5 Benefits of Installing Custom Commercial Door Hardware

From commercial spaces to modern homes, Smith & DeShields doors can enhance any location. Regardless of the location, however, the hardware you chose for any door should be upgraded from residential to commercial grade.  The switch has many benefits, and you’ll be glad you made the change. Here are five benefits to installing custom commercial door hardware in a residential or commercial space.

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Security

Security is essential in both commercial and residential settings and because of this, door hardware should not be overlooked. Whether the door lies in front of a supply room, a conference room, or a storage room, security is essential.

Not only does Smith & DeShields door hardware enable you to close and lock the door with a latch, but many options allow you to lock it with a key. With commercial door hardware, you can choose the locking mechanism you prefer for your commercial door system.

Safety

Safety should be your top priority whether your door is made from wood, metal, or glass. High-traffic doors receive a lot of use from employees, customers, clients, and business partners. As such, you need door hardware that you are confident of its safety.

Safety is one reason Smith & DeShields recommends purchasing commercial door hardware from a reputable seller. Our residential and commercial hardware is engineered to provide you with years of safe and dependable use.

Durability

On the other hand, commercial door hardware is made specifically to protect against repetitive use such as those found in commercial environments. Even doors rarely used in an office setting, like those of supply closet doors will see more use in their lifetime than the average door in a residential location.

Commercial-grade door hardware is designed to withstand the wear and tear expected in commercial settings.

Quality

Choosing mechanisms that provide longevity, durability, and aesthetic appeal is essential when selecting commercial door hardware. Durable materials will withstand the constant use many businesses see. Products made from quality materials will also guarantee that the hardware will meet your company’s high security and aesthetic standards.

Hardware crafted from quality materials doesn’t require frequent replacement. Thinner materials result in hardware that breaks easily, leaving you with a malfunctioning door and the associated costs of the replacement.

Commercial doors are often the first thing customers see, making the appearance a worthwhile consideration. Another benefit of high-quality materials is that they look better and create a professional image for your company. 

Customization

One of the best things about choosing commercial door hardware for your office or your home is the ability to customize your door and hardware completely. Commercial spaces and residential homes should give off a unique vibe that invites employees, customers, and guests into your space. With Smith & DeShields’s custom doors and hardware, you can create the exact feel you desire.

The combinations are nearly endless, from pocket doors to commercial doors—the track, wheels, door latch, or door lock. No matter what your goal is, Smith & DeShields can open the door to new possibilities.

From customized one-of-a-kind door hardware, you will work with our professionals to build and customize a door from your preferred wood, style, color, and finish, resulting in a truly unique item.

Smith & DeShields

Trust Smith & DeShields to help you choose the perfect custom commercial door hardware for your home or office.

Choose from our unparalleled selection of doors, hardware, moulding, and other architectural accents and building supplies. Many of which are in stock, available immediately, and local exclusives to Smith & DeShields. Quality permeates every facet of our business, and it’s no different when it comes to choosing top-quality door manufacturers.

For over 65 years, Smith & DeShields has been well-respected for evolving its product lines to match the latest technology, designs, and hardware that stand the test of time. Contractors, architects, and homeowners alike are invited to experience the wide variety of quality products showcased in each of our four Florida showrooms. Visit SmithandDeShields.com to learn more.

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We at Northeast Security Solutions find pride in our ability to provide customers with a variety of security products and services. As full security integrators, we describe ourselves as a “one stop shop” for our customers’ security needs. As such, we often see what areas of security customers focus on the most and which areas often fall short. Unfortunately, door locking hardware often fits the latter category. After all, many customers simply keep the door hardware installed by their door suppliers as long as they can. In order to cut costs, most suppliers will not provide top-of-the-line locks when installing doors. Additionally, customers do not always know what to look for when choosing locks either. Therefore, we often see low-to-medium quality locks installed in applications that call for the highest quality possible. In this post, we share the benefits of installing high-security door hardware.

We will begin with a look at how the industry grades locks. Knowing the variance in lock quality will help explain the differences in price and quality across the industry. From there, we will examine the long-term benefits of installing high-security door hardware. Then, we will share a couple additional benefits offered by this equipment. Specifically, we will look at key control and access control options. Now, let’s get started with a look at what we mean when we refer to the different “grades” of door security equipment.

Top Grade Security

All of us have heard the old adage that “you get what you pay for.” This sentiment runs especially true in the lock hardware industry. Many customers express surprise at how much the quality of lock hardware varies. In fact, lock hardware quality varies so much that the industry uses a three-point grading system designed by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association (BHMA) to measure a lock’s quality.

Lock manufacturers often seek out ANSI/BHMA certification for their product lines. Tests are administered to gauge factors such as bolt strength, security, the ability to withstand impact and force, and quality of finish, among others. Allegion, one of the biggest global providers of security products, provides this helpful guide to door hardware testing. The lowest-quality hardware receives a “Grade 3” designation, with the best scoring in at Grade 1. As you can probably guess, Grade 2 falls right in the middle. Grade 2 locks represent a step up from Grade 3, without having quite the quality of a Grade 1 lock.

Most residential locks fall under the “Grade 3” designation, although we occasionsally see these locks installed in businesses as well. Grade 2 locks create better security than most, while we consider them “light” security for businesses. We always recommend installing Grade 1 locks to provide reliable commercial security. Grade 1 commercial locks, such as our preferred line by Medeco, create tremendous security against lock picking, drilling, and other blunt-force attacks. Businesses often sit empty for long periods of time, so we stress this tip quite a bit to commercial customers. Next, let’s look at how high-quality locks provide long-term security.

Performance for the Long Haul

We encourage customers to think about installing quality locks as a long-term investment. The additional security offered by Grade 1 equipment provides a huge benefit right away. However, the true value of installing high-security lock hardware comes with the passage of time. Many of our customers have gotten used to changing out locks and other related equipment every few years. Customers working within a tight budget install less-than-ideal equipment as a “bandaid” when a problem arises. Unfortunately, this leads to a cycle of spending money on the same types of equipment multiple times.

Grade 1 locks often have superior warranties compared with their Grade 2 counterparts. This provides peace of mind and protection for our customers. Additionally, high-quality equipment continues to work well and look good for several years. Everything from the interior mechanisms to the lock’s finish has to pass strict qualifications for that Grade 1 rating. Therefore, in time installing these locks still saves our customers quite a bit of money. Now, let’s check out a couple “extra” benefits your lock hardware can provide!

Additional Benefits

At this point, we’ve gone over a couple major benefits provided by high-security door hardware. The extra security and longevity offered by these products make them a great addition to any application. Additionally, adding this hardware offers a couple other benefits as well. Specifically, name-brand, Grade 1 lock hardware provides opportunities to create key control and to add electronic security down the line. In this section, we’ll detail what these types of security entail and how we provide them. Let’s start with a look at key-control security.

Key Control

Even the sturdiest Grade 1 locks do nothing to stop someone who has the proper key. Of course, sometimes keys end up in the wrong hands. For this reason, we recommend using a key control system to help limit and track key copies. The best key control systems create unique key security in a couple different ways. First, key control customers create a list of those authorized to receive a copy of a key. When customers stop in for a copy of a secure key, we have to match their ID to the location’s list of authorized key copiers. If the individual is not on the list, we cannot create a key for them.

Additionally, top-of-the-line key control also involves the use of patented keyways. When locksmiths set up an account with a select few top lock companies, such as Medeco, they receive the ability to receive properietary locks that can only be opened with keys created by that locksmith. This adds superior key control, as Medeco customers cannot go to another locksmith to try to work around their location’s key copy list.

Finally, locksmiths that offer key control also track all of the keys they create for the system. This keeps customers from losing track of how many keys they’ve copied, as we always have that information on hand. Of course, you will not have the ability to create these systems with just any locks. Only a small small percentage of reputable lock manufacturers provide this service. We’ll now examine one more way that installing good door hardware can lead to extra security.

Interaction with Electronic Locking Hardware

Access control systems provide business owners the ability to allow or deny access to specific doors. Accomplishing this requires multiple stages of planning and work. For starters, installers must often utilize additional equipment to add electronic components to your door hardware. These newly-installed electronics then work with a reader or keypad to control who can get in a door, and when. If a user’s credentials allow access, the door unlocks for them. Of course, presenting an incorrect credential leads to a denial of access.

For the most part, access control customers have an easier time adding this security if they already have quality door hardware in place. For starters, access control equipment itself is high-security door hardware, and works best when installed with existing Grade 1 equipment. Additionally, we find it much easier to find access control equipment for high-end door hardware. For example, many doors have crash bars installed on them. In this case, we can install an electronic retraction kit that fits into the crash bar in order to make it an access control door.

If you have a commercial-grade, name-brand crash bar installed, we can usually find this equipment with no problem. However, manufacturers do not often create these retraction kits for lower-grade crash bars. Therefore, installing the right equipment now can “future-proof” your doors for electronic security down the line. For more information on these systems, check our our post, The How, Where, When, and Why of Access Control.

Finding High-Security Door Hardware for Your Application

We hope that this post has helped you see the benefits of installing high-quality lock equipment! Moreover, we encourage you to contact us with any questions you may have. Whether you have questions about lock hardware or security in general, we’re here to help. Additionally, we offer free site surveys to both new and existing customers alike. During our visit, we can address any security concerns you may have. Furthermore, we can make our own recommendations based on what we find during our visit. Together, we can design and install locks as part of a complete security plan to keep your property, as well as everyone in it, as safe and secure as possible!

All photos published under the Public Domain CC0 License.

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