Builders Hardware Guides

Full mortise, half mortise and surface hinges, geared or pin and barrel continuous hinges, center hung or offset pivots, swing clear, spring and electrified hinges: what each type is in Hager, Ives, Select and Rixson documents, and how to read our hinge names.

Which strikes Von Duprin lists for its 98/99 rim, vertical rod and mortise exit devices, where to find the 299, 1409, 338 and 385A templates, and the part numbers of hex and cylinder dogging kits and parts.

Need a replacement part for a Bradley toilet partition? See the Bradley names for headrails, pilaster shoes, brackets, hinges, latches and coat hooks, how HDW part numbers and door swing codes read, and what to note before you order.

Fitting a Pemko 4131, 4301, 411 or 420 automatic door bottom? Here is where each installation sheet covers mounting, cutting to length and plunger adjustment, and how to read Pemko numbers such as 4131CRL36 and the 2005AT threshold.

Looking for the Ives FB31P, FB51P or FB458 template? Links to the official Ives flush bolt templates, what each drawing shows, which models are for metal or wood doors, and how to read the model numbers in our product names.

What do the digits and letters in an Emtek number such as 8121PUS7 mean? This guide reads function and rosette numbers, knob and lever codes, hand, CF and Emtek finish codes from Emtek's own configurator and specifications.

Will a Schlage or Emtek knob, lever, deadbolt or handleset fit your door? Compare the cross bore, backset, edge bore, door thickness and strike dimensions printed in the manufacturers' instructions and templates, and see the thick-door kits and where the installation steps are.

How HES electric strike numbers are built (series, complete pack, fail safe, finish, monitor), which faceplates HES lists for the 1006, 1500, 1600, 5000 and 5200 bodies (the surface mounted 9600 needs none), and what to note before ordering a replacement.

Ordering a core for an existing door? How BEST, Schlage and Sargent define SFIC and LFIC cores, how core and housing go together, what is ordered separately, and how to read core numbers such as 1C7A2, 6300LA15 and 23-030.

Ordering a Hafele pull, knob or hinge? Each finish and size has its own eight-digit item number. Learn how to read those numbers, pull hole spacing versus overall length, finish codes such as 101ZN08, and which concealed hinge parts are listed separately.