Installing Door Closer
Installing a door closer – what to expect
In most cases, the installation of a door closer is done on the door frame, and in situations where this option is not possible, mounting plates are used. The direct installation of a door closer, as required by the standard instruction, is performed from the hinge side of the door. However, for most public places, an inverse scheme is used, and in this case, the correct installation of door closers must be done from the non-hinge side of the door.
Photo 2 — Door closer on an entrance door
The mentioned mounting plates can be used in both installation schemes and are mainly needed when the door leaf material does not allow fixing the closer or rod on it. Constructively, the mounting plate for both the closer and the rod can be in the form of an angle, which is fixed at several points and serves as a kind of shelf for more reliable mounting; however, these are usually flat metal plates that are mainly used for convenience in mounting on unsuitable surfaces.
Besides this, installing a door closer on a door (video and other materials are abundant online) may also include additional actions: installing the door closer on a door, cost of additional materials or rods, adjusting the closing, and so forth.
Thus, the cost of installing a door closer may change or lead to additional expenses. For example, installing door handles might be necessary, as the instruction for the closer indicates some mismatches: the current height of the door handle installation is incorrect and there is no possibility to adjust it.
Installing a door closer (video)
Self-installation
Most of these minor tasks can be done by yourself: installing door handles (video tutorials and training manuals are only needed in exceptional cases or when using very specific materials) is generally a very simple operation. However, if the door was replaced and it's necessary to install hinges on the door.
Installing door hinges, if not inserted into the door, can be considered a simplified version, but even in this case, it is better to consult with a specialist and not experiment with door installation.
Door hinges are the most critical part of hinged doors. The quality of hinge installation directly affects the proper operation and durability of the door. Hinge designs vary, but based on installation type, all hinges can be divided into open and concealed ones, as well as right and left ones. Recently, concealed hinges have gained popularity, which are fully embedded into the door and do not have any visible part.
Photo 3 — Door closer installed on a metal door
Besides aesthetic differences, there is also a practical side — concealed hinges reduce the chances of burglars, as it is not visible from the outside when the door is closed.
In conclusion, it can be added that if a door is mostly kept closed, concealed hinges are practically completely protected from quick jamming, which directly affects their service life.
Cost
To complete the picture, we present the main price indicators for Moscow and Kyiv in rubles and hryvnia respectively:
- price of a door closer from 400/200
- installation cost from 400/200
In this market of goods and services, the lowest position is held by Chinese manufacturers (OUBAO, EXIT, DORTEC), followed by Italian manufacturers (PALLADIUM), and the leaders are German and Finnish brands (Geze, Dorma, Abloy).