles with that of cabinets and drawers in the kitchen and bath.
• •  If there are multiple doors in the same residence or business, remove the lock cylinder and change the pins in each door lock so one key will work for all doors. It's a small thing that equates to lots of convenience for your client.

When looking for doors and hardware, there’s more to consider than just the right knob and lock. Door parts and hardware consist of hinges, brackets, trim and tracks, just to name a few. The door parts and hardware you need depends largely on the type of door that you have.

When looking for door hardware for the doors in your business, it’s important to determine your needs. For example, your needs are different for interior and exterior door hardware. To find the right options for your business, consider these door parts and hardware basics:

1. Find industrial door locks and hardware for the metal door in your business.

2. Search for door parts and hardware for your interior and exterior wooden doors.

3. Use exterior door hardware for your glass doors.

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Find the right door parts and hardware for your metal doors

The right commercial door hardware for the metal doors in your business is important to ensure the door operates properly and that your inventory is secure.

I recommend: Austin Hardware & Supply offers a variety of industrial door locks you can use on your metal door handle. Leatherneck Hardware offers door hardware for your metal hangar doors, metal sliding doors or your metal commercial industrial doors. Marlboro Manufacturing has industrial hinges you can use on your metal door.

Find the right door parts and hardware for your wooden doors

Wooden doors are extremely common in businesses. They stand at the entrance of your building, but you also might have interior wooden doors throughout your facility. The right type of door handles, hinges, bolts and brackets you need on parts of a door are available through reputable door parts manufacturers and dealers.

I recommend: Search for door parts and door hardware on the Grainger website. There you’ll find thousands of options for interior and exterior wooden doors. Larsen & Shaw offers custom hinges, standard hinges and architectural hinges that you can use on the wooden doors in your business.

Find the right door parts and hardware for your glass doors

Glass doors provide a beautiful view of the outdoors, but they also sometimes require specialty door parts and hardware. Find exterior door hardware that will keep your door secure without destroying the view.

I recommend: C.R. Laurence offers a wide selection of door parts and hardware for your glass patio door or storm door. Weather King Windows & Doors has a large selection of door handle and lockset options designed for your glass or storm door.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Ask your distributor of door supplies about energy efficient door parts and door hardware to save your business some extra money. You can purchase new doors and hardware with an energy efficient rating, or you can add door hardware like weather stripping to boost your business' energy efficiency.

Selecting new door parts and hardware for your business can be a bit confusing if you don't do it very often. You'll likely be asked about things such as handing, keying and functions. You may have to pick out a faceplate, hinge or strike plate. Knowing exactly what the door parts and hardware salesperson is talking about will help you make a faster and better decision, and eliminate any miscommunications that could result in the wrong type of hardware being delivered and installed on your doors.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Function

A door hardware's function describes exactly how it opens and locks. For example, when you are asked, 'What doorknob function would you like?' you are being asked to choose between a locking or nonlocking doorknob. Function can also be used to describe the action of deadbolts and door handles.

I recommend: Kwikset, by Black & Decker, provides explanations of most common types of door hardware functions.

Handing

When choosing door hardware, you may be asked to determine the handing of your doors. Handing refers to whether you grasp the door's lever or handle with your left or right hand when you are opening the door to walk into a room. You can determine the handing by noting the location of the hinges. If they're on the left side, then you need left-handed door hardware. If they're on the right side, then you need right-handed door hardware.

I recommend: For a detailed diagram, explanation of handing and instructions regarding how to figure out the best handing for your doors, visit M&K Lock Distributors.

Keying

When ordering multiple doorknobs with locks, you may be asked to determine the keying. This refers to how many different keys you would like to have cut. You can have all the doors keyed differently, with a different key for each lock. Or you can have all the doors keyed the same, with the one key that opens all the locks.

I recommend: The Door Knob Discount Center has a good explanation of keying, with diagrams.

Loose-pin hinges

Loose-pin hinges, like any hinge, hold the door to the frame and allow it to open. But when you want to remove the door, a loose-pin hinge simply slips out, separating the two sides of the hinge.

I recommend: For more about the benefits of loose-pin hinges, and for photographs of the hinges, check out Rejuvenation.

Strike plates

Strike plates are pieces of metal, typically polished chrome or polished brass, that fit onto your door frame opposite the doorknob. They protect the door frame as the door opens and closes and the bolt rubs against the frame.

I recommend: For more information on strike plates, including instructions on how to choose the right strike plate for your type of door, check out Charles Locksmith.

Faceplates

Faceplates are the pieces of metal that are mounted to the door edge and surround the bolt. Faceplates come in four types: square, radius, drive-in and universal.

I recommend: A diagram of a faceplate is available from Homestead Hardware.