When buying door handles for your home, you may also require a lock or latch mechanism to match. With a wide range of handles available on the market, catering for various sizes, finishes and applications, it can be quite daunting when trying to specify the correct lock or latch for your application. To make specification as easy as possible, we have created a simple and easy guide.
What Lock/Latch Do I Need?
At Finesse Design, we offer a range of lever handle designs available with varying functions to cater for different applications around the home. Each application can be installed with a lever handle on rose or lever handle on backplate to cater for latch, bathroom, lock and euro lock applications. Lever handles on backplate offer a complete solution whereby the lock and latch is integrated into one backplate, however lever handles on rose must be purchased with additional products to cater for locking applications. The lock/latch required depends on your application or backplate type.
Application
Description
Lock/Latch Required
Latch
Internal passage doors which don’t require locking.
Lever handles on rose and backplate should be installed with a tubular latch.
Bathroom
Lever handle with thumbturn to be used in bathroom applications. The door can only be locked on one side, increasing privacy.
For this type of application, there are two options depending on your chosen lever handle:
- Lever on backplate – this type of lever handle should be installed with a bathroom mortice lock.
- Lever on rose – for lever handles on rose in bathroom applications you require a tubular latch to operate the lever handle, as well as a thumbturn set and a tubular deadbolt.
Lock
This lever handle is typically used in applications where locking is required from both sides of the door.
For this type of application, you have two options depending on the lever backplate chosen:
- Lever on backplate - Locking lever handles should be fitted with a sash lock which is typically supplied with a skeleton key. Sash locks are available in 3 lever and 5 lever options:
- 3 lever locks are typically suited to internal applications which require locking for privacy reasons – such as bedrooms.
- For external locking doors, garage entrance doors and other applications which require high levels of security, a 5 lever lock is recommended to be compliant with most home insurance policies.
- Lever on rose - for locking applications using a lever handle on rose, you require a tubular latch to operate the handle, as well as deadlock and escutcheon.
Euro Lock
This lever handle is typically used in applications which require high levels of security - such as external doors.
For this type of application, you have two options depending on the lever backplate chosen:
- Lever on backplate - For euro locking lever handles on backplate, a euro sash lock and euro cylinder is required in addition to the lever handle.
- Lever on rose - If you wish to use a lever handle on rose for a euro locking application, you require a tubular latch to operate the lever handle, as well as a euro deadlock, euro escutcheon and euro cylinder.
What Size Lock/Latch Do I Need?
Once you have chosen the correct lock/latch for your application, there may be multiple sizes to choose from which will determine where the handle will sit on the door. There are two measurements which are typically used to specify locks and latches – backset and lock size.
- Lock Size - This is the dimension of the lock/latch case which is installed into the door. This measurement is particularly important for glazed doors to ensure the lock case does not interfere with the glass within the door. Locks and latches are typically supplied in three sizes – 64mm / 2.5”, 76mm / 3" and 102mm / 4”.
- Backset - This is the measurement from the edge of the door to the centre of the spindle. This dimension will determine where the lever handle will be installed on the door. This measurement is important for panelled doors where the door furniture should be installed to the centre of the style. Locks and latches are typically available in three backsets sizes - 45mm, 57mm and 82mm.
Does Finish Matter?
The locking mechanism is installed to the narrow side of the door and is visible alongside your chosen door handle when the door is open. Therefore we recommend purchasing a lock which matches the finish of your chosen door handle as closely as possible.
The Finesse Design range of lever handles and door knobs are available with an optional Atlantic lock/latch mechanism in a beautiful distressed silver finish which matches our range of pewter door hardware perfectly.
If you have any further questions as to which lock or latch you require, please contact our customer service team on sales@finessedesign.com.
