Tag: Hinges

Travel Guru Guide to Gran Canaria Holidays

Travel Guru asked:

Location

Two hundred and ten kilometers off the coast of Africa, lie a group of islands in the possession of Spain known as the Canary Islands. Gran Canaria is one of these, the third larges island in the chain, and is roughly round with a population of over 800,000. This island may not be the biggest or most populous island around, but it is no backwards locale, either.

Transport & Getting Around The Island

Getting around the Island of Gran Canaria is made easy by a system of highways that encircle the entire island and run up into the mountainous areas as well. Using these highways is a fleet of modern buses, which provide the best way to get around and to see the island. A railway has also been approved, and construction hinges now on the budgeting. There is a single airport on the island, the International Airport of Gran Canaria-Gando, which is known as one of the busiest Spanish airports because of the vast amount of traffic.

Weather & Landscape

The Island of Gran Canaria is a wonderful place to visit and to vacation. Most of the 2.2 million visitors to the island prefer the southern part of Gran Canaria, which is sunny and warmer than the northern part. The west coast of the island is mostly mountainous, while the eastern side is flatter and dotted with many beaches. For those who enjoy natural wonders, Gran Canaria is interesting in that it is almost a “mini-continent”, with a wide range of unique ecosystems almost unheard of in such a small place.

Resorts & Attractions

If you are on a Gran Canaria holiday, you will most likely be staying in one of the resort communities on the southern part of the island. There are tourist flights that offer aerial views of the island, always a fascinating adventure, and many parks and preserves, most of which are open to the public. Attractions include the Dunes and Lighthouse of Maspalomas, Roque Nublo, botanical gardens, and much more.

There are destinations on Gran Canaria for just about anyone, from a community that welcomes *** tourists to places for the whole family to enjoy, to spots for honeymooning couples to romance one another. There is as much to do on Gran Canaria as there are ecosystems, which is to say that there is very little chance that you will become bored with this popular destination island.

Choose Quality Finish Hardware to Enhance Commercial Doors

Amy Jo Garner asked:

Doors in commercial facilities require a minimum of finish hardware, including hinges, flush bolts and pivots. Doors can also be outfitted with a variety of decorative hardware, including kick plates and door pulls. Which hardware is installed is determined by door use, architectural style and safety concerns.

A hinge may just seem like a hinge, but each hinge is designed for use in a particular situation. For example, a basic five-knuckle plain bearing full mortise hinge is designed for use on a standard weight door that gets little use. It also cannot be used with a door closer. On the other hand, a three-knuckle spring hinge can be used with a door closer. When choosing hinges, tell your supplier the weight of the door, the expected traffic level and the details of any other devices that will be installed on the door. This way you can get the correct hinge for the job and not find the door literally coming unhinged in the future.

Doors can also be fitted with pivot sets. These are typically floor-mounted, although some are jam-mounted. Pocket pivots are also available. These allow the door to open flush to the corridor and are commonly found in hospitals or other settings where the door needs to be completely out of the way when open. Just like hinges, pivot sets need to be purchased based on the weight and expected usage of the door. Pivots are available for doors from 200 to 500 pounds. Some pocket pivots are also rated for use on fire doors.

Flush bolts and strikes are designed to work either on metal or wood doors. Options for this hardware include manual flush bolts, automatic flush bolts, constant latching flush bolts, auxiliary fire latches and dust proof strikes. The best flush bolts share some common features: meet ANSI A156.3 Type 25 or Type 27, are non-handed, offer optional dust proof strikes, and have low actuation forces. You’ll need to know how the door frame is prepared when ordering flush bolts.

Put the finishing touches on a door with decorative, yet functional hardware. Kick plates and push plates protect the door from damage. Pulls can be coordinated with the decor of the building. These items are available in a variety of finishes. Floor stops, wall stops and door silencers all improve the function of the door. Even these hardworking items are available in design styles to complement the building design or to blend unobtrusively into the background.

Finish hardware should be chosen carefully to ensure a door works properly and safely for many years. Although home supply stores may carry some basic hardware, it’s best to rely on an knowledgeable commercial hardware supplier to get the proper hardware for each installation.

Changing Hardware Can Create an Updated Look

Joel Katona asked:

Many times people are unhappy with the overall look of a space and can’t really put their finger on why.  If you look at your room and think that it just doesn’t look quite finished or that it just doesn’t have the pizzazz you wish it did, look carefully at your hardware.  All too often people use the door knobs and hinges that came with a standard door or they used hardware that was cheap and boring.  Changing out the door hardware can instantly give a room more interest and polish.  Here are some tips to help you pick door knobs and hinges that will elevate your space to a design masterpiece.

Start with the Door Knob

The most obvious place to begin when considering door hardware is with the door knob.  Chances are you have a very standard door knob in a stock color like silver or gold.  There are so many different decorative door knobs available in great finishes to amp up the appeal of any design aesthetic.  You can easily find everything from decorative reproduction hardware or vintage doorknobs for an antique feel to very modern, sleek lever door handles in polished chrome or stainless steel.  Most doorknobs are pretty standard and can be easily replaced, but even if the old doorknob is non-standard, a decent contractor can retrofit a new one inexpensively.  Pick a doorknob that really speaks to you and your overall design.  It is worth spending a few extra dollars to get the perfect doorknob instead of settling with something because it is cheap.  The difference in look will more than make up for the difference in cost.  Don’t limit yourself to the small selection readily available off the shelf at your local hardware store.  It is worth your while to look online and through special order hardware catalogues at home improvement warehouses to select the doorknob that is just right.

Consider All Your Other Visible Hardware

The doorknob to an major entry or interior door is a great place to start in selecting the right style and finish of your hardware, but you shouldn’t stop there.  Carefully take a look at all the other hardware easily seen on the door such as the door kick plates, hinges, and any other hardware latches.  Typically your door knob will be part of an entire collection of door hardware, so it will be easy to find the other hardware pieces that match.  If you don’t find an exact match within a collection, simply look for that part in another brand or set that has the same color, surface finish, and basic style.  Finally, you are going to want to make sure than any other hardware contained in the same space is also replaced.  Look at all your cabinet door handles, cupboard hardware, storm door handles, furniture hinges and the like.  You can find specialty hardware readily to easily replace all these things for a professional, finished look throughout the room.